FALL OF HEROES

Teenage superheroes square off against supervillain parents in this action-packed, if misleadingly (or at least metaphorically) titled, trilogy closer.

In hiding since his dad, Volt, and evil telepathic mother (imagine having one of those), Shade, led the Cloak Society in a successful bid to crush the Rangers of Justice and market itself as the “New Rangers,” Alex and his mixed band of junior allies from both organizations make ready to strike back. The first step—rescuing original rangers Lone Star and Lux from an other-dimensional prison—turns into a public relations disaster, and nearly a real one, after the rescuees dismiss the young folk and charge into the fray on their own. So much for counting on grown-ups. As previously, Kraatz weaves together angst-y ruminations and multiple set-piece battles between bands of costumed fighters endowed with both high-tech weaponry and powers ranging from telekinesis to the ability to change into a mist. Of course, adversaries have time to exchange the customary threats or banter as they battle, and despite massive destruction of property, the actual body count is near zero. Afterward, along with discussing possibilities for sequels, Alex and his newly fledged team acquire preppy peacoats rather than flashy spandex body suits (so last-century).

Dangers, debacles and superhuman feats galore, with a light brush of applied satire and enough resolution to serve.