Introduction
The Dog Man book series was created by author and illustrator Dav Pilkey. As described on the Dog Man Fandom Wiki, Dog Man started as a comic book character within Pilkey’s Captain Underpants series. Dog Man then became the star of his own spinoff graphic novel series, with the first Dog Man book being published in 2016. The books blend together full-color comics with text in a illustrated novel format.
The main character of the Dog Man series is the titular Dog Man himself. As explained on Scholastic’s website, Dog Man was created when a police dog named Greg and his partner, Officer Knight, were injured in an accident. Greg’s head was grafted onto Officer Knight’s body, resulting in the creation of Dog Man. Dog Man fights crime alongside the police force while also dealing with canine instincts like chasing squirrels.
Other major characters, according to the Scholastic site, include Li’l Petey, an artistic sweet pug; 80-HD, a robot dog built by Li’l Petey; Petey, Li’l Petey’s evil clone; and the cats Molly, Flippy, and Junior. Together, these animals go on humorous and exciting adventures while promoting themes of friendship, creativity, and doing good.
Plot Summary
Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild, the fourth book in Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man series, follows the adventures of the crime-fighting superhero Dog Man. In this installment, Dog Man is framed for a crime he didn’t commit and is sent to the pound (https://dog-man.fandom.com/wiki/Dog_Man:_Brawl_of_the_Wild). His friends Lil’ Petey, 80-HD, and Chief work to prove his innocence while he struggles with his dual canine and human natures (https://www.diabolicalplots.com/book-review-dog-man-brawl-of-the-wild-by-dav-pilkey/).
The book opens with Dog Man happily chasing squirrels when he is caught by a dogcatcher and brought to the pound for destroying the city’s new botanical garden. Chief is forced to fire Dog Man from the police force. Meanwhile, a mysterious figure called Petey plants evidence framing Dog Man. At the pound, Dog Man befriends a group of dogs and cats called the Clay Critters. They help break him out of the pound to investigate the crime and prove his innocence.
Dog Man and the Critters discover that Petey has been masquerading as Lil’ Petey and framing Dog Man as part of his plan to discredit all police dogs. After battling Petey, Dog Man clears his name. The Chief re-hires him to the police force, where he continues to fight crime alongside 80-HD and Lil’ Petey.
New Characters
In Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild, several new major and minor characters are introduced. The major new characters include:
– Booger Breath: A stinky and sloppy dog monster that was created by Dr. Scum. Booger Breath has a huge appetite and creates mayhem wherever he goes. He ends up joining the Supa Buddies team after befriending Dog Man (Brawl Of The Wild Characters – Dog Man Wiki).
– Chief: The head of the dog police who does not get along with Dog Man at first. Chief is a German Shepherd who is very serious about rules and regulations (Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild).
Some of the minor new characters are the 80-Hexatrix Droidformigon, a robot monster created by Dr. Scum, and Dippy, a cute little puppy that Dog Man adopts.
Setting
Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild takes place in the fictional city that is the setting for the Dog Man series. The story begins with Dog Man living in his doghouse, which appears normal-sized on the outside but is actually spacious and elaborate on the inside with multiple floors (from “Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas and Brawl of the Wild Setting”: Source). Other notable settings include the city’s dog pound where Dog Man is imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, and the streets of the city where his friends work to prove his innocence.
Major Conflict
The central conflict Dog Man faces in Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild is being accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Dog Man is framed for stealing a sausage trophy and is sentenced to the pound as punishment. Dog Man struggles with his new surroundings and mean inmates at the pound. He misses his friends on the police force and wants to prove his innocence. Dog Man’s pals including Officer Knight work hard to find evidence to free Dog Man from the pound. The conflict culminates when Lil’ Petey confesses to the crime and Dog Man is released.
According to the Dog Man Fandom Wiki, “Dog Man struggles to find his place among the mean streets of the pound” while trying to maintain his heroic spirit (1). The accusation of theft provides the central conflict that propels the plot and tests Dog Man’s character.
(1) https://dog-man.fandom.com/wiki/Dog_Man:_Brawl_of_the_Wild
Climax
The climax of Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild occurs when Dog Man confronts Lil’ Petey, who is revealed to be the real perpetrator behind the pie theft that Dog Man was falsely accused of. After escaping from the pound with the help of Lil’ Petey’s robot, Dog Man tracks down the missing pies and discovers that Lil’ Petey has been stealing them all along.
Dog Man is heartbroken to learn that his friend Lil’ Petey betrayed him. However, Lil’ Petey expresses regret for framing Dog Man and wants to make things right. Just as Lil’ Petey is about to confess to the police chief, the robot goes haywire. Dog Man and Lil’ Petey have to work together to stop the rampaging robot from destroying the city.
After a chaotic battle, Dog Man and Lil’ Petey finally disable the robot. With the truth revealed, the police chief agrees to clear Dog Man’s name and release him from the pound. The conflict is resolved as justice is served, Dog Man’s name is cleared, and his friendship with Lil’ Petey is mended despite the betrayal.
Themes
Some major themes and lessons explored in Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild include the value of friendship, the importance of kindness, and not judging others based on their appearance. The story shows how Dog Man and his friends come together despite their differences to take down their enemy Petey. It emphasizes that true friendship can overcome any obstacle. There are also themes of persistence and determination, as the characters work hard to achieve their goals and refuse to give up, even when faced with challenges.
Art Style
Dav Pilkey’s art in Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild is colorful, energetic, and humorous. The book is illustrated in his signature cartoon style, with exaggerated facial expressions, slapstick physical comedy, and visual gags on almost every page. The panels make use of bright solid colors, dynamic shapes, speed lines, and bold text to depict fast-paced action. Pilkey draws inspiration from comic strips, borrowing stylistic elements like speech bubbles, motion lines, and onomatopoeia. The characters have simple designs with large heads, round eyes, and small bodies. There are many humorous visual details, like characters’ hilarious reactions and random silly elements in the background. The art conveys the wacky tone of the story through the characters’ over-the-top emotions and frequent pratfalls.
Pilkey packs each panel with jokes, sight gags, and funny details. For example, he often depicts literal interpretations of figures of speech, so when a character says “you’re pulling my leg,” another character is actually tugging on their leg. The art has a loose, improvisational quality that adds to the book’s playful spirit. Overall, the animated drawing style brings energy and dynamism to the zany narrative.
Sources:
https://www.amazon.com/Dog-Man-Creator-Captain-Underpants/dp/1338236571
https://www.deviantart.com/herna486759/art/Dog-Man-Brawl-Of-The-Wild-by-Dav-Pilkey-864242619
Reception
Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild received positive reviews from critics and readers. The book holds a 4.9 out of 5 star rating on Amazon based on over 1,300 customer reviews, with praise for its humor, characters, and art style (Source). Reviewer Kellye Crocker calls it “another fantastic story” and compliments Pilkey’s “bright, cartoonish illustrations” (Source). Critics highlight the book’s moral lessons about understanding both sides of a situation. The Diabolical Plots review says “Pilkey once again provides an imaginative story with heart, laughs, and deeper themes of empathy and open-mindedness” (Source).
Overall, Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild is considered a fun, engaging read for kids that also explores meaningful themes. Readers and reviewers praise Pilkey’s creativity, humor, and illustrations that make this book entertaining for children.
Summary
Dog Man: Fetch-22 is the fourth book in the Dog Man graphic novel series by Dav Pilkey. The book picks up where Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls left off and continues the adventures of the crime-fighting dog-human hybrid known as Dog Man. In Fetch-22, Dog Man faces his toughest challenge yet when a new villain emerges with a dastardly plan to take over Petropolis. With the help of old friends like 80-HD and Li’l Petey, plus some exciting new allies like the Kitty Commandos, Dog Man must use all of his canine crime-fighting skills to save the day. The book delivers more of Pilkey’s trademark humor through creative plots, quirky characters, hilarious jokes and fun illustrations that readers have come to love about the Dog Man series. Ultimately, Dog Man proves once again that no villain’s scheme is a match for his nose for justice.