Benny Breakiron #1: The Red Taxis HCPublisher: Papercutz
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Price: $11.99
Creator(s): Peyo and Willy Maltaite
Format: 64 pgs., Full-Color, Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-5970-7409-4
Age Rating: 7 and up
ICv2 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Benny is a perfectly normal boy, except he’s super strong. Nobody seems to notice though, except for the other neighborhood kids who are tired of him accidentally breaking all of their toys. His strength doesn't seem to be good for anything, but just when he’s finally able to put it to good use he learns he has a surprising weakness. But Benny is never helpless, not so long as he has his wits and courage.
Although you may see him as a superhero, Benny certainly doesn’t. He's a little embarrassed by his "gift"; it never even occurs to him there’s a practical application for it until he finds he can use it to help nice, old Mr. Duissilfard. But, being a good boy, his first impulse upon learning Duissilfard's been kidnapped by gangsters is to report it to the police; it's only when they won't believe him that he decides to take the law into his own hands.
Peyo, creator of The Smurfs (if the art style isn't enough of a clue a policeman is shown reading a Smurfs album) and Willy Maltaite have come up with a smart, funny 'take' on the whole idea of superheroes. But Benny Breakiron plays gently with the formula in a way that avoids either cheap laughs or outright parody, getting down to the wish fulfillment inherent in superheroes that originally appealed to kids. Kids should love this, but then, so should everyone else.
--Steve Bennett: Writer and retail services consultant.