Jeff Steinberg: Champion of Earth

When aliens threaten to destroy earth unless a champion can withstand their tests, the middling, constipated moron Jeff Steinberg finds himself pressed into service. But his attempts to train for battle are constantly undermined by his inability to get over his much more terrestrial problems—including his own indifference to the situation and an unfaithful girlfriend. This is a ridiculous caper, full of pop-culture references and scatological humor. Unfortunately, it’s just not that funny. The jokes from Fialkov (The Bunker) follow the most obvious path. When Jeff is abducted by aliens, for instance, he’s using the restroom and materializes on their spaceship with his pants around his ankles. What humor there is flows from the animation-influenced art by Fleecs (My Little Pony) which is expressive and cartoony. Readers who like broad humor may get a moment or two of amusement from the tale. (Oct.)