A fun how-to manual for aspiring roboticists.This most recent installment in the Maker Comics series (tagline: "the ultimate DIY guide") weaves a narrative around six robotics projects of varying difficulty. Toaster 2, a tomato-red appliance who proclaims itself the "most advanced robot ever created," speaks directly to readers as they follow his lighthearted adventures navigating the perils around his family's house. It creates an artbot to tackle pesky homework assignments, a scarebot to fend off "your" annoying brother, and three versions of a carbot to move the slumbering family pet, Katty the Destroyer. Each project has a detailed supply list with helpful suggestions of where to procure the more-obscure components and easy-to-follow, illustrated instructions. The robots range from simple designs composed of packing tape and magnets to more sophisticated schemes utilizing breadboards and coding. Venable intersperses engaging factoids throughout the guide on various topics, including the history of glue, a timeline of robotics, and an overview of the computer language Arduino. Hudson's full-color illustrations are lively; together with Venable's patient and thorough directions, they should encourage young readers to take the plunge into making their own bots. Also included is a step-by-step guide to starting a robotics club, helping to move any builder's love from the page to a group. T2's family is interracial: Dad and "your brother" present Black, and Mom and "your little sister" have Asian features. Both of the latter have offputtingly stylized eyes, and Mom's hourglass figure and hairstyle skate close to stereotypes of hypersexualized Asian women-a shame, as her textual character development is terrific.A (mostly) confidence-inspiring guide for young creators. (Graphic nonfiction. 10-14)

In this DIY comic, fire engine red Toaster 2, the -most advanced robot ever created,- addresses readers directly, inviting them to help it take over (er, -save-) the world: -You are smart! You have opposable thumbs!- Beginning with facts about robotics- history (-Robots! Totally Not Evil! A Timeline-), T2 next walks readers through eight increasingly difficult robot tutorials, showing readers how to avoid obstacles that may detract from T2-s plans-lantern-propelled markers assist with homework, electric toothbrush-powered brushbots scrub the bathroom clean, and a hamster ball noisybot attempts to distract a pestering younger sibling. Venable (Katie the Catsitter) presents each invention with clearly listed supplies and comprehensive step-by-step instructions, balancing technical nonfiction elements and safety advice with an entertaining fictional narrative. Relevant explanations (-A Lesson in Glues!-) and information about notable inventors, largely white men, appear occasionally. Hudson-s clear art facilitates the building process, though the panel layout is sometimes confusing, and the two East Asian characters are visually stereotyped. Accessible inventions and back matter instructions on starting a robotics club give readers tools to steep themselves in robotics in this Pinky and the Brain-flavored comic mash-up. Ages 9-13. (Mar.)-