The Helm Volume 1 (v. 1)
Matt Blurdy is an overweight loser who works at a video store, henpecked by dissatisfied customers, and still lives at home, henpecked by his eternally dissatisfied mother. But when picking through an antique shop, he is informed by an ancient and magical helm that he has a heroic destiny and all he has to do is claim it. Despite the helm’s growing doubts, Matt undergoes a crash course in heroism, as both the police and certain dark forces start sniffing him out. From this irresistible premise, Hardison crafts a tale that does not let up, either on humor or suspense, delivering a pitch-perfect take on both the power-fantasies of pathetic losers and the sneering contempt that people have for them. And he still manages to tug the heartstrings as the relationship between the pudgy slacker and his stern mentor develops, while Sears beautifully balances the tactile art between satire and heroism. With its jabs at comic-book culture and its deft fantasy elements, this has appeal to any reader interested in a laugh or an adventure. Grades 9-12. --Jesse Karp