Atomic Ace and the Robot Rampage

by Jeff Weigel

It's an ordinary day for Atomic Ace and his family until the evil Roboconqueror accidentally sends his mechanoid army after Ace's son instead of Ace himself. With Ace busy in space diverting a meteor threat, who will be on Earth to save the day?

Genres: Picture Books, Superheroes, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[skcocnaH · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Lovely plot twist.

[Laurie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Horn Book (Spring 2007)

When Ace is called away to help NASA deal with some dangerous meteors, an old enemy dispatches a robot army to abduct his son, not realizing there's another superhero in the family to rescue the boy. Ace's adventures are inset as comic-book panels, while Energy Angel (a.k.a. Mom) is shown saving the day in full-page scenes narrated with uneven verse.



Kirkus Reviews (October 1, 2006)

Having extolled the merits of his superhero father in Atomic Ace (He's Just My Dad) (2004), a lad discovers that his mom has hidden talents too in this engaging follow-up. No sooner does his spandex-clad dad zoom off into space to deal with an incoming swarm of meteors than another swarm-this one of red-eyed robots sent by cyborg baddie Roboconqueror-bursts through his classroom window. It looks like curtains for sure, but rescue comes from an unexpected source as lightning-wielding Energy Angel swoops out of retirement to zap the metal marauders, and the sprout discovers that he has not one, but two superhero parents. Illustrated with brightly colored comics-style panels inset into larger scenes, this rhymed ruckus can be read with equal ease as a straightforward Pow!-Zap!-Save-the-Earth adventure or a tongue-in-cheek takeoff-especially as, in the end, after Mom's return to active duty is expedited by a corps of robots rewired to do the domestic chores, Atomic Ace flies off with a wink. Shelve it next to Bob McLeod's Superhero ABC (January 2006) and Ross MacDonald's Another Perfect Day (2002). (Picture book. 6-8)



Publishers Weekly (October 23, 2006)

After his debut in Atomic Ace: He's Just My Dad (PW wrote, "Comic-strip panels of a Spandex-clad `Atomic Ace' alternate with cozy images of Ace's family in this humorous look at a hero balancing work and home"), the middle-school boy narrator returns in Atomic Ace and the Robot Rampage by Jeff Weigel, in which the narrator must fend off an attack of robots at his school. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.



School Library Journal (October 1, 2006)

Gr 1-3-A new adventure told in rhyme by the author of Atomic Ace: (He's Just My Dad) (Albert Whitman, 2004). Boldly colored comic-book panels showing Ace in action are interspersed with the somewhat more mundane scenes of his son at home and at school. That is, until the worlds collide, when Atomic Ace's nemesis, Roboconqueror, unleashes a robot army that invades the boy's classroom. Ace is off in space protecting the planet and is too far away to rescue his son. Just when he is about to meet his doom, he is whisked away by another superhero-with a strangely familiar face. It is Energy Angel, aka Mom, who saves the day. It turns out that she had been quite the superhero until she had her son, and misses the old days. Dad enlists the services of the vanquished robot army to help with household duties to free up her time, and she is back in the superhero business. While some of the rhymes seem a bit forced, the story flows for the most part, and the bold, graphic layout with intricate details will attract readers. Purchase where the first book is popular.-DeAnn Okamura, San Mateo County Library, CA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

[Beth Given · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a picture book in comic book style! Logan and Joshua really gravitated toward the pictures and the storyline — what little boy doesn’t love superheroes?? This was more straightforward than your average graphic novel, combining a few simple frames with some rhyming verses to tell the story. I loved the theme of family in this book; you moms of boys out there will love it, too! Apparently this is a sequel; we need to check the first one out, too!

[Tobinsfavorite · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third star is from my kids. I would give it two for myself.

I don't want to be an advocate of prejudicial incarceration or anything, but I'm not sure I would have paroled a guy named Roboconqueror. (When the villain leaves prison, the guard says to him, "Now, see that you stay out of trouble, Roboconqueror." That's the best part of the book.)

But really, it's a wholesome family superhero story, and there are little details in the art that give a kid reason to look at it for awhile.

[Skye Kilaen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second Atomic Ace book, but I found this one far more compelling than the first. The old-style comic book inspired art, rhyming text that avoids the dreaded sing-song, and a nice surprise ending all combined for a very satisfying tale. That might just be because I’m a comics fan, but my guess is no. It's just fun.

[Jared · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun short (short!), simple story in graphic novel style. The poetry is nothing exciting, but the story is fun. While super-hero dad is away saving the planet, another super hero saves his son from the evil robot monsters of his enemy.

[oplkids · Rating 5 out of 5]

Atomic Ace isn't there to help his son when the robots attack, but luckily, a surprising hero is there to help.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great follow up to the original. Good for your little Incredibles fans.

[Keenan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a throwback to the roles of men and women. Words were a little harder for the recommended age (5-8).

[Kristin King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little man's teacher read this, and then he wanted to bring it home to read again. We read together so I could help with the bigger-than-2nd-grade words. Really liked the surprise ending.