My Hero by Brian Biggs

Abstract

Reviewed by: My Hero by Brian Biggs Natalie Berglind Biggs, Brian My Hero; written and illus. by Brian Biggs. Dial, 2022 [40p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780525553380 $18.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780593529409 $10.99 Reviewed from digital galleys Ad 3-6 yrs Abigail is an underappreciated superhero: "Disguised as an ordinary kid, she flies in the face of danger!" Her attempts to rescue Harry the cat from a tree only get her dragged away by her father for a bath, where she tries to convince him that she's Awesome Girl, "a defender of freedom and justice." Daddy indulges her but doesn't quite believe her, until Abigail has a chance to prove herself when her stuffed purple octopus takes her father captive, but the rescue can only succeed if Daddy affirms his belief in her powers. Wanting to be a superhero isn't a particularly new goal for a kid narrator (see Chabon's The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man, BCCB 11/11; DiPucchio's Super Manny!, BCCB 11/17) and the story lacks freshness, but this still offers visual appeal in its mixed media art. Gouache and glued paper emphasize Biggs' ebullient style of splotchy gradients in funky '70s hues, and the bold-lettered text adds drama to the action scenes. The book takes an interesting turn when Abigail must go toe to tentacle with the octopus, as traditional page spreads with contained text move to full-on comic book panels with speech bubbles for the heroic bits. All those misunderstood viewers who yearn for superhero glory will cheer on Awesome Girl as she rescues her father and finally gets the parental validation she deserves. [End Page 244] Copyright © 2022 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois