Introduction
The Dog Man book series is written and illustrated by American author and cartoonist Dav Pilkey. Pilkey is best known for his children’s book series Captain Underpants. The Dog Man series is a spin-off of Captain Underpants featuring Petey, the dog of George and Harold from Captain Underpants, as a superhero.
The first Dog Man book, titled Dog Man, was published in 2016. As of 2023, there are 12 books in the main Dog Man series, as well as several spin-off books like Dog Man: Mothering Heights and Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls. The books have been praised for their humor, illustrations, and promotion of reading, especially among reluctant readers. According to Pilkey, the Dog Man books are inspired by his own struggles with reading and dyslexia as a child. The series has been a major commercial success, with the first 11 books selling a combined 26 million copies as of 2020.
The Dog Man books follow the adventures of the title character, who is part dog and part man. Dog Man serves as the police chief of the city of Petropolis, protecting it from various villains and threats alongside a cast of other animal characters. The books are presented as comics originally created by George and Harold from Captain Underpants. They combine Pilkey’s trademark humor and art style with action stories inspired by crime comics and superhero tales.
Book Title
While the title for the new 2024 Dog Man book has not yet been officially announced, based on the naming patterns of previous books in the series, we can speculate what it might be. The author Dav Pilkey typically uses alliteration and rhyming in his Dog Man book titles. For example, Dog Man: Mothering Heights, Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls, and Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas. Looking at the already released titles, it seems likely the new 2024 book will follow a similar naming convention.
Some potential title guesses for the 2024 Dog Man release could be:
- Dog Man: Frankly, My Dear
- Dog Man: Feline Fine
- Dog Man: Puppy Power
- Dog Man: Kitty City
Of course these are just speculation at this point until Dav Pilkey reveals the official title, likely later in 2023 as the release date approaches. The rhyming, humorous, and playful tone of past titles provides clues as to the direction of the next book name. Fans are eager to learn the true title and see if their guesses prove correct.
Sources:
https://suburbanwifecitylife.com/dog-man-costume/
https://www.harvard.com/book/dog_man_11/
Potential Story and Characters
Given the immense popularity of the Dog Man series, fans have been eagerly theorizing about what the next book in 2024 could entail. There is much speculation around the possible storylines and new characters that could be introduced.
Many fans suspect that the new book may feature Dog Man teaming up with Petey to take on a new villain terrorizing the city. There are guesses that this new nemesis could be a cat-like character or perhaps a human villain with evil technology. Some believe the story may revolve around Dog Man’s past or introduce a new member to the Dog Man family.
In terms of new characters, enthusiasts have proposed ideas for funny sidekicks like a chicken or lizard companion for Dog Man. Others have imagined potential girl dog characters for a new love interest story between Dog Man and a heroic female canine. There’s also talk of Petey adopting his own superhero persona and fighting alongside Dog Man with new gadgets and gizmos.
While the actual plot and characters are a closely guarded secret, these fan theories showcase the creativity and passion of the Dog Man community. The new book promises to deliver another exciting adventure full of laughs, action, and heart.
Release Date
Based on the release pattern of previous books in the Dog Man series, the likely release date for the new Dog Man book in 2024 will be in late August or early September. The past few Dog Man books have generally been released around this timeframe each year:
- Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls was released on August 13, 2019
- Dog Man: Fetch-22 was released on December 10, 2019
- Dog Man: Grime and Punishment was released on September 1, 2020
- Dog Man: Mothering Heights was released on August 31, 2021
- Dog Man: The Boodyguard was released on August 30, 2022
Given this established release pattern, the next Dog Man book will likely hit shelves in late summer of 2024, potentially in August or September again. Fans should watch for an official announcement from the publisher and author in the months leading up to the 2024 release date.
Pre-Order Availability
The publisher Scholastic has not yet announced when pre-orders for the new Dog Man book releasing in 2024 will open. However, pre-orders typically open 3-6 months before a book’s publication date. For example, Dog Man: Mothering Heights, which released in August 2021, had pre-orders open in February 2021. Fans can expect pre-orders for the 2024 Dog Man book to likely open sometime between September 2023 and March 2024 if following a similar timeline.
Once pre-orders open, the book will be available for pre-order at major retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound, and more. The publisher will likely announce specific pre-order details across their website and social media channels when the time comes. Fans should sign up for email updates from Scholastic and follow the Dog Man social accounts to get notified as soon as pre-order information is released.
Cover Art
Though the cover art for Dog Man #12 has not been revealed yet, based on the evolution of the cover art across the Dog Man series we can speculate on what it might look like. The covers typically feature the title character Dog Man prominently, rendered in Pilkey’s recognizable art style and color palette. Given that this will be book #12 in the series, it’s likely the cover art will feature Dog Man in a new pose or scenario that fits the story.
Looking back at the cover art across the series, we see Dog Man drawn as a superhero, in funny situations, and alongside other characters like Petey and Li’l Petey. More recent books have depicted Dog Man with an increasingly detailed background setting. The covers are illustrated by Pilkey and capture the humor and spirit of the books. Fans eagerly await each new cover reveal to get a hint of what Dog Man might be up to in the next installment. Though the #12 cover art likely won’t be revealed until closer to the 2024 release date, we can expect it will feature Dog Man up to new antics and adventures.
Trailer Release
Fans can expect a book trailer for the new Dog Man book sometime in early 2023 before the book’s release. For the last few Dog Man books, author Dav Pilkey has released animated book trailers on his YouTube channel several months before the book’s publication date. For example, the book trailer for Dog Man: Mothering Heights was released in January 2021, while the book itself didn’t come out until March 2021.
Based on this pattern, we can anticipate Pilkey will follow a similar timeline for the 2024 Dog Man book, likely debuting an exciting book trailer in early 2023 to build hype and give readers a taste of what’s to come in the new adventure.
Author Commentary
Dav Pilkey said he was thrilled for fans to meet the new villain Scarlet Shredder in the latest Dog Man adventure. “I can’t wait for readers to dive into Dog Man’s wildest chase yet as he tries to stop the Scarlet Shredder from shredding books all over town,” Pilkey said in a statement when the book was announced (Source: Scholastic Press Release). The author hinted that this book will take Dog Man’s adventures to new heights – quite literally – as he tries to stop Scarlet Shredder from defacing the city’s tallest skyscraper. Fans can expect laugh-out-loud funny adventures and heartwarming messages about friendship as Dog Man relies on the help of Petey and his other animal friends. Pilkey says he can’t wait for kids and families to read the book together next March.
Accompanying Materials
With the Dog Man series already a massive success, fans can expect to see a wide range of accompanying materials released alongside the newest book in 2024. There will likely be a strong focus on stuffed animals, costumes, and other merchandise. Popular items for previous Dog Man books have included plush dolls like the 13-inch Giant Dog Man Plush (https://merrymakersinc.com/collections/dog-man-1), along with T-shirts and accessories (https://outofprint.com/products/dog-man-kids-t-shirt). Fans can find Dog Man shirts and merchandise through major retailers as well (https://www.amazon.com/dog-man-shirt/s?k=dog+man+shirt). The new book release will likely inspire even more plushies, costumes, backpacks, and fun accessories so fans can show their love for the series.
Conclusion
There is so much excitement and anticipation building for the new Dog Man book releasing in 2024. Fans have been eagerly awaiting the next installment in Dav Pilkey’s beloved graphic novel series since Dog Man: Mothering Heights was published back in 2021. Now, with the announcement of a new Dog Man book slated for 2024, the countdown is on.
Pilkey’s Dog Man books have been delighting readers young and old for years. The hilarious adventures of the crime-biting canine cop have captured the imaginations of millions of fans worldwide. Though details remain scarce about the 2024 Dog Man book, fans are already speculating and dreaming up what Dog Man will get up to next.
With still over a year to go until the new book hits shelves, the waiting will not be easy. But the joy of anticipation is part of the fun for loyal Dog Man devotees. Online fan communities are already buzzing with excitement about this long-awaited Dog Man 12. Pilkey’s legions of fans will be eagerly counting down the days until the book’s 2024 release.