From Publishers Weekly
This anthology gives many writers and artists the chance to have fun playing with Huddleston's initial concept: the adventures of young policeman Bobby Luck and his buddy, Decoy, a cute little shape-shifting green space alien. Bobby has to conceal his friend's existence from everyone else, especially hot rookie Tessa, while Decoy morphs into whatever Bobby needs, from an umbrella to a bulletproof vest. The basic situation turns out to be adaptable into many forms, pulled between the experiences of a big-city cop and a cute, naïve but very powerful extraterrestrial. Some stories that focus on Bobby doing his job can be serious under a humorous exterior, like "The Invisible Man" (by J. Torres and Travis Kotzbue) or "Mind Games" (by Jason Rand and Bob LeFevre). Others are simply humorous as they show Decoy's geekiness, such as "Red Rage" (by George Gladir and Travis Sengaus). Probably the best is the poignant "Giving Thanks" by I.M. Mater and Michael Lopez, which juxtaposes the family experiences of the two. Despite the lack of continuity due to so many hands working on different stories, the anthology holds together surprisingly well, showcasing a range of art styles, all comfortable within the concept. (Dec.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.
From Booklist
Gr. 9-12. This comic-book collection of stories has an unusual hero, born when an alien, Decoy, symbiotically merges with a badly wounded rookie cop, Bobby Luck, giving the officer a second chance at life. Each story, written by a different creative team, depicts the friendship between the alien and the officer as they fight crime as one in Dolphin City. Most of the seven tales are standard comics fare, but there are some definite standouts: in "Big Top Decoy," Bobby and Decoy go undercover at the circus to catch a murderer; "The Answer" recounts the story of Decoy's home planet and hints at what the future may hold for the alien. The harsh realities of Bobby's police work come through in several of the stories, but the collection centers on the strong relationship he and Decoy share. The various artists involved turn out page after page of great work, their range of visual styles working together well to promote the message of friendship and compassion at the heart of the collection. Tina Coleman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
