October 11, 2021
Batpig—Big City, U.S.A.’s newest superhero—stars in two stories and an intermission collected in Harrell’s (Wink) comical graphic novel. Via an extended flashback that leaves present-day Batpig strapped to a rocket, “Space Farce” explores the hero’s origin story, following sixth grader Gary Yorkshire, a lighthearted pink pig with a fondness for tasty sandwiches, Crimson Swine comics, and mud baths. After being accidentally bitten by friend Brooklyn, a radioactive brown bat, Gary develops super hunger, sight, and strength, plus the ability to float. But keeping his new powers and identity from gloomy friend Carl, a green fish with a propensity for spilling secrets, results in the creation of—and a face-off with—supervillain Repto-Man. In “Meat the Enemy,” Batpig faces a cued-white human butcher–themed villain and a new weakness (the smell of cooking bacon drains his powers) to save his kidnapped friends. Irreverent, animal-based humor drives the segments as art emphasizes close-ups and comic asides to accentuate comedic payoffs. With strong linework and anthropomorphic animal designs reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons, Harrell’s story will delight fans of Dog Man and InvestiGators. Ages 7–up.
Starred review from September 15, 2021
A pig becomes a superhero. Porcine Gary has a great life reading comics about the Crimson Swine, playing video games, and hanging with his friends, Brooklyn, a bat, and Carl, a fish. When a prank goes awry and he receives a radioactive bite from Brooklyn, Gary discovers he now has superhero powers and develops his new alter ego, Batpig. He tells Brooklyn about this development but not Carl, who can be indiscreet--and immediately picks up that his friends are hiding something from him. Carl's hurt feelings understandably morph into anger; Gary's decision to exclude his friend accidentally ends up creating a supervillain who may be Batpig's undoing unless the trio can work together. A second episode sees the friends face off against a nefarious human foe, the Butcher, a White woman who wants to use the power of the world's meat and has a robot that makes pigs in blankets. The first in a series, Harrell's full-color graphic-novel charmer is over-the-top fun, filled with fast pacing, abundant silliness (pig puns abound!), and a well-developed plot and characters, that nevertheless does not rely on humor as its sole support. Gary and his friends are both relatable and accessible: The social tribulations of being part of a trio of friends will resonate with middle-grade audiences. This is an absolute must-read for fans of Dav Pilkey's Dog Man series. Readers will go hog wild for this lovable hero. (Graphic fiction. 7-12)
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