Review by Ian Keogh

Model City 3 has a monster problem, meaning citizens regularly have to head for the bunkers. Tobi, though, is different and actively seeks out the monsters to observe and categorise them. One day he intends to be part of the Robug Academy and take a personal hand in fighting them, but that opportunity may not come if he keeps endangering himself. Tobi’s lonely, living in a house programmed by his parents to look after him during their absence, except we soon learn Tobi’s research scientist mother is dead and why his strict father is so often away.

The set-up sounds depressing, but Hamish Steele includes lighter moments, and it’s not too long before Tobi has most of his dreams come true. When the next monster arrives he’s able to transform himself into a giant warrior. It’s all logically explained, and Steele’s cover illustration encapsulates what’s going on very concisely while also including most prominent characters. That mixture covers a lot of bases from the city’s protectors to Tobi’s new best friend Grace, introduced with a very good joke, and robot monkey Okidoki, actually a powerful AI.

It’s not explicitly stated that Tobi is higher than average on the autism scale until Champion of Earth ends, although it’s mentioned on the back cover, and part of Steele’s message is to show how people possibly considered strange in one respect see the world and interact with it. Tobi’s feelings are important in contrasting the action. As Tobi himself is explored by Grace, Steele also builds the bigger world, eventually introducing the menace sending monsters to Earth.

Steele uses a chunky style for the art, adaptable in showing Tobi’s day to day life well, while also capable of offering the spectacle of giant monster fights. It’s bright and bombastic and kids will love it.

Steele ends with a few pin-up pages supplying more detail about the city, its protectors and its enemies, and by that time he ought have charmed the pants off every reader. There’s more to come and we should be grateful.