The crustacean crimefighter and his sidekick really earn their doughnuts in this smash-’em-up slugfest.
The ocean’s top cops dive into the timestream in pursuit of fishy archfiend Brain Sturgeon.
Something’s definitely fishy in underwater Caper Cove, with finny scientists and piles of gold all vanishing. Fortunately, lobster lawman Clawsome and his doughty if diminutive starfish partner, Stariana, are on the case. In a caper that takes them from prehistoric times to the Old West and even into “outer space” (i.e., above the ocean’s surface), they battle cavegoons and robots, both giant and regular size, to save their undersea town and the future itself from a sneering mastermind with a time machine. Fueled by kelpcakes (like doughnuts, but green) and exchanging eye-rolling banter as they go (“Wanna do some bowling?” “As long as you don’t spare any of these goons.” “Let’s see if I can strike up a conversation!”), the dynamic duo suffers reverses. But as depicted in fast-flowing panels flooded with loud, punchy action and massive explosions, they ultimately deliver just deserts once again. Even (literally) crabby Captain Badmood has to offer reluctant congrats. Young fans of Dav Pilkey’s work will appreciate the action-packed storyline, humor, and bright illustrations.
The crustacean crimefighter and his sidekick really earn their doughnuts in this smash-’em-up slugfest. (Graphic fantasy. 7-9)Pub Date: April 23, 2024
ISBN: 9780063136397
Page Count: 240
Publisher: HarperAlley
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2024
What a wag.
What do you get from sewing the head of a smart dog onto the body of a tough police officer? A new superhero from the incorrigible creator of Captain Underpants.
Finding a stack of old Dog Mancomics that got them in trouble back in first grade, George and Harold decide to craft a set of new(ish) adventures with (more or less) improved art and spelling. These begin with an origin tale (“A Hero Is Unleashed”), go on to a fiendish attempt to replace the chief of police with a “Robo Chief” and then a temporarily successful scheme to make everyone stupid by erasing all the words from every book (“Book ’Em, Dog Man”), and finish off with a sort of attempted alien invasion evocatively titled “Weenie Wars: The Franks Awaken.” In each, Dog Man squares off against baddies (including superinventor/archnemesis Petey the cat) and saves the day with a clever notion. With occasional pauses for Flip-O-Rama featurettes, the tales are all framed in brightly colored sequential panels with hand-lettered dialogue (“How do you feel, old friend?” “Ruff!”) and narrative. The figures are studiously diverse, with police officers of both genders on view and George, the chief, and several other members of the supporting cast colored in various shades of brown. Pilkey closes as customary with drawing exercises, plus a promise that the canine crusader will be further unleashed in a sequel.
What a wag. (Graphic fantasy. 7-9)Pub Date: Aug. 30, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-545-58160-8
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
BOOK TO SCREEN
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look...
Winning actually isn’t everything, as jazz-happy Rooster learns when he goes up against the legendary likes of Mules Davis and Ella Finchgerald at the barnyard talent show.
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look good—particularly after his “ ‘Hen from Ipanema’ [makes] / the barnyard chickies swoon.”—but in the end the competition is just too stiff. No matter: A compliment from cool Mules and the conviction that he still has the world’s best band soon puts the strut back in his stride. Alexander’s versifying isn’t always in tune (“So, he went to see his cousin, / a pianist of great fame…”), and despite his moniker Rooster plays an electric bass in Bower’s canted country scenes. Children are unlikely to get most of the jokes liberally sprinkled through the text, of course, so the adults sharing it with them should be ready to consult the backmatter, which consists of closing notes on jazz’s instruments, history and best-known musicians.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-58536-688-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2011
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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