The extended universe of Captain Underpants continues to grow with the second spin-off ("Cat Kid Comic Club") to a spin-off ("Dog Man"). Much like the original, "Perspectives" is a story that turns the creative writing workshop process into an entertaining, accessible experience for children. By turning sometimes pretentious ideas into language that is entertaining and graspable, Dav Pilkey has found a way to make the reader want to write their own stories. There's a shamelessness within the text, proving that no idea is too juvenile for consideration. It's another welcomed look into literature not as something to be studied and learn from, but simply to create a vast imagination that inspires everyone. In some respects this is a lot of the same as the first entry, but even then it's a worthwhile read for those wanting a goofy lesson in how to write their own story.
Continuing from the previous entry, "Dog Man" character Cat Kid is brought into teach a group of radioactive tadpoles how to write stories. Where this sounds like the central plot, so much of the fun comes in Pilkey's ability to divert at every possible turn. The tadpoles are children, incapable of dealing with each other's annoying behavior. The first two chapters explore the distractions that delay the creative process, forcing frustration as well as laughter. Underneath is actual plot establishment, but to the reader it's also world building in a way that smoothly transitions them into the bigger purpose. Today's lesson is going to be about perspectives, and as one can guess there's many different ways to convey this.
It starts on the most surface level, finding Pilkey once again reveling in the "How To" of cartoons. As is the case in the back of every book he's ever released, there's a chapter on how to create three dimensional shapes, going in detail in ways that are actually educational and cool. This even informs the artwork in the chapters to follow, which may look imperfect but show growth. Along with feedback, Pilkey's choice to mix in different art styles shows how versatile the art form is, where even a Spider-Man knock-off character named "Chubbs McSpiderbutt" is presented with depth that inspires the reader. If a story about a radioactive spider biting a man on the butt can inspire art, imagine what else is out there? Pilkey has often been accused of being too juvenile and inspiring bad behavior among his fans, but that is to ignore his greater intent, which is to foster affection for a medium that has rewarded him nicely for decades now.
This isn't so much a satisfying bigger narrative but one that allows the sense of storytelling to be explored on a more personal level. There are various mini-narratives built into the story that informs how differing perspectives can be appreciated. This is a limitless premise that Pilkey can use to explore how important art is. With that said, one can argue that its lack of central plot can play against it in the long run, lacking the immediacy of Captain Underpants or even Dog Man, which tap more direct emotional catharsis into the arcs. For "Cat Kid Comic Club," it's often just an excuse to throw jokes into an educational premise. It's at times brilliant and Pilkey has a hidden charm in this approach, but one can only hope that he returns to the others at some point to reflect how these wild ideas work in fluid motion.
To put it simply, those who liked the first "Cat Kid Comic Club" will also enjoy this one. There's still plenty of funny moments mixed in with a delightful way to teach. Even if the stories presented here may lean into the juvenile at times, there is a constant sense of affirmation of creative potential. Everyone has a story to tell, and Pilkey is out there encouraging them to tell it. Maybe it's a Spider-Man knock-off, or even a detailed portait of a haiku. Every chapter is sure to teach the reader one or two things about literature as as form. Unlike school, it's going to be fun and maybe even something that resonates long-term, inspiring them to make something that's as silly and enjoyable as anything in these pages.
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