Ape & Armadillo Take Over the World

What's a more unusual friendship combo than a talking ape and armadillo? An evil talking ape and armadillo. (Little) Armadillo, with armored shell and long snout, wearing a red cape, and standing on all fours in what looks like a suburban backyard, is scowling at (large) Ape. Their body language, along with the speech-bubble text, indicates they're in the middle of a fight. Armadillo: "We have an evil plan! You agreed to it!" Ape: "Well, I changed my mind." As the squabble goes on, humorous details emerge, the gist being that Ape thinks it's unfair he always has to do the dirty work. "Why do I have to distract the spitting serpent that guards the castle...while you sneak in with the princess to steal the wizard king's wand?" Armadillo's response: "I came up with the evil plan! Coming up with ideas is the hardest part!" Whichever character's side readers are on, they'll appreciate this pitch-perfect push-and-pull between disagreeing parties-and it only gets better (and funnier and more surprising) when Ape comes up with his own plan. Clear digitally colored panel illustrations make the characters' imaginative scenarios easy to follow; there's some room for interpretation about what's real and what's part of the pals' imaginary play. A series of bonus comics appears below the main story, and a multi-panel sequence is appended, giving these oddball (and not very evil) child stand-ins more room to bicker-and make up (and bicker; repeat). elissa gershowitz

Oddball (evil) friends Ape and Armadillo are in a fight; Ape thinks he always has to do the dirty work. Whichever side readers are on, they'll appreciate the pitch-perfect push-and-pull. Clear panel illustrations make the characters' imaginative scenarios easy to follow. Bonus comics appear below the main story, giving these (not very evil) child stand-ins more room to bicker--and make up.