Nico Bravo and the Trial of Vulcan

by Mike Cavallaro

Overview

All our favorite ancient myths and legends get an epic makeover in Nico Bravo and the Trial of Vulcan, the third volume of Mike Cavallaro's hilarious graphic novel series!

Got a problem? The seasoned staff at Vulcan's Celestial Supply Shop—a kid named Nico Bravo, a sphinx named Lula, and a unicorn named Buck—have got just the thing in their inventory of magical merchandise.

Vulcan is on trial, accused by the evil Ahriman of breaking the Cosmic Rule—interfering in the plans of a fellow god! His only hope is finding five powerful artifacts scattered across the globe. But is there more to this quest than meets the eye?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250893598
Publisher:	First Second
Publication date:	08/09/2022
Series:	Nico Bravo , #3
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	192
File size:	412 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Mike Cavallaro is from New Jersey and has worked in comics and animation since the early 1990s. His comics include Eisner Award–nominated Parade (with fireworks), The Life and Times of Savior 28 (written by J.M. DeMatteis), Foiled and Curses! Foiled Again (written by Jane Yolen), Decelerate Blue (written by Adam Rapp), and the Nico Bravo series.

Editorial Reviews

"Cavallaro’s romp delightfully ties together its multiple narrative threads with its blazingly hued full-color art, zippy wordless sequences, and high-octane action."—Kirkus

"Awesome fight sequences, imaginative onomatopoeia, and nonstop hilarity make for a brightly colored, fast-paced saga...Another on-brand entry in this fun, melting pot of mythologies."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

12/01/2022

Gr 3–6—In this third installment of the "Nico Bravo" series, Vulcan sends Buck, Nico, and Lula to help the unicorn colony in Agaartha. Turns out that's just cover for something major: Vulcan must stand trial in front of the gods. If Vulcan doesn't collect and return five ancient artifacts, the gods will strip him of his powers and possessions. Worst of all, Ahriman (god of evil) will take Nico. Meanwhile, Nico's pretty confident about his own mission, but—"Great Gula's ghosts!"—further disaster is brewing. Awesome fight sequences, imaginative onomatopoeia, and nonstop hilarity make for a brightly colored, fast-paced saga. The multiple side quests converge in a pretty epic—and off-the-wall—overarching plot that introduces more magical creatures and deities than ever before. Vulcan has brown skin; Nico's is pale. VERDICT Another on-brand entry in this fun, melting pot of mythologies. Can be read out of order.

School Library Journal

2022-07-27
A young boy and his friends face a familiar foe.

This third installment after Nico Bravo and the Cellar Dwellers (2020) jumps right back in, following Nico and his friends Lula the sphinx and Buck the unicorn, who were sent by Vulcan, Nico’s de facto caregiver, to save the unicorn colony. The unicorns are ensorcelled by a strange domed machine controlling their minds. Vulcan seems to have his own mysterious motives for sending the trio away. He is on trial for using the enigmatic substance Aether and is sent on a quest to retrieve five mystical artifacts; if he fails, he’ll be found “in violation of the cosmic code.” Nico and Vulcan quickly discover that their missions are not what they seem. The pernicious god Ahriman reappears at Vulcan’s trial—could he be behind Nico and Vulcan’s collective troubles? While the plot rockets along, those seeking a richer experience won’t find much information about myriad gods name-dropped, nor will readers who are looking for deeper character development find much here; this has all the panache of a cinematic blockbuster. Still, Cavallaro’s romp delightfully ties together its multiple narrative threads with its blazingly hued full-color art, zippy wordless sequences, and high-octane action. Nico and Vulcan appear White, and a group shot of humans shows a range of skin tones; deities represented are culturally diverse and include representatives from ancient Mesopotamia, Iran, and Mesoamerica.

A satisfying installment. (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews