Maximum Ride, Vol. 4

I knew very little about Maximum Ride before picking up the first volume. Having never read the novels or the synopsis for the manga I only had what my friend told me about it before I borrowed volume one from her and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I had enjoyed it. When it comes to adaptations of any kind the results are pretty much hit and miss and after reading Witch & Wizard: The Manga another adaptation of another James Patterson novel that didn't transition too well I was worried that I would get the same results here but that wasn't the case at all.

Maximum Ride is an action packed, funny story about a group of genetically enhanced teenagers who have no one to depend on but themselves. Years before volume one starts Max, Fang, Nudge, Gasman, Iggy and Angel were all test subjects at an institution called the School. And as result of the experiments done to them all of the children ended up with wings as well as other attributes that allow them to fly and heal quickly among other traits that are unique to each of them. For example Angel, the youngest member of the group, has the power to read people's thoughts and to project her own thoughts into other people's heads. Max is the leader of the group and she's also basically the mother, having to take on the role of protector after the group's guardian Jeb went missing years ago after he broke the kids out of the School. And despite this tragedy the kids have actually been doing great on their own, living in Jeb's house and providing for themselves until one day creatures from the School come back for them.

If you like stories filled with lovely artwork, action/adventure, humour, and wise-talking, smart-aleck teenagers then I'll think you'll enjoy Maximum Ride. And if you enjoy stories about teenagers with unnatural super powers I think you'll enjoy it even more.