The world of Dav Pilkey has been pretty sweet in the past few years. With his flagship series "Captain Underpants" now over 20 years old, it's strange to note how popular his work still is. Then again, nobody would expect the breakout spin-off series "Dog Man" to be nearly the hit that it now is (there is even a stage musical of it now). With seven books out, the series explores the misadventures of someone who is half dog, half-man, and all hero! The world only continues to grow into something stranger and more exciting as the supporting cast grows from initial villain Petey to feature adorable clones and henchmen shrunk to the size of fleas. "For Whom the Ball Rolls" continues to expand the absurd world in creativity while also establishing a deeper sense of purpose of characters. For a story featuring a superhero that eats nothing but cupcakes, the final results are rather touching.
As usual, the series is written under the guise of "Captain Underpants" characters George and Harold. The world on the page reflects their growth as writers and artists, which continues to be one of the more fascinating subtexts of the series. What started as a misspelled ode to a crazy idea has evolved with each prologue. George and Harold have gone on to read classic literature, incorporating references into every text (the title this time refers to the Ernest Hemmingway classic "For Whom the Bell Tolls") and becoming "deep." What's more impressive is that with the previous four entries especially the world of "Dog Man" has evolved from mere slapstick into an exploration of moral responsibilities and the reality that anyone can be a hero. You can change for the better if you set your mind to it.
It's things like this that feel like Pilkey infiltrating something more mature and fascinating into the puns and Flip-o-Rama pages that have been around since day one. Those who read the back pages will notice every reference used in the book, including a fairly touching reference to "mud and stars" that plays into the plot. This time around, Petey is in prison following the events of the last book. "New" villain Dr. Scum (who assures you he's in the first book) unleashes burgle balls that burgle stores for him. The world is once again in chaos, and Dog Man is learning not to be so hostile towards Petey by Petey's clone L'il Petey. The moral of this book is "do good," and by the end, everyone learns how to do it in their own way.
While every character has grown throughout the story, Petey is the fascinating center of the story. If one charts his progress, his recent run has been about learning to be a better person (or cat). With his son constantly agitating him, he learns that he can't keep festering on his terrible childhood and let it lead to a life of crime. He needs to make a difference. What's possibly the most shocking moment in the book is the ending, which is a quiet, meditative moment that doesn't need words. It's merely an image that reflects Petey's growth in optimism. Maybe in time he will come around to Dog Man and become his friend. It seems to be what the series has been building to, especially as the books have formed more of a conscience and asks the audience to look for those willing to help you, that want to better your life and make the world a better place.
This comes as Petey tries to be a hero in a chaotic situation. When his henchmen hypnotize his cellmate into Captain Cupcake, it only adds a wrinkle into the story. What is itself a commentary on literal self-indulgence builds to a hero who does nothing getting the credit. The underdogs get ignored and raise the question as to why anyone should try. Petey feels hopeless, as there's no glory for every good deed he achieves, even if his clone loves him. There's a sense that this is the start to Petey's shift towards good by joining Dog Man's Supa Buddies. It also creates the sense to the reader that those who try should be proud to be doing good no matter what. In that way, Pilkey has managed to present a complicated vision of superheroes as moral figures of good. Dog Man must overcome his own bias towards Petey, and Petey must get over his personal issues. While everyone cannot start out a hero, they can turn towards it in time.
As usual, Pilkey's series is downright entertaining and uses the simple animation style to full effect. The jokes are nonstop, managing to create a delightful pace as every new creative idea hits the page. This is a strange world that one gets more interesting as every presumable gag becomes a three-dimensional character with wants and needs. This isn't just an excuse to see Dog Man save the day. It's a chance to understand how society should be more empathetic and able to work towards a greater desire. It's charming and touching at the same time, managing to make a cloned cat the brilliant center of advice. It's no wonder that the series has become an international bestseller with each passing entry. It's surpassed "Captain Underpants" by leaps and bounds with nuance and metatextual commentary that only makes the vision all the more compelling.
"Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls" is another reliable entry in the bi-annual series. Those expecting laughs will get plenty of them, especially with new characters like Petey's dad and the very hangry Ratipillar. It's a world that's silly and childish enough to be fun but is grounded enough in humanity to know when to become intimate. There's a catharsis to the ending, which avoids going for the triumphant ending it could've. Instead, it has a lesson about what it's like to be the runner-up or someone who doesn't get the recognition they deserve. There should be a desire to still do good no matter what. It's only in this that the ego can properly be explored and understand what we truly need to survive. The series remains a delight that will hopefully continue to grow into one of the most surreal, heartfelt dog-man stories to ever exist. It's a big hill to climb, but it can get there in time.
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