Dalen & Gole: Scandal in Port Angus (review)

Comic-book aliens generally arrive from another galaxy, but our title heroes, fairly humanoid save for the eyestalks emerging from their scalps, come from the underground city of Budap, where they recently lost a jet race to Tunax Jr. and his mysteriously advanced technology. It turns out it wasn't the machine itself but the fuel (made from liquified fish) that won the day, and when Dalen and Gole are suddenly propelled topside into the dying Pacific fishing village of Port Angus, they land squarely in a diabolical business plot. Dastardly fishermen will use the X150 Super-Suck to clear the sea of fish, which they will sell to Tunax Sr., who will convert it into fishy fuel and corner the energy market in Budap. Except, of course, that Dalen and Gole and their new Earthling friend Rachel uncover the plot and save the day. The full-color illustrations would be very much at home in Saturday morning cartoons, with goofy Everycreature protagonists and doofus-styled bad guys. Plotting is thin and dialogue passes from simple into simplistic. Still, kids just cutting their teeth on GNs will find this an amiable romp, and a bonus spread of the Budapian alphabet and its English equivalent will give code enthusiasts a new method of secure encryption for classroom note-passing.