Science Fair Crisis

DC Comics: Secret Hero Society #4

by Derek Fridolfs, Pamela Lovas (Illustrator)

Clark Kent (Superman), Bruce Wayne (Batman), and Diana Prince (Wonder Woman) are starting a new school year at Justice Prep. This semester, everyone is focusing on their science projects: Principal James Gordon announced that the winner of the upcoming science fair gets an all-inclusive trip to the new S.T.A.R. Laboratories space facility. Who wouldn't want to win a trip to outer space? All the kids want to try their best to win.

As the fair draws closer, the students receive a text message from a mysterious, untraceable number saying: "if you help me, I can help YOU win the science fair!" Just who is behind this mystery number, and what do they have to do with the science fair? It's up to Clark, Diana, and Bruce's Junior Detectives Club to find out! With appearances from fan favorites like Arthur Curry (Aquaman) and Lex Luthor, plus all-new characters including Black Manta and Professor Zoom, this hilarious newest chapter in the Secret Hero Society saga is not to be missed!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Comics, Superheroes, Childrens, Fiction, Dc Comics

176 pages, Hardcover

First published February 26, 2019

About the author

Derek Fridolfs has worked professionally as an writer, inker, cover & sequential artist for DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, Boom, IDW, and a majority of comic companies the past 20 years.

#1 New York Times Best Selling Writer for the DC Secret Hero Society book series through SCHOLASTIC. And Eisner Nominated co-writer of Batman: Li'l Gotham at DC.

He's also written for such titles as Adventure Time, Regular Show, Clarence, Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, Teen Titans Go!, Dexter's Laboratory, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The New Animated Adventures, Batman Arkham City, Batman Arkham Unhinged, Adventures Of Superman, Sensation Comics Wonder Woman, Justice League Beyond and many more.

Reviews

[sameera]

got me rather confused especially when they started talking science. although, some other stuff was weird too. like how occasionally it felt like an error slipped by the editor. but, the name continuity as well, like they were calling joker "joe kerr" but now they are calling him "joker kid." ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

oh i liked how bruce and diana's dynamic is similar to "justice league unlimited"

art was nice but i think the old stuff was one cuter(◕‿◕✿)

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny, lots of Easter eggs for long time DC fans and Martian Manhunter finally gets to be included!

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Science Fair Crisis is a graphic novel written by Derek Fridolfs and illustrated by Pamela Lovas. It centers on young students, Bruce Wayne, Diana Prince, and Clark Kent emrolled in another mystery while they prepare for the Science Fair with the winner getting a remarkable prize – an all-inclusive trip to the new S.T.A.R. Laboratories space facility.

Clark Kent and his friends are attending a revamped school – Justice Preparatory. As the fair draws closer, students receive texts from a mysterious and untraceable number that if they help them, they would help them win the science fair. Bruce Wayne, Diana Prince, and Clark Kent tries to find out with cameo characters from Arthur Curry and Lex Luthor.

Science Fair Crisis is written and constructed rather well. The narrative is spun out in a mix of journal entries, chat transcripts, screenshots, and panels of comic art as the Secret Hero Society gets behind the person behind sending mysterious text to students for help and in return help them out with their science project with a promise for their victory. Lovas' loosely drawn and black and white illustrations have a quick, sketchy look reinforced by wonderful backgrounds.

All in all, Science Fair Crisis is a well-crafted tale of middle school woes of participating in the classical and traditional science fair at a wacky level with familiar faces of comic book heroes and villains.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fourth book in the series has Clark and his friends attending a revamped school. They have a new principal, James Gordon, who seems serious about making the school a solid place to be. This will allow the students to focus on the upcoming science fair. But someone is up to mischief, making a mess of the school, attacking some of the teachers, and sabotaging the students science fair projects. Can Clark and the Junior Detectives Club find the culprit or will accusations break up the group before they can stop the damage? This combination of graphic novel, letters, texts, and files of information makes for a light, fun read for superhero fans who enjoy seeing their favorite superheros as students like themselves. The black-and-white illustrations are appealing and easy to follow. A fun series for young superhero fans.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Science Fair Crisis is the fourth book in the Secret Hero Society series. In this book the trio starts the school year at their new school, Justice Prep. When they get to Justice Prep their new principal James Gordon announces that they will be hosting a science fair and the winner will get a trip to the STAR Labs facility. As the story progresses we see the students getting suspicious messages from an unknown number and the friend group once again gets together to solve this mystery.

I liked this addition to the series but not as much as the rest of the series thus far. I still really liked the characters but I wasn't quite as interested in the plot because I felt like we didn't really see very much progression and again we were almost confined to one space as opposed to in the first two books where we could at least see different areas of the school and camp. I also wasn't a huge fan of the fact that they changed illustrators for this installment. There isn't anything wrong with the art style but I didn't like it as much for this story because the first three all had the same style and illustrator. Overall, I did enjoy this book just not as quite as much as the others but I would still recommend it. (4.25 Stars Rounded Down)

[Emilou · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was entertaining. I missed the other artist though. I disliked the changes this artist made to the character designs. There's also a lot of inconsistences between this book and the other two, such as in the second book, Killer Croc was a kid (in this one, he's an adult) and James Gordon was on the police force (in this one, he's a principal). I feel that these books would be better if the author didn't sacrifice substance for comedy.

Other than that, these books are entertaining, and I enjoy reading them.

[Drucilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the overall plot of the mystery eye wasn't as integrated as well as it could have been. I think part of the reason why was because there were so many things Fridolfs tried to add. We've got the mystery eye person, but also the science fair, and Clark's newspaper duties, as well as many other characters getting a page or two (or a small subplot that goes nowhere). There is a new artist for this book too, and the illustrations are very adorable.

[Vincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know if it's because the number of students has increased, but I had trouble telling them apart at times; it feels like the earlier Dustin Nguyen drawn books differentiated them a little better.

There were a couple of places where the plot jumped a little and might confuse younger readers.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another super cute read. And "jealous" bit... :) :) :)

[zapkode · Rating 5 out of 5]

{My thoughts} – Clerk, Bruce and Diana are all starting the new school year together are their school now re-branded as Justice Prep. They seem to like all the changes that have taken place that have eliminated all the bad individuals that had been working at the school. It however, had not eliminated all the rotten egg students. Honestly though, what kind of school would it be without the rotten eggs, making the good guys lives a tad more miserable then one would like?

Each of the students starts getting mysterious text messages on their phones. The texts are asking for help. Someone is trying to get the students to help them with something, it can’t possibly mean anything good can it? On top of the mystery texts there is a Science Fair that everyone is gearing up and getting ready to compete in. It turns out though most of the school gets vandalized by water damage. The water damage causes many of the science projects to be destroyed as well. Many of the students are forced to start the projects over.

Who or what is causing all of this damage? What can be done to put an end to all the mayhem taking place? Is it one of the students at the school? A group of them? So many questions. I promise each question will be answered in this fun book that takes you back into the day that all the DC Comic characters were still attending middle school!

I recommend this book for any child that is a fan of the DC Comics. It’s a fun book that has the element of mystery that helps to keep your attention with various graphic type pages. The way in which it is put together is rather unique in it’s own. This series has become one of my oldest daughters favorites and I look forward to seeing what she has to say about it’s newest book!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a 6th grade science teacher who has had science fair in my life and the lives of my students for the past 15 years, I am always on the look out for fun science fair books - fiction or non-fiction. This one showed up in our school book fair, and I'm glad I picked it up. I love super hero comics having grown up on them in the 60s. I love the teenage version of all the superheros. I believe this would be a very engaging mystery story for my students because of the way this book is written. The author doesn't just use narrative. Every page has a different media - journal entries, text messages, chat rooms, letters, newspaper articles (thank you Lois Lane), posters, etc. Every page provides more clues to help solve the mystery of who is sabotaging the science fair.
I'm glad to promote this one to my students and add it to my classroom bookshelf. Bet it doesn't stay there very long!

[Heather Shembarger · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are a DC Comics fan, then you probably would enjoy this book. If you are not familiar with the DC characters, then this book may be a bit confusing. The book also finds clever ways to mix in a bit of science and math as well. The characters end up having to solve a mystery involving the science fair. Characters, both the good ones and bad ones, are competing to win. However, a "mystery eye" shows up on people's computers with messages about needing help, and if it is offered, then the "mystery eye" could help them win the science fair. Right about this time, things start getting destroyed. Innocent people are accused, and long time friends seem to turn on each other. Will the mystery be solved before people like Batman and Superman are no longer friends? You will have to read to book to find out. It is mostly a graphic novel with occasional pages of writing mixed in.

[TYTUS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Science Fair Crisis by Derek Fridolf-Pamela Lovas-Shane Clester is a book about kids as a DC superhero. They are trying to make a project for the Science fair and the winner gets to go to space to see a new lab up there. But there is a Mystery Eye that talks with the group of superhero kids and The Kids don´t know who it is so they try to find out who it is. The Mystery Eye also caused trouble he flood the bathrooms and some else got blamed for it and also he created a giant robot and destroy some projects during the science fair was going on. But the kids caught him and also they got some help from Mratain ManHunter which was the janitor. My overall opinion about this book was it was pretty good and I would recommend it for kids who like graphic novels and superheroes. In the book, it shows a lot of events that happen and thats why I like it so much and also has like a group chat that I can read what they talk about.

[Robyn Hood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. Like seriously what's not to love? The Secret Hero Society is basically about the Justice League in middle school. Not only are they dealing with questionable classmates (the Joker, Harley Quinn, Black Manta etc) but also questionable teachers (like Professor Eobard Thawne, and how he has a particular interest in Barry Allen).

This book had some Suicide Squad vibes and also, reminiscent of the animated Justice League movie War.

Overall great pick for young readers or anyone who likes DC.

[Jacqui Zurawski · Rating 3 out of 5]

More than illustrator changing (I agree with another review I saw, the additional characters were harder to differentiate between in this one), I also felt too much was trying to be thrown in this one from a story & character references standpoint. Made it feel a little off from the prior 3 and, in my opinion, not as good - although still enjoyable read.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still think it needs at least a few pages in color. Some of the characters really blend together and I can't always tell who's who.

Also, it just reminds me how much I still don't know about DC Comics.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Super Kids are back!!! We have more characters in the mix and a new illustrator. We also have some extras. One would be Martian Manhunter. Really enjoying this Middle School Graphic Novel series!!! Reading this series has gotten me out of my slump. :)

[Holly Ducarte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun read with my daughter. Different style of illustrations…but that’s not an overly big deal because it’s still drawn well. The story wasn’t as compelling as previous ones in the series but we still found the mystery of the janitor intriguing.

[Christian Lenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. New school new teacher and winner of the science fair project gets to go to space. New bad guys and funny moments. Your favorite character and new heroes. Arthur was the winner and asked if he could take everyone to space with him.

[Evan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn't as good as the others

[Eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super kiddos are back with a science fair project looming in their future.

[Harlen De La Mota]

It was good

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m new to the DC Universe and this was a fun intro to all the characters, through a science fair spin!

[Aiden]

i review this book 3 1/2 out of 5 because there was really no action or suspense more journals and texts

[EHulbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its okay. A little confusing for me.

[Arielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish i was there but it made me think i was in the book

[Sianni · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars I liked how it was manly focused on Clark and bruce just got on my nerves in this book

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent continuation for this series. I like seeing the mention of all the heroes and villains. Jon as the janitor was great!

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

C'est divertissant de lire en français!

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, I do not think my head was on right when I read this, because I did not like it as much as the others. It had some good points, but I wasn't feeling it. Based on the cover, I thought Arthur would have taken more of a role in this book and would solve the mystery, but this was mostly told from Clark's perspective. I think that is why I was not into this as much as I should be.