Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 08/08/2025 Gr 4 Up—After a quick introduction and superhero origin story for the titular character, Bruce Banner, aka Hulk, is court-ordered to do community service in the form of teaching middle school as part of a plea deal for damages done while in Hulk form. On his first day, the students are disappointed to see Bruce Banner walk into class instead of Hulk, but it doesn't take long for them to strike a nerve and summon the big green guy. In fact, Bruce can't seem to get through a single day of teaching without Hulking out. But with an important standardized test on the horizon and the school's funding hanging in the balance, Bruce is going to have to get his lesson plans in order. The setup is absurd in the best way, and Brown leans into the chaos with humor and heart, landing a laugh on every page and even sneaking in a lesson or two, such as the science behind why the sky is blue. His signature slice-of-life tone works surprisingly well in a superhero setting, grounding the outrageous premise through relatable human moments. Fans of Brown's Star Wars books will find much to love here and those familiar with the Marvel Universe will be delighted to see cameos from the Avengers and She-Hulk. Cozy black-and-white art is accented with splashes of green whenever Hulk or She-Hulk makes an appearance. Hand-lettering brings a charm to the book, and keen-eyed readers will spot the clever visual cue of the balloons changing to green whenever Hulk speaks. VERDICT This slice-of-superhero-life comic delivers laughs and lessons, making it a standout for Marvel fans and middle grade readers.—Jasmine Amiri - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.