Take a pinch of science, a drop of politics, a grain of absurdity and newspaper readers will almost always get The Brilliant Mind of Edison Lee, an intelligent left-leaning comic strip that masterfully mixes social commentary and humor.

Created by cartoonist John Hambrock, The Brilliant Mind of Edison Lee centers on Edison Lee, an atypical 10-year-old boy genius, who along with his parents, grandfather and talking lab rat, comment on current political, economic and social concerns facing Americans today. The inquisitive, young Edison likes to take various, ordinary topics and add his own unique perspectives to them, often using zany, elaborate inventions to help illustrate his thoughts.

The humor of The Brilliant Mind of Edison Lee revolves around Edison's precocious observations and interactions with his multi-generational, middle-class family who foster his intellectual curiosity and growth.

Originally inspired by his two young "brainiac" sons, Hambrock admits that Edison has subconsciously evolved into his own alter ego. "His young age and innocence allow me to present social and political commentary in a completely innocuous way," explains Hambrock. "The strip addresses issues and topics that straddle the political spectrum, but it does so through the voice of a very likable child, which makes what he is saying a little less offensive and more digestible to readers.

"I created this strip purposefully with a little something for everyone," said Hambrock. "Readers may not always agree with Edison's particular viewpoints on issues, but I'm hoping that he will at least get them to think for a minute and laugh."

Newspaper readers can read The Brilliant Mind of Edison Lee in the Kenosha News, Capital Times, Rocky Mountain News and Detroit Free Press starting on Nov. 12, 2006.