Review by Booklist Review
Teenage spy Alex Rider has gotten his fifth graphic-novel treatment with the release of this latest series installment. Fresh off the heels of Eagle Strike (2017), Alex heads to Italy to search for the shadowy criminal organization Scorpia. After tracking down their headquarters, he learns the truth about his father and his mysterious death. Now Alex must make a difficult choice: join the evil Scorpia to get revenge and kill the agent who assassinated his father, or fight once more with M-16 and take down Scorpia before they can unleash their evil plan. Those familiar with Horowitz's long-running spy series will definitely enjoy seeing all of Alex's daring escapes and adventures unfold right before their eyes. Artists Vieceli and Brown certainly add to the flair, as action often spills out into the gutters of the pages, and the wide array of panel variation keeps each page fresh. A great way to jump into the popular series.--Blenski, Peter Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In this graphic-novel adaptation of the popular series, teenage spy Alex Rider must infiltrate a ruthless gang of assassins in possession of a terrifying deadly weapon.On a school trip to Venice, the 14-year-old, white sometimes-spy for MI6 begins investigating Scorpia, a syndicate of murderers for hire rumored to have ties to his deceased father. When Scorpia discovers Alex's lineage, spy training, and ties to British intelligence, they manipulate him into joining their ranks. As he tries to figure out where his loyalties should lie, Alex learns that Scorpia is threatening to release a weapon that could slay thousands of innocent British schoolchildren; can he stop them before it's too late? With pulse-pounding plotting, a cinematic scope, and a nail-biting cliffhanger, this clever spinoff makes for an entertaining accompaniment to the prose series. Unlike previous installments, this volume shrugs off the nifty gadgets and episodic feel for a more brooding exploration of the intelligence world. Longtime fans may notice a subtle artistic shift to a more Western-style look to the characters as new illustrators Viecili and Brown replace the previous artists' decidedly manga-inspired approach. Though the other volumes in this series can stand alone, this one and its dovetailing predecessor, Eagle Strike, illustrated by Kanako and Yuzuru, will be simultaneously released. Perhaps Rider's most thrilling adventure to date, this spinoff delivers a hearty dose of intrigue, dark secrets, and breakneck action. (Graphic adaptation. 8-13) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
