Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy by Doug Savage (review)

Don’t bother asking why a moose can shoot lasers out of his eyes; just enjoy it as his best friend, a rabbit, does. The two are a good pair in this graphic novel, as Rabbit Boy gambols around and distracts his buddy, keeping the moose’s paranoia tamped down a bit, and Laser Moose keeps an eye out for endless danger, reacting with speed that . . . hardly ever works out for the best, as things—unfortunately, rarely actual villains—get lasered down with abandon. And oh, boy, when there are actually bad guys, they are doozies, from the terrifying aqua-bee-bear to the ankle-biting mechasquirrel. Rabbit’s so kind that he never points out that lasers aren’t particularly useful, at least on moose, and indeed, it is the endearing and enduring friendship of these two that is the star feature in this graphic novel. Wry, accessible humor, often conveyed without text (a brilliant single panel, showing a deer carrying his own leg in his mouth after another of Moose’s shoot-first moments, doesn’t need a word), and bright, chipper colors hearken back to Sunday comics. It’s an odd concept, but an irresistible one; this is going to be a hit across a wide range of readers who will read more or less into the humor depending on their maturity level.