Dog Man
2021
- comic books, strips, etc.
- dogs, fiction
- humorous stories
- nyt:graphic-books-and-manga=2021-04-11
- children's fiction
The story
**Dog Man and Petey face their biggest challenges yet in the tenth Dog Man book from worldwide bestselling author and illustrator Dav Pilkey.** Dog Man is down on his luck, Petey confronts his not so purr-fect past, and Grampa is up to no good. The world is spinning out of control as new villains spill into town. Everything seems dark and full of despair. But hope is not lost. Can the incredible power of love save the day? Dav Pilkey's wildly popular Dog Man series appeals to readers of all ages and explores universally positive themes, including love, empathy, kindness, persistence, and the importance of doing good.
What it’s like
Bright, loose cartoon panels in primary colours, with thick black outlines, flat fills and speech balloons that crowd the gutters, so the page reads like a flipbook of sight gags and exclamations. The pacing is brisk and jokey, with mock-heroic captions and a mix of goofy full-page spreads and small, quick-cut sequences that keep a young reader turning. Its voice is playful and self-aware, and the feel is warm, silly, and sweetly sincere: a comic-book world of bumbling heroes, cartoonish villains and a little wistfulness about family and second chances. Its emotional register is light, with the darkness of the premise (despair, a rising threat) handled through puns and slapstick rather than real fear. Violence is cartoonish and bloodless, mostly slapstick and mild peril, with no gore and no sexual content. It suits a lazy afternoon, a reading-aloud session with a child, or a quick, cheerful pick-me-up for an adult who wants something gentle and funny. It is made for early readers and families who want comics that are kind, clever, and easy to laugh with.
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