Revenge of the Toxic Space Potato (First Dog on the Moon, A&U Children’s)

Finding a fresh angle on superheroes in 2024 is no easy task—unless you’re the Indefatigable EnviroTeens, who effortlessly revitalise a tired genre with humour, action and underpants pastry. In First Dog on the Moon’s latest graphic novel, Revenge of the Toxic Space Potato, things take a wild turn when the team is attacked by zombie uranium robot scorpions while waiting to meet reality TV stars Recycling Girl and Team Teen Wheelie Bin Teen Team at a shopping mall. The plot thickens from there, with the reader becoming a character in the story, frequently popping in to ask questions and eventually getting drawn into the action. This stand-alone follow-up to The Carbon-Neutral Adventures of the Indefatigable EnviroTeens is both endearingly scattershot and surprisingly tightly plotted, weaving all manner of gleeful craziness in and around a world-saving superhero story that at times bears a passing resemblance to parts of the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie Total Recall. Environmentally and socially aware without being heavy-handed, First Dog on the Moon (aka Andrew Marlton) skilfully juggles superhero action, teen team drama, interesting and disgusting nature facts, and loads of very funny gags. Under his seemingly simple drawing style lies a lot of solid storytelling, making even the most surprising shock twists easy to follow. The result is a hilarious adventure for children aged 10–14 that’s silly enough for adults to enjoy, where the bad guy is an evil potato who was once the Federal Environment Minister.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Anthony Morris is a freelance reviewer, novelist, and podcaster. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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