Dodging the missiles of a pursuing spaceship, a giant robot soars through space on a desperate mission, and for the next two hundred pages, things barely slow down for a second. The robot bears a message for young human genius Billie Blaster: Earth is about to be invaded by planet Bonk with a robot army . . . of Billie's own making! Bonk's Emperor Mwahaha (picture the Grinch with tentacles for legs) shows up and recruits Billie's archrival, Hector Glum, over to the invading planet's side. And so, the chase is on, as Billie and her allies soar off to Bonk and try to foil the plans. The story honors Billie's can-do spirit and inventiveness over force and firepower, and anks to her sidekick, one very wise talking goat ings slow down long enough for a consideration of personal responsibility and the privileged advantages one might be taking for granted, turning one-time friends into current archrivals. The limber, witty art captures the tale's action and humor at breakneck pace.

A giant robot army in space? What could go wrong?Billie Blaster is a genius. She has all the things a genius needs: genius parents, home laboratories (including a secret one, of course), a team of superintelligent animal engineers, a sassy goat sidekick, and, most importantly, a nemesis. Tiny Hector Glum, who is 4 1/2 inches tall (thanks to his Irreversible Shrinking Ray) and who's been Billie's rival ever since he came in second to her at the Kindergarten Science Fair, has set his sights on world domination and taking Billie down. Meanwhile, a robot alien arrives bearing a message of "grave galactic importance": Evil aliens from the planet Bonk are planning to take over Earth, and it's (kind of) Billie's fault! Can Billie and her ragtag band of robotic and furry friends stop the invasion? Will Tiny Hector Glum finally succeed in taking over Earth? Energetic and upbeat, this graphic novel refuses to take itself too seriously even when it touches on topics such as access and opportunity in STEM. The story, though not particularly original, is laugh-out-loud funny in places and heartwarming in others; it keeps a consistent momentum throughout. Its partially unresolved resolution gives it an episodic feeling, as though another installment is just around the corner. Bright, vibrant art adeptly underscores the movement of the narrative and brings new heights (and sewer depths) of humor to the quirky cast and world. Human characters present White.An intergalactic joyride. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)