My daughters love superheroes because their mama loves superheroes. I enjoy DC cartoons and comics, and find their stories an exciting way to pass the time. With such interesting source material, it is a wonder to me that the beginning reader series using these characters are so boring. Does the need to modify the content to a younger audience mean removing suspense, tension, and interesting character development?

In this book, Mongul decides to conquer Earth. Clark Kent hears the news, rushes to change into his real persona, and battles Mongul into outer space. It's a quick fight, just a few pages. Superman destroys Mongul's planet-sized ship and sends it hurtling into space. The action is over quickly, and the reader never has any doubt that Superman will win. Also, does Superman not worry what Mongul will do in the new region of space where he fetches up? Apparently not.

As my rating and earlier thoughts indicate, this is not my favorite book. I firmly assert that beginning reader stories can use controlled vocabulary and sentence structures and still present quality stories. This story is dull, it relies on a reader's previous knowledge of the characters as it hardly explains them and doesn't develop them, and the sentences are lackluster. I bought it at my daughter's request, without much expectations; however, I want my girls to love reading, and freedom of choice is part of learning that process. ( )