May 1, 2022
A rumor that demonic foe Witch Head is about to unleash an evil army sends Barb and her band of fledgling Zerks to Maug Horn, a city of monsters, in search of help. Though cutting off abruptly in midcrisis, this sequel to Barb the Last Berzerker (2021) is likewise loaded with action and wisecracks--not to mention a supporting cast of racially diverse humans and monsters armed with, among other things, a snot launcher; a bad guy who looks like a cross between an inflatable wavy tube man and a dinner fork; and a fierce young hero with a worthy mission ("Taking out BULLIES is our JAM!"), two magic swords, and a Wonder Woman-style tiara. Young readers will either roar with delight or possibly wish they could unsee one scene in which Barb rescues a falling ally in midair by grabbing the waistband of his shorts ("Side note: I thought the FULL MOON wasn't until NEXT week"), and they'll laugh at the ridiculous plot twists and applaud both her dedication to doing good and her reckless willingness to take on much bigger and stronger baddies. As with the previous volume, the fast-moving, vibrantly colored panels and humorous dialogue will keep readers turning pages. More punches and punchlines in pursuit of truth, justice, and the Berzerker way. (Graphic adventure. 8-12)
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Starred review from May 1, 2022
Gr 3-7-Barb and her fellow "zerks" (berserkers) have a lot of searching and battling to do if they are ever going to stop the shadowy Witch Head from summoning an army and destroying the land of Bailiwick. They will need more than swords and sorcery to fight the monsters on the way to and through the monster capital Maug Horn. Barb's stake in the quest gets extra personal when her mother reaches out to her in a dream. Her berserker mode gets her out of some tight scrapes, as does her yeti sidekick. Training from an adult barbarian helps her level up as a warrior, though her wits and heart are no less important to surviving each trial before her. VERDICT Barb's epic adventure combines the charming gags and story reversals of a Lewis Trondheim comic with the earnest boldness of Barry Deutsch's "Hereville" series. Start at book one.
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