I could easily see this book as a graphic novel -- the focus on super-powers, the quick jumps from scene to scene without a lot of exposition, the action sequences. Once it got going, I enjoyed it, and I think it will appeal to comics fans. I found the nonexistent transitions a little hard to follow. ( )

Avery can fly and he has super strength, and he honestly tries his best to hide his super powers. But he just seems to always be in the wrong (right?) place at the right (wrong?) time and he keeps saving people. He can't keep blaming his heavy-lifting on just a rush of adrenaline anymore. Picking up a car (much more than a few inches, too) looks pretty suspicious. And then there's a genius girl in his class who keeps trying to become his friend, but Avery's wary of her asthma inhaler that's really a taser. And then there's the girl with cat-like balance and fingernails that can pierce anything. Things are starting to get a little weird in Avery's seemingly dull life. ( )

Very fun read, especially for anyone who has an interest in comic books and/or superheroes. My favorite part of this was the characters themselves, and their jokes, quirks, and camaraderie. I would love to read more of their adventures!

When I first got my hands on this book, this is the review I came up with:

Reasons why you should read Dull Boy next weekend instead of going to see the new Transformers movie*:

1. Dull Boy is about teen kids with weirdo super powers. Transformers 2 (or whatever it’s called) is about a teen kid who is emo because he has to help save the world, like, again. GEEZ. Super powers will always win over emo whining. ALWAYS.
2. In Dull Boy, Girl Character 1 tells Girl Character 2 that her cornea should just take one for the team. In Transformers 2, Sam is whiny because dueling robots aren’t supposed to be his problem for, lo, he is in college now and too cool for these shenanigans, and then no one slaps him upside his stupid head. People telling other people to suck it up is way more gratifying than robots just letting their human friends complain that life is hard. Like, be assertive robots! You’re made of metal! Don’t let some punk kid sass you!
3. Dull Boy has a girl character wearing a homemade Marie Curie gangsta shirt. Scientists are, indeed, gangsta. Transformers 2 has Megan Fox in short shorts. Marie Curie and her radiation are bad ass. Megan Fox’s shorts are not. Although, she does have pretty awesome legs, so maybe this one’s a tie?
4. Dull Boy is witty and funny and sometimes completely absurd. Transformers 2 will probably only be one of those things. (Note: if Transformers 2 is witty I will eat my hat. Or I would, if I were wearing a hat. Which I’m not.)

See? Four reasons to spend the 12 bucks you would have used to go to the movies on a nice shiny copy of Dull Boy instead. There are probably more, but I need to go sell something on ebay now so that I will have enough money to buy my copy of Dull Boy and also see Transformers 2. I have a weakness for shiny robots that complements my yen for superheroes. Such is the burden of being me.

What? Four is not an aesthetically pleasing number? You want five reasons? Fine. Avery is a much cooler name than Sam. There. That's five. Are you happy now?

Good. My work here is done.

*all assumptions about said Transformers movie are from a single viewing of the trailer in the theatre, but whatever. I am sure I’m right. So there. ( )

Review by: Bob

This book was excellent! I found it to be funny, entertaining, and engaging from the very beginning. I hope you take my advice and check this book out! ( )