![]() It’s snappier and funnier, leaving the reader desirous to know what happens next, much like Sean McKeever’s Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane. Her work includes the Tor.com short story Do Not. even though she mostly lives in airports. The narrative doesn’t exactly adhere to realism. Prudence Shen is a writer and caffeine addict who pays rent in D.C. The drama of the key events (an intense student council race, a trip to Atlanta for a robot battle, a rivalry for protagonist Charlie who holds loyalties to both jocks and dweebs) is rendered with just enough upscaling to keep things entertaining. The cheerleaders may be the bad guys, but they’re not ditzes by any means instead, they’re impressively Machiavellian and focused on achieving their own goals. For example, Nate, who heads up the robotics club, is by turns sympathetic and manipulative, hard-headed and idea-driven. ![]() Shen’s snark and ability to create well-rounded characters meld perfectly with Hicks’ gift for depicting all forms of slouch. But calling this charming book conventional would be like saying Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer was just another show about high school. The plot plays with the universal YA themes of warring social groups: robot-club nerds fight evil cheerleaders for student club funding. But her collaboration Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong with writer Prudence Shen, who debuts with a polished, funny, and unconventional voice, shows some of the best work in the Canadian artist’s oeuvre. She’s an uncommonly talented visual artist, plus a pretty good writer. ![]() ![]() Paste has reviewed its fair share of Faith Erin Hicks’ work ( The Adventures of Superhero Girl and Friends With Boys). ![]()
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