Deep-Space Disco

(Stone Rabbit 3)

by
Erik Craddock

Random House, September 2009, 96 pp.
ISBN: 978-0-375-85876-5

Genre: Early Chapter
Subgenres: Graphic Novel / Adventure
Reviewed: 8/27/2011

Reviewed by: Conan Tigard

Book Cover

Graphic Novel Page

Synopsis

Stone Rabbit is playing a game of world domination with his friends, Andy, a dog-boy, and Henri, a turtle-boy, in a booth at Turtle Burger. Stone Rabbit storms out of the restuarant when he feels that Henri has cheated and runs smack-dab into . . . himself. Stone Rabbit is sucked up into a spaceship and sent somewhere into deep space.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, the being disguised as Stone Rabbit finds Andy and Henri and they take "Stone Rabbit" to the Jim Dandy Comic Emporium. While there, "Stone Rabbit" builds a monstrous device that he hopes will let him take over the world, but it is made out of toys. Henri sprays "Stone Rabbit" with a water cannon and the disguise disappears revealing Melvin the Plutarkian, who claims to be a maelstrom of destruction.

Light years away, the real Stone Rabbit is assumed to be Melvin the Plutarkian and has been brought before justice. Stone Rabbit is about to stand trial for crimes Melvin committed, crimes like destroying half the galaxy, disrupting interstellar traffic for a galactic cycle, setting ablaze the cotton-candy world of Jylan 7, and a multitude of other crimes to heinous to be mentioned. He is sentenced to be destroyed in the Vlarpaxen, which is a big arena filled with huge monsters.

How will Stone Rabbit escape the Vlarpaxen, which has thousands of fans watching the action? Will he survive the viscous attacks of the other creatures also in the Vlarpaxen? Will Stone Rabbit meet the fate that was intended for Melvin the Plutarkian? Speaking of Melvin, will he be able to conquer the Earthlings and reign destruction down upon the innocent being that live there? Who can stop Melvin the Plutarkian? Who can save the Earth? Who . . . ?

Deep-Space Disco is the third book in the Stone Rabbit series and is written and drawn by Erik Craddock. Stone Rabbit is a graphic novel about a quick-tempered (yet quick-witted) young rabbit, whose experiences can best be described as a raging rollercoaster of epic proportions. This book is intended for early chapter readers ages 7 to 10.

Review

Deep-Space Disco is another colorful and exciting adventure in the life of Stone Rabbit. I don't know how trouble can so easily find this racially rabbit, but it does. The cool thing about Stone Rabbit is that no matter what situation he finds himself in, he seems to be able to handle himself. In this book, Stone Rabbit finds that his extensive experience as the reigning champion of the video game Arcade Robot Fighter XXVII helps him battle in the Vlarpaxen. Who knew that playing video games could be helpful?

Erik Craddock knows how to create colorful, action-packed graphic novels that Early Chapter Readers, especially boys, will love to read. The intensive colors leap right off the page while the plentiful action will keep the very young reader turning pages with a smile on their face.

As a youth, I read a lot of comic books, like Richie Rich and Archie, which lead me to the love of reading that I have today. Whatever works, is my motto. If you have a young child that just doesn't like to read, it may be that you haven't found the right kind of book for them. All it takes is one book, just one book, to be bitten by the reading bug. The trick is finding that one book that they will love and want to read over and over again. Stone Rabbit books may be just the ticket.

Overall, Deep-Space Disco is another great story featuring Stone Rabbit in his latest adventure. Early Chapter Readers will be fascinated by the action and mesmerized by the colors. I wonder what kind of adventure Stone Rabbit will have next? I'll bet it is as exciting as the ones he has had before. In fact, you can be guaranteed of that.

I rated this book an 8½ out of 10.