DC Comics Secret Hero Society, Book 5 - Field Trip Disaster

Clark, Bruce, and Diana return for a fifth adventure in this world of DC Comics' Secret Hero Society. And while their supporting cast had been growing in recent books, author Derek Fridolfs takes a step back and returns to just the Big Three (or Small Three, as the case may be) in this book, as Clark, Bruce, and Diana take an unexpected field trip into the future!

Field Trip Disaster finds the future heroes pulled away from their classes - heck, from their very time! - to help the heroes of the future avert a disaster that could have devastating repercussions on the time line.  Enter: The Legion of Super-Heroes! Fridolfs introduces the 31st century superheroes into the world of young Diana, Clark, and Bruce. Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5, Cosmic Boy, and the rest try to help the Secret Hero Society determine exactly what it is in the 21st century that goes so wrong that is creates ripples and dangers in the 31st century.  Diana, Clark and Bruce even get their own Legion flight rings (even though Clark and Diana don't really need them), and they take classes with some very esteemed teachers (including one Booster Gold!).  Ultimately, though it is through their own standard methods of clue-finding and deductive reasoning that our three heroes figure out who and what must be changed in order to save the future.

Dave Bardin takes over the art chores for this book, making him the third artist for this series. Bardin's art, though, is very similar to the prior artists, so for the target audience, it is unlikely to make a difference. The story, was with its predecessors, is told through prose, comic panels, and fun images (such as invitations, brochures, study guides, warnings, etc.), making it almost an interactive book as you read it.  For adults, it's likely you will spend less than 30 minutes reading the book from start to finish - but it is a well-spent thirty minutes (or less) and loads of good fun!

And, just like the prior books, there is a lesson to be learned, and Fridolfs gives his readers something to think about when it comes to friendship, pride, and sacrificing one's own wants to help someone else. Plus, Legion fans will get a kick out of some of the cameos and Easter Eggs throughout the story - and those who have been reading the series from the beginning will love the time travel jaunts into some of the characters' own past stories!

If you like fun and you like the DC pantheon of characters, then you'll enjoy this series. I am hoping there are more to com, but judging from DC's cancellation of the DC Super Hero High books, and the fact that there are no solicitations for a book six on Amazon or anywhere else that I can find, I'm guessing this may be the final book in the series - which would be sad, indeed.  However, it was fun while it lasted!

RATING:  9 selfies with Booster Gold out of 10 for remembering that Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman can still have adventures that are fun!