Before TomorrowMen was a megapopular comics series about to become a feature film, it was a tiny strip cocreated by Miriam's grandfather. But for Mir's family, the TomorrowMen are a thing of the past. Her grandfather, in a bad but legal deal, signed away his rights to his cocreation before it ever got big. Mir lives in a tiny Canadian town, works at a failing comics store, and wonders how she'll ever afford college. Then a boy comes in while she's working. He's cute, and he likes Mir's mother's artwork, but there's one huge problem, and that's his name, ­Weldon Warrick in Warrick Studios, makers of the TomorrowMen movie. As in Joseph Warrick, Mir's grandfather's old partner, progenitor of the family that stole everything from hers. Graphic novelist Hicks makes her YA fiction debut with this charming novel that celebrates nerd culture and family loyalty. The sweet though somewhat standard romance plot is elevated by thoughtful characterizations, and the plentiful references to comics and conventions will delight fans new and old.

Two heirs to a comics franchise find love and low-stakes drama in a small Nova Scotia town.Quiet Miriam works in a down-and-out comic-book store to save money for college. Cute rebel Weldon walks in one day and buys a painting depicting the Marvel-esque TomorrowMen. Awkward sparks fizz between them, but it's soon revealed that they're the heirs to a years-old family dispute. Miriam's grandfather helped create the TomorrowMen but signed a bad contract with his co-creator—Weldon's grandfather. The two men spent the rest of their lives in a legal battle over the rights to their characters, which eventually resulted in Weldon's father's taking the creative helm and Miriam's mother's accepting a settlement. Even though the issue is largely settled, both teens still feel the need to exorcise their family demons, at least long enough to delay their happy ending for a few hundred pages. The family drama and resulting tension between Miriam and Weldon never feel substantial, with little risk involved for either of them; misunderstandings work mostly to beef up the plot and are tritely brushed aside in an underwhelming climax at Comic-Con. All major characters are white. The narration feels flat and strained throughout, with none of the rich color and movement that explodes out of the superhero genre that provides this story's backdrop. Read a comic instead. (Romance. 12-15)

In her first prose story for young adults, graphic novelist Hicks (The Nameless City) explores feuding families, comic books, and love. Years ago, Joseph Warrick and Micah Kendrick, cocreators of the popular TomorrowMen comics, fought each other for financial rights. Warrick ended up with millions, and Kendrick received a pittance. Resentment has trickled down through the generations, and now Warrick-s grandson Weldon leads a glamorous but unhappy life in L.A., while Kendrick-s granddaughter, high school junior Miriam, scrapes by with her family in tiny Sandford, Nova Scotia. After Weldon-s parents break up, his bad behavior lands him in Sandford to spend a summer with his aunt and uncle, and the teens- comics shop meet-cute spells instant attraction. They date secretly, aware of their families- wariness of one another, until a lie Weldon tells threatens the budding romance and stirs up old injustices. This modern-day tale of fortune-crossed lovers features a relatable hero and heroine and a happier ending than Shakespeare-s tragedy. If supporting characters seem somewhat underdeveloped and resolutions a little too tidy, snappy dialogue and a dramatic climax compensate. Ages 12-up. Agent: Bernadette Baker, Victoria Sanders. (Feb.)