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CM . . .
. Volume XXIII Number . . . .March 17, 2017
excerpt:
When mad biologist Whitewash steals the brain of Henry Belton (the smartest person on earth), Jon Le Bon thinks recovering the brain will be his biggest problem. But then the brain goes rogue. When Belton’s brain attempts to take over the unnamed spy agency headquarters, Le Bon must stop the brain before it gains controls of the agency’s atomic weapons and causes the apocalypse. This colourful graphic novel contains an eclectic cast of characters, including agency director Miss Martha (a cow), a paw-less dog named Shorthand, an IT worm named Billy, and, of course, Jon Le Bon. The novel is action-packed and funny. Kids will enjoy the numerous running gags and recognizable cameos, and there are even a few cameos for parents. At one point, Bruce Willis (as John McClane) appears to applaud Jon’s choice of using air ducts to escape a locked room. Jon Le Bon, himself, is simple-minded and dopey, but apparently brilliant. He inexplicably passes all his spy tests with flying colours and saves the day by stumping Belton’s wayward brain, but the reader is never quite sure whether this is through pure dumb luck, or genius. Regardless, his cluelessness is sure to generate a number of laughs. The artwork is detailed and engaging. Each page is lavishly coloured and thoughtfully designed. The stories at the back highlighting how each character was developed are a nice touch. Many of the characters were dreamed up when the author was in high school, and seeing their evolution may encourage artistically minded children to dream up their own characters. The Brain of the Apocalypse ends on a teaser for volume two and is sure to be a popular addition to any library’s junior graphic novel collection. Highly Recommended. Alise Nelson is a graduate of Simon Fraser University and holds a Certificate in Liberal Arts as well as a BA in English and History. She is currently an MLIS student and a Reader’s Advisor with the Prince George Public Library in Prince George, BC.
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