Meow-za! There's a superhero in the city of Kittyopolis known as the Cat Crusader-but who is he really?Max Meow, an orange-and-white cat who dons clothes and a bow tie, is visiting his scientist friend, Mindy Microbe, a curly haired human with brown skin, when he eats a bite of a meatball that Mindy found in outer space. All of the sudden he has superstrength, an electric tail, and the power to fly! With his new skills, he might as well become a superhero. Agent M, an evil mouse, and Big Boss, a shadowy creature, want the meatball for their own nefarious purposes, so they send Robot Reggie to retrieve it. Meanwhile, Max and Mindy have an argument and stop speaking. Just as everything seems at its most dire, Max realizes it'll take more than superpowers to save the day. Full of humor and action, this new series opener will be catnip for fans of Dav Pilkey's Dog Man. Bold, bright colors are used in busy, cartoon-filled pages. The layout is crisp and easy to follow, and short, quickly consumable chapters end with questions that entice readers to continue. Although the plot is a bit overly drawn out near the end, the pace remains zippy. The ending includes a big reveal, and an epilogue sets up intrigue for the next book.A superhero cat and an intrepid girl scientist: What's not to like? (drawing instructions) (Graphic fantasy. 7-10)

Gr 2-5 Welcome to Kittyopolis, where an anthropomorphic cat named Max Meow, in desperate need of viewers for his vlog, decides to film a segment at his friend Mindy Microbe's secret science lab. Unbeknownst to them, a nefarious rodent by the code name of Agent M has sent Robot Reggie to steal Mindy's meteor meatball, and during the ensuing struggle, Max accidentally bites into the meatball and becomes the Cat Crusader. Now with super strength, the ability to fly, and a tail that sends out bolts of electricity, Max tries to save the city all while keeping his viewers entertained. Gallagher's story is light on text but big on vibrant, high-energy artworka combination that's sure to keep even the most hesitant of readers engaged. Max must learn not only how to be a superhero but also, more important, how to be a good friend, by not taking credit for Mindy's accomplishments. Depicted with dark skin and dark curly hair, Mindy is no mere sidekick; indeed, she could very well have gotten title billing alongside Max. VERDICT Fans of Dav Pilkey's "Dog Man" series will love this quirky graphic novel. Amanda Melilli, Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas