Parents' Guide to Legend of the Mantamaji: Book 2

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Common Sense Media Review

Michael Berry By Michael Berry , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 9+

Diverse superhero saga ups ante with mystical villains.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 9+?

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Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

After his mother is killed, New York City Assistant District Attorney Elijah Alexander vows revenge on charismatic cult leader Brother Hope and his gang of criminals, the New World Knights. Elijah accepts that he's the last of the Mantamaji, an order of mystical knights that wield both magic and technology. With the assistance of Noah, another of the few surviving Mantamaji, Elijah directly confronts the evil, mystical warriors who have pledged their allegiance to Brother Hope, now revealed to be Sirach, who betrayed his race more than three millennia ago. But Sirach has assistance from four formidable allies, and it looks as if Noah, Elijah, and his girlfriend Sydney may have met their match.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

THE LEGEND OF THE MANTAMAJI: BOOK 2 suffers from its excesses: too much dialogue, too many similar fight scenes, and a too-complicated backstory that keeps growing in complexity. The story is best when it keeps things simple, such as when it introduces a new rogue's gallery of villains to face off against Elijah and Noah. Those scenes capture the aggressive appeal of classic superhero comics. This installment ends in a cliffhanger that promises new twists in the concluding volume.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why superhero sagas are popular with so many readers. What is it about the genre that appeals to readers?

  • Do you think that comic book superheroes are sufficiently diverse? How are people of color portrayed in popular graphic novels?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

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