What do a novel based on the ideals of the French Revolution, a narrative that develops around two families living in the Salinas Valley, California, and a dystopia of lost children on a desert island have in common? The three plots of the classics serve as the background for stories about the Dog Man, a character created by the American author-illustrator Dav Pilkey, whose release of the fourth volume of the policeman series with the body of a man and the head of a dog, The Dog Man and the supergatinho, has just arrived at bookstores in the country.
The hero who barks in the face of danger was created from the adventures of the Captain Cueca series by the duo Jorge and Haroldo. And it was in the fifth school year, more specifically in the third volume of the series, that the canine police strip began to present elements of classic stories. It happened when the two mischievous boys, Jorge and Haroldo, were already “more mature and smarter”, as they themselves make a point of punctuating in the preface “Dog-Man on the Stage”. Thanks to Mrs. Chievess, the literature teacher, or thanks to her, the pair of friends got to know some classics and decided to use this repertoire as inspiration to recount the endeavors of this security agent who graces newspaper covers for his heroic attitude and also distracts himself by biting his foot of the wooden chair. Some old habits really never change.
The inspiration was clear in the title, O Homem-Cão: A Tale of Two Kittens. The book refers to A Tale of Two Cities, written in 1859 by Charles Dickens. André Czarnobai, translator of the book for Companhia das Letrinhas, explains a little about this adaptation process: “A tale of two cities became ‘kitties’ because the sound of the two words is very similar in English; in Portuguese, ‘cidades’ and ‘kittens’ are completely unrelated. So this puzzle was quite complex. A lot was lost in many moments, but a great effort was made to, whenever possible, reinforce the connections between the two works”.
Dog Man Unleashed is the second graphic novel in the Dog Man series by Dav Pilkey. It continues the story of a half-dog, half-human police officer who fights crime in the city with his human partner, Chief. The book is written for children aged 7-10 and is filled with humor, action, and heart.
The book begins with Dog Man and Chief attempting to stop Petey the Cat from robbing a bank. However, Petey manages to escape, leaving Dog Man and Chief to clean up the mess. In the aftermath, Petey creates a giant robot called Robo-Brontosaurus to destroy the city.
Dog Man and Chief team up with a group of robot enthusiasts to create their own robot to stop Robo-Brontosaurus. They call their robot Li’l Petey, named after Petey’s former clone. The battle between the two robots is action-packed and filled with humor.
Meanwhile, Petey has created a new villain called Flippy the Fish, who can hypnotize people and make them do his bidding. Dog Man and Chief must find a way to stop Flippy and save the city.
One of the strengths of this book is its humor. Dav Pilkey uses puns, wordplay, and slapstick humor to make the story fun and engaging. For example, Petey’s robot is powered by “hamster wheels” and Li’l Petey is able to defeat it by making it sneeze.
Another strength of the book is its use of graphic novel format. The illustrations are colorful, detailed, and easy to follow. The use of speech bubbles and sound effects adds to the humor and action of the story.
The book also has a strong theme of friendship and teamwork. Dog Man and Chief work together to stop Petey and Flippy, and they are able to succeed because of their friendship and trust in each other.
The characters in the book are well-developed and likable. Dog Man is a loyal and brave hero, while Chief is a competent and caring partner. Petey is a complex character who is both a villain and a sympathetic figure.
The book also includes some educational content, such as an explanation of how robots work and a glossary of vocabulary words. This adds to the book’s value as a learning tool.
One of the book’s weaknesses is its reliance on stereotypes. Petey is a cat who is a villain, while Li’l Petey is a clone who is a hero. This reinforces the idea that cats are bad and dogs are good, which may not be helpful for children’s understanding of animals.
Another weakness is the lack of diversity in the book. All of the characters are animals, and there is no representation of different races or ethnicities.
Overall, Dog Man Unleashed is an entertaining and engaging graphic novel for children. It has humor, action, and heart, and it teaches important lessons about friendship and teamwork. While it has some weaknesses in terms of stereotypes and diversity, it is still a valuable addition to any child’s bookshelf.
