Zinc Alloy: The Invincible Boy-bot

by Donald Lemke

Overview

Zack Allen loves comic books, but this wimpy kid is nothing like his favorite superheroes. He’s always getting picked on by bullies at school. Then one day, Zack builds a high-tech robot suit. Now he must learn to control his newfound powers and become the world’s newest superhero, Zinc Alloy: The Invincible Boy-bot!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781434245977
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	07/01/2012
Series:	Zinc Alloy Series
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	6 - 10 Years

About the Author

Douglas Holgate is a freelance illustrator from Melbourne, Australia. His work has been published all around the world by Random House, Simon and Schuster, the "New Yorker" magazine, and Image Comics. His award-winning comic "Laika" appears in the acclaimed comic collection "Flight, Volume Two".

Donald Lemke works as a children’s book editor and writer. He has written dozens of books for young readers—from board books to middle-grade novels—that often include today’s most popular characters, such as Batman, Superman, Scooby-Doo, and more. He lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with his beloved family, which includes his wife, Amy, and their three growing-up-way-too-fast daughters.

Interviews

• Zack Allen's bully protection gadgets are inventive and fun - perfect elements for young boy readers • Library-bound editions of Zinc Alloy Stories were winners of the 2010 and 2011 Graphic Novels for Kids core list from Graphic Novel Reporter

Editorial Reviews

If anything can, Zinc is the kind of book that will bring kids back to the medium and maybe to reading as a whole simply because it is aimed straight at, rather than down to them. . . .After finishing the book I flipped back through some of the scenes a second time and found that I could tell exactly what was happening without reading a single word; I can’t think of another comic out there with art that coherent. . . .I adore what Zinc Alloy stands for and the love that it shows comics and the children who may read them: The look on Zack’s face when he picks up the latest Robo Hero, the way he quotes the X-Men movie while arguing against being afraid of the average folk and the sheer sense of joy he gets from his life all speak strongly to that. It’s exactly the kind of book I want to give to my kids when they exist and funny enough that I don’t feel strange buying and reading it so long before they do. Oh Zinc Alloy, I love you.

Deer in the Xenon-Arc Lights

Gr 2–5—Lighthearted comic action is the focus of this collection of four previously published comics. Zack Allen is a smart kid who is teased at school. His life changes when he uses his wits to create a Mech-style robot suit. With it, he rights wrongs both big and small, from runaway trains to school bullies. In "Super Zero," readers learn the Zinc Alloy backstory. In "Revealed!" Zack reveals his own secret identity-a rare thing-and must deal with the consequences. In "Zinc Alloy vs. Frankenstein," the protagonist takes on a robot version of the famous neck-bolted monster, wrecking the town in the process. In "Coldfinger," Zack must protect the town from evil Dr. Icee and his Giant Freeze Ray. Reluctant readers will appreciate the pace, which is set to hyperdrive. The action comes early and often. Frequent humor assures that the mood stays light. The full-color illustrations are more cartoon than comic-book superhero, with bold outlines and basic panel work. An entertaining combination of action, humor, and silliness, Boy-Bot will be a popular pick for graphic-novel fans.—Travis Jonker, Wayland Union Schools, MI

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