Superfail. Written by Max Brunner and illustrated by Dustin Mackay. Running Press Book Publishers. Ages 8-12. October 2017. Galley version. 224 pages. $13.99 USA / $17.49 CAN
Superfail is a graphic novel about Marshall Preston, a seventh-grade superhero. Well, technically, he is a “Defective” superhero. Sure, he has laser vision. But since he is cross-eyed, his laser vision is hard to control and he usually ends up burning the “good guys”. And, yeah he can fly. But he gets motion sickness and often throws up on people below him. Ew.
When Marshall learns of a plot to destroy a group of “non-Defective” superheroes, no one believes him. So he must assemble his own group of superheroes to save the day. What happens when you gather a group of “Defectives” to fight a powerful supervillain? Can they actually save the day before making it worse?
I enjoyed reading this book. I learned about it in a webinar for reluctant readers and I could definitely see this being a good book to put in the hands of a reluctant reader. The story was easy to follow and the illustrations were very entertaining. This book could also be a good introduction for readers new to graphic novels, as the illustrations are black and white, with splashes of color to highlight the focus of each scene. In other words, the color acts as a scaffold for those unfamiliar with how to read a graphic novel - very helpful!
The story itself is also very relatable, especially for middle schoolers who are trying to find out where they fit in their communities. While Marshall struggles with taunts about his cross-eyes and lame powers, his story may touch anyone who has felt like an outsider. Marshall wants to be taken seriously by the elite group of superheroes in his town, but finds it difficult due to his impairments. However, by the end of the story, he learns to embrace his differences and use them to his advantage. He even decides to adopt the title of “Defective” in order to show his community that his friends and he will not be limited by labels. Once Marshall learns to accept himself for he is, he can finally become the superhero that he always wished he could be.
Overall, I would recommend this book. It is a fun read with a great message.
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