A lot has happened since Dav Pilkey last visited the world of Dog Man. As the most successful spin-off of the Captain Underpants series, it has developed its own spin-off that encourages kids to create their own stories as well as a stage musical and rumors of a movie. For a hero who's half dog, half man, he hasn't done all that bad. The question ultimately was if he'd ever return. After a hiatus, Dog Man has returned with "Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea," which finds our favorite hero once again getting into wacky hijinks and delivering some of the most enjoyable madcap children's literature of recent years. It's a reliably silly tale that also finds Pilky once again turning to deeper morals as the story goes on. It's a story that covers the entire spectrum of feeling, and the final one is thankfully satisfaction.
The most intriguing thing about Dog Man, especially compared to Pilkey's other work, is how it has slowly evolved with the characters. Given that these comics are drawn by George and Harold, it's interesting to have the fictional framework of them reading classic literature, in this case, Jules Verne, and becoming more nuanced. There's references scattered throughout the text and Pilkey's willingness to discuss where ideas came from only helps to make the reader more likely to develop their own story. Given that the previous entry ended with Petey visiting his wife's grave and ending on a very ominous note, it's interesting to note that this series has a knack for somberness along with some of the most nonsensical slapstick imaginable.
This is ultimately a series that is a mix of childlike wonder but also the catharsis that comes with exploring difficult topics. Pilkey gives his audience permission to recognize their own complicated relationships and accept that difficult emotions might happen. It's there in Petey's story where he continues to try and break free of being evil while Lil Petey encourages him to give into Dog Man's virtuous ways. The villains are devious and more illogical than ever, but they all collide together to make for a story that is grander than ever. However, it isn't the final fight that is the end point but yet another self-reflective point, realizing that somewhere in the madness of life is a need to realize that people can be good and even if people call you villains, there is room for redemption.
The return is a welcomed and reliable sight. However, it's maybe not the most memorable story otherwise. While it has a lot of great characters who deliver with the familiar panache, it's not doing anything too new or unique. It may forward plot, but it doesn't feel quite as fresh on the 11th entry and hits a familiar clip that recent books have. That isn't to say it's bad as the messaging is still provocative and meaningful. However, it's difficult to see this as one of the better books in the series. It'll make readers laugh and have a good time. It may even continue to make them think about characters and the potential for change, but it's not the most effective version of this story. It's creative as usual, but one can hope the next outing will be even more unpredictable and strange.
No comments:
Post a Comment