cover image Chip 'N' Dale Rescue Rangers: World Wide Rescue

Chip 'N' Dale Rescue Rangers: World Wide Rescue

Ian Brill and Leonel Castellani. Boom! (www.boomstudios.com), $14.99 (128p) ISBN 978-1-60886-655-7

Based on the popular children's cartoon show, this graphic novel follows the anthropomorphized critters of the Rescue Rangers as they try to understand why animals around the world are being more aggressive. The opening scene has a flashback to chipmunk engineer Gadget's childhood, where her smarts save her father. More flashbacks come randomly, and this might be puzzling to young readers. It emerges that the erratic behavior of animals is the result of an Animal Rescue Signal, which the villain Fat Cat%E2%80%94traditional archenemy of the Rescue Rangers%E2%80%94is using for his own purposes. Because of this, the Rescue Rangers have to get hold of specific keys to get to the access signal, and this is shown in a somewhat convoluted way. The biggest problem with this graphic novel is the possibility of confusion, but the well-liked children's characters will still be a strong draw, while Castellani's colorful art keep things zipping along. Ages 4%E2%80%938. (July)