At this point, readers will know whether they are on board with the Dog Man series. Having usurped its status as the Captain Underpants spin-off, it has managed to develop its own strange lore that has become more engrossing and substantial than anything Dav Pilkey has written. What's been especially exciting is finding the author move between juvenile humor and deeply emotional pathos. The results continue in this graphic novel that finds the absurd premise dovetailing with a familiar vulnerable core that delivers another reliable entry. It may not be the most memorable book in the series, but Pilkey has found a way to keep the series alive with a youthful bouyancy that encourages them to give into their creative pursuits and find their own adventure worth following.
The inciting incident focuses on Dog Man getting sprayed by a red skunk. When he changes color, he becomes ostracized by his community. The smell caues him to question his morality and need to fight for justice. Meanwhile, the supporting cast have their own small conflicts with Petey dealing with his own father and concern about whether he can be a good person. The conflict is something that's developed over several entries, and isn't given enough of an original spin this time around. While Lil Petey remains the voice of reason, it's an arc that loyal readers have seen before. At best, it's an enjoyable banter full of quippy humor. Even then, it's not saying that much that's new.
The inciting incident focuses on Dog Man getting sprayed by a red skunk. When he changes color, he becomes ostracized by his community. The smell caues him to question his morality and need to fight for justice. Meanwhile, the supporting cast have their own small conflicts with Petey dealing with his own father and concern about whether he can be a good person. The conflict is something that's developed over several entries, and isn't given enough of an original spin this time around. While Lil Petey remains the voice of reason, it's an arc that loyal readers have seen before. At best, it's an enjoyable banter full of quippy humor. Even then, it's not saying that much that's new.
Fans of the series know what to expect at this point. Dog Man as a larger property has rarely been about pushing the envelope every time out. Its job has always been to entertain and "The Scarlet Shredder" delivers on its promise of mixing cartoon logic with amusing wordplay. Everything on the page works so long as it's not deconstructed or asked to be meaningful. The emphasis on satirizing superheroes is relevant to contemporary trends and it does lead to some fun and unexpected twists along the way. Again, it may lack originality but Pilkey's charm goes a long way towards keeping the reader engaged.
Even with an ending that feels a little slight, this is another entertaining entry in a series that hasn't strayed too far in the quality department. As the series becomes more spread out, it allows for each book to have more potential to create its own wacky adventures. The creativity is unmatched on a page by page level, managing to add layers to the typical reading experience. For something that is extremely low brow, Pilkey knows to not talk down to his readers. This is just a goofy piece of escapism and a chance to recontextualize complicated ideas. This may not be their best, but it's far from a downgrade.
No comments:
Post a Comment