Power Lunch

Torres (Alison Dare; Teen Titans) and Trippe start off their new middle-grade superhero series with a kapow against the bullies. New weird kid Joey and old weird kid Jerome become fast friends as Joey trusts Jerome with his secret: if he eats food any color other than white, he gains super powers. When Jerome has one too many encounters with school bully Bug, Joey decides there is no point in having powers if he doesn’t use them for good. The cartoonlike images and the snappy dialogue create a lighthearted tone without trivializing real-world bullying. References to the source of Joey’s powers are hidden everywhere in the art, from the fruit punch he drinks to make him superstrong to the star fruit T-shirt he wears as a hero. This first volume, which sets up future conflict about the use of powers, is a fine intro to what should be an entertaining series. Ages 9–12. (Oct.)