Awesome Man: The Mystery Intruder

by Michael Chabon, Jake Parker (Illustrator)

Overview

Awesome Man, our favorite superhero, is back, and in this fantastic sequel from New York Times bestselling author Michael Chabon, he must prepare for his greatest threat yet!

Awesome Man’s secret identity has stayed safe, and he’s still the coolest superhero around. He loves protecting the people of Awesome City from evildoers, like the giant Plutonian octolizard, with his trusty sidekick, Moskowitz. But there have been reports that a new hero is coming to town soon. What if the people of Awesome City no longer need Awesome Man?

With 40 pages of awesome text and illustrations, this book is a great gift for the superhero-obsessed and any kid adjusting to life with a new sibling!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062875099
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/29/2020
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	446,696
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Michael Chabon is the bestselling and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Moonglow and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, among many others. He lives in Berkeley, California with his wife, the novelist Ayelet Waldman, and their children.

Jake Parker is an illustrator and an artist for animated films. He also draws comics of space mice, monsters, and funny robots. He wrote and illustrated the comic book Missile Mouse. Jake lives in Provo, Utah, with his family.

Hometown:

Berkeley, California

Date of Birth:

May 24, 1963

Place of Birth:

Washington, D.C.

Education:

B.A., University of Pittsburgh; M.F.A., University of California at Irvine

Website:

http://www.michaelchabon.com/

Editorial Reviews

09/01/2020

Gr 1–3—Awesome Man and Awesome Dog are used to being the only superheroes in Awesome town. They fight bad guys, fix stuff, try to help people—and that's just the way they like it. Unfortunately, they've heard that a new superhero is about to show up and they are not happy about it. The truth is that they are afraid that maybe the townspeople will like the new guy better. In fact, what if they like him so much better that they forget Awesome Man's birthday? As Awesome Man, resplendent in red cape and blue mask, continues to fret about this turn of events, we see him transform from a buff superhero to a young boy (he is white, but other superheroes are shown to be a diverse bunch, and all the people Awesome Man helps are of many races and backgrounds). Of course, the new superhero is none other than a baby brother who is bald and tiny and pretty much incapable of doing anything. Pretty soon however, Captain Stinky (Awesome Man's moniker for him) has worked his charm on our superhero, and he realizes he doesn't have a rival so much as a worthy sidekick. VERDICT A fun follow-up to The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man along with delightfully retro illustrations by Parker. Recommended for purchase.—Amy Nolan, St. Joseph P.L., MI

School Library Journal

2020-06-30
There’s a newcomer in the Fortress of Awesome, and Awesome Man doesn’t (want to) like it one bit.

Having given their costumed legend-in-his-own-mind both anger issues to work through and a (poorly preserved) secret identity in The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man (2011), Chabon and Parker truck in a new challenge. Rumors of a rival superhero coming to town (who could it be? Steel Tornado? Glue Girl?) pitch Awesome Man into a funk. At first it looks like his worst fears are realized. Losing his colorful costume and chiseled physique in the shiny, bright scenes to become a seemingly ordinary lad, he accompanies younger sib “Sister Sinister” into the house to meet…bald, ultratiny Captain Stinky. Awesome Man is unimpressed—until, that is, the interloper exhibits multiple superpowers, including an impressive scream and a green and mucky Slime Blast. “Maybe the new kid is going to be okay!” The parentally suggested prospect of being followed around by an adoring little brother confirms this attitude change (“I didn’t know I was getting a sidekick!”), and by the end, Captain Stinky has been transformed to Awesome Boy. The transition occurs with unlikely speed, but most young crime fighters and world savers with growing families of their own will both understand Awesome Man’s anxiety and agree that family changes are better embraced than fought.

Wears its agenda on its sleeve—but not heavily enough to tear the spandex. (Picture book. 5-7)

Kirkus Reviews

In this graphic novel for audio, author/narrator Michael Chabon strikes just the right tone for a young superhero who is ricocheting between awesomeness and insecurity. Awesome Man fears he’ll be forgotten when a new superhero arrives in Awesometown. Spoiler alert: The mystery intruder is a new baby brother. When a call for help comes from the zoo, Chabon sounds petulant as Awesome Man initially strikes a selfish attitude and debates skipping the call. But he doesn’t, and Chabon switches to excitedly and humorously narrating Awesome Man’s subsequent battle with the rampaging Flaming Eyeball. Chabon then shifts to a tender tone, using Awesome Man's "ultra-soft hyper whisper" when he finally comes face-to-face with his new brother, Captain Stinky. L.T. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

DECEMBER 2020 - AudioFile

In this graphic novel for audio, author/narrator Michael Chabon strikes just the right tone for a young superhero who is ricocheting between awesomeness and insecurity. Awesome Man fears he’ll be forgotten when a new superhero arrives in Awesometown. Spoiler alert: The mystery intruder is a new baby brother. When a call for help comes from the zoo, Chabon sounds petulant as Awesome Man initially strikes a selfish attitude and debates skipping the call. But he doesn’t, and Chabon switches to excitedly and humorously narrating Awesome Man’s subsequent battle with the rampaging Flaming Eyeball. Chabon then shifts to a tender tone, using Awesome Man's "ultra-soft hyper whisper" when he finally comes face-to-face with his new brother, Captain Stinky. L.T. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

DECEMBER 2020 - AudioFile