When they leave the mall, Jake and his friends are a regular group of kids heading home. But when they encounter a dying alien warrior, they learn Earth is under secret attack from a parasitic alien species d they may be their planet's only hope. He gives them the power to fight back by transforming into any animal they touch, but that ability, too, is dangerous. This graphic adaptation of the first book in the long-running Animorphs series, which launched in 1996, brings to life the humor and horror of the original. Illustrator Grine doesn't shy away from the more frightening elements, though he stops short of body horror, depicting most transformation scenes with humor. Through neon panels, he captures the eerie sf vibe and the distinct personalities of all five kids: bold Rachel, compassionate Cassie, wily Marco, sensitive Tobias, and reluctant leader Jake. There's plenty for both animal lovers and Stranger Things fans to enjoy, and this allegorical exploration of trauma and youth responsibility is, frighteningly, more relevant now than it was 20 years ago.

After a night at the mall, a group of kids encounters an alien, forever changing their lives.Jake, Marco, Tobias, Cassie, and Rachel cut through a construction site to make it home before curfew when a spaceship heading straight for them lights up the sky. They approach the ship and meet a dying Andalite who has just fled a Yeerk ambush. The Andalite, an alien with the power to morph, tells of the invasion the sluglike, parasitic Yeerks have planned for Earth. Other Andalites will come to help-but not for some time. Before his gruesome death, the Andalite bestows the children with the power to temporarily turn into any animal they wish, as long as they have first acquired its DNA via touch. Following their bizarre night, the group-with Jake as their reluctant leader-must decide whether or not to battle the Yeerks. The decision is made when they realize Jake's brother has been taken over by a Yeerk. Determined to save their town, the group embraces their abilities and fights back. This text-heavy graphic novel is full of action-packed panels and detailed, realistic illustrations. The narrative is engaging and may encourage readers to learn about animals. However, the intensity of the murderous undertones may scare younger readers. Cassie and Marco are brown; the rest of the main cast is White.A dark, bracing series opener. (Science fiction. 8-13)