Missile Mouse is back! While chasing a fugitive, Missile Mouse discovers that the being is a slave from the planet Tankium. The evil King Bognarsh has taken all of the Tankian men and implanted mind-control devices on them, forcing them to work in the mines. Missile Mouse is determined to destroy Bognarsh’s empire, but all he has for backup is a squadron of security bots. How can robots without a heart or a real brain be of any use?
I loved Missile Mouse’s first adventure and have been eagerly awaiting Parker’s next book. And when it finally appeared, I wasn’t disappointed. No, Rescue on Tankium3 is not quite as wonderful as The Star Crusher was, though that’s mainly because my expectations were so very high to begin with. Rescue on Tankium3 is still a superb science-fiction adventure that doesn’t sell its small hero short. The beauty of Parker’s Missile Mouse is that he is both ordinary and extraordinary, so readers of all ages can both identify with him and look up to him. He’s no less strong and resourceful here in his second tale and his willingness to admit when he’s wrong about someone is yet another nice addition to an already well-rounded character.
Speaking as an adult reader, the “rescue the poor enslaved natives” storyline is a little overdone, though I’m sure children reading this will not think so. But Parker is careful not to make the Tankian people too simple or too innocent….
This review was originally posted at Good Comics for Kids. Please visit the original post to see the rest of the review.
Missile Mouse: Rescue on Tankium3
Jake Parker
ISBN: 978-0-545-11716-6 (hbk); ISBN: 978-0-545-11717-3 (pbk)
Scholastic/Graphix, 2011
