The Meister of Decimen City

Raney’s smart, silly, and surprisingly heartfelt debut introduces a genius scientist who could go either way in the ongoing conflict between superheroes and supervillains. Like any scientist, Rex, aka the Meister of Decimen City, has made mistakes, but hers end up being inadvertently dangerous, like the time she created a zombie virus or let a horde of dinosaurs rampage through town. She also cured cancer, but that hasn’t stopped anyone from labeling her a mad scientist. As such, she’s constantly monitored by Superbeings Oversight, a branch of the military. Meanwhile, her brother, the supervillain Last Dance, and her sister, the superhero Vivid Blue (both accidentally given their powers by Rex), prepare to face off in an epic battle. Rex tries to stay out of it and off Oversight’s radar, focusing instead on the rapidly increasing intelligence of her dinosaurs, but Last Dance reaches out for help and Vivid Blue demands that Rex spy on him. Amid all the comic book–style chaos, this is really the story of Rex’s self-discovery, aided by unlikely allies and some adorable talking dinosaurs. The result is thoroughly entertaining and utterly delightful. (Mar.)