If the graphic novel, Silver Vessels by Steve Orlando and illustrated by Katia Vecchio was any less believable, I would expect to see Bobby Ewing in the shower at the end of it. If you know that reference you’re not part of the aimed at ages of 10 and up. Who will love the precocious teens, their hunting mysterious sunken treasure, the mysterious APEX bad guys, the coming of age elements. But this adult reader feels there were a lot of really unbelievable parts. My summary is if Jonny Quest and Scooby Doo had a book baby, that needed a lot of help and love.
Three friends go to Florida to stay the summer with one boy’s grandfather. Enter the first big hurdle: Dad is “quietly” homophobic. While in Florida we have a love triangle (they are what? Twelve or thirteen at best?) of the gay boy, the transgender individual (right now she is okay, but they works too), and the (probably) bisexual leader of the group. We have a bunch of grown-butt men bugging the entire town (SPOILER) and when people learn of this, they are okay with it? (Though there is a hint the police are dirty and/or with this James-Bond-Spector-like group, APEX.) Not to mention nobody (including the kids) thinks it’s odd that a bunch of secret society zillionaires want a bunch of kids helping them, who have just sauntered up, know their names and are (eventually) wearing silver shark helmets? And up, that girl? And not to mention they are all minors (not creepy at all).
And those things are the least of the unbelievable elements, as trust me, it gets better (think Ice Age, Center of the Earth). Even the artwork isn’t helping me as while it is nice, it is either too busy or too vague. Thankfully Hunter and Josh are one with a hat and the other doesn’t wear one, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to tell them apart.
So, I’m sorry my dear creators, I am not the audience for this book. I think you have a big one out there, so I wish them happy reading!
