SUPER TURBO VS. THE PENCIL POINTER

A superpowered class pet faces off against a mysterious new foe.

In this third graphic installment, something is disturbing the peace in Classroom C at Sunnyview Elementary: A shiny new electric pencil sharpener has been installed over Super Turbo’s cage in Ms. Beasley’s room. While the students are delighted by the novelty of quickly sharpened pencils, the noise and intrusion of shavings into his cage are making the hamster miserable. He calls a meeting of the Superpet Superhero League, his team of neighboring class pets with superpowers. They deduce that this sharpener must be the work of evildoer Pencil Pointer. As they investigate, it is apparent that a second mystery is also occurring: An undefined “trial” in the cafeteria has emptied it of their favorite sugary snacks. Could past nemesis Whiskerface be responsible for all these crimes? Unsurprisingly, the classroom pets realize that perhaps they may have made an error by jumping to conclusions too quickly; readers will be able to solve the case long before Super Turbo and his pals do. While the bright colors and adorable animals are quickly recognizable to those familiar with earlier installments, this volume manages to feel both rushed and bland, and its resolution comes across as disappointingly saccharine. A two-page teaser for the next adventure is included. Human students are diverse, but the only two named human characters are White.

A disappointing slump.