Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy

July 25, 2016
Savage, creator of the Savage Chickens webcomic, builds out the story of his Laser Moose character over three comics that see the laser-eyebeam-equipped mammal keeping vigilant watch over the forest. Laser Moose’s zap-first-and-ask-questions-later attitude is balanced by that of his sidekick, Rabbit Boy, who cheerfully rushes into potential danger, such as introducing himself to the sharp-toothed aliens that land in the first story. Laser Moose never lets his guard down (“Beautiful days are the worst,” he tells Rabbit Boy. “You have to be extra-focused on looking for evil when it’s a beautiful day”), but his zealousness often gets the best of him, as when he mistakes a deer eating berries in a shrub for a serious threat. “Well, you should eat berries in a less suspicious manner,” he tells the now-three-legged deer. In the second and third stories, Laser Moose faces off against a bear mutated by runoff from the local toxic waste factory and a mechanical squirrel created by his nemesis, Cyborgupine. It’s goofy, off-kilter fun, ideal for fans of shows like Adventure Time and Steven Universe. Ages 7–12.

A moose that can shoot laser beams out his eyes--what could be better? The titular moose (whose abnormal ocular powers are never explained) and his gentle rabbit friend live together in a charming pastoral wood. However, Laser Moose knows that danger can lurk around every tree. In action-filled, largely wordless sequences, the pair battle flower-chomping extraterrestrials; the fearsome blue mutant Aquabear; and the mechanically equipped, destruction-bent Mechasquirrel created by the nefarious Cyborgupine. Playing off their differences, Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy make a wonderfully droll team; Laser Moose is suspicious of everything and prefers to shoot first (which has some unfortunate ramifications for some of his forest brethren), while Rabbit Boy is optimistic and unfalteringly upbeat. Throughout their exploits, the pair holds fast to their archetypes, giving this the peppy feel of animated cartoons. Big, bright panels with simple, line-based, flat illustrations rocket their adventures along as they battle their foes, keeping attention focused on the action. Savage includes an additional vignette about how lasers work. With this appealing yet oddball premise, a lovably bizarre cast of characters, and high visual allure, this should be an easy sell for young readers. With rampant whimsy and cheerful silliness, expect this to hit funny bones with laser accuracy. (Graphic science fiction. 7-11) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 1, 2016
A moose that can shoot laser beams out his eyeswhat could be better? The titular moose (whose abnormal ocular powers are never explained) and his gentle rabbit friend live together in a charming pastoral wood. However, Laser Moose knows that danger can lurk around every tree. In action-filled, largely wordless sequences, the pair battle flower-chomping extraterrestrials; the fearsome blue mutant Aquabear; and the mechanically equipped, destruction-bent Mechasquirrel created by the nefarious Cyborgupine. Playing off their differences, Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy make a wonderfully droll team; Laser Moose is suspicious of everything and prefers to shoot first (which has some unfortunate ramifications for some of his forest brethren), while Rabbit Boy is optimistic and unfalteringly upbeat. Throughout their exploits, the pair holds fast to their archetypes, giving this the peppy feel of animated cartoons. Big, bright panels with simple, line-based, flat illustrations rocket their adventures along as they battle their foes, keeping attention focused on the action. Savage includes an additional vignette about how lasers work. With this appealing yet oddball premise, a lovably bizarre cast of characters, and high visual allure, this should be an easy sell for young readers. With rampant whimsy and cheerful silliness, expect this to hit funny bones with laser accuracy. (Graphic science fiction. 7-11)

COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 15, 2016
Grades 3-6 Laser Moose (so named because he can shoot laser beams from his eyes) and his pal, Rabbit Boy, patrol their forest against whatever dangers might come, and they are plenty busy. First, they deal with a flying saucer and the weird aliens in it. Then, a bear that just caught a fish steps into a toxic waste leak, becomes Aquabear, and starts attacking other animals in the forest. After trying to lure it away with honey from a beehive, Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy accidentally lead Aquabear with the hive and the bees into the toxic waste leak, and now the creature is Aqua-Bee-Bear! Lastly, Laser Moose's evil nemesis, Cyborgupine, creates Mechasquirrel to wreak havoc and attempt to destroy our heroes. Savage combines his colorful, cartoony art and his unlikely heroes and strong vocabulary words, such as fraught, suspicious, nemesis, counteract, and more. Middle-grade readers who like their sci-fi and superhero stories zany, crazy, and with lots of ironic humor will enjoy these adventures of the hyper-vigilant Laser Moose and happy-go-lucky, ever-optimistic Rabbit Boy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)