Introducing the Dog Man Series
The Dog Man series is a popular children’s graphic novel series written and illustrated by American author and cartoonist Dav Pilkey. The series follows the adventures of a part-dog, part-man crimefighter named Dog Man and his friends. The books combine engaging stories and humor with illustrations and comic book style panels.
The Dog Man series first launched in 2016 with Dog Man, and has since expanded to over 10 books as of 2022 (Dog Man Books Set 1-10). The books often focus on Dog Man trying to defeat his nemesis Petey while also doing good deeds with the police department. The series by Dav Pilkey provides an entertaining way to get kids interested in reading and combines elements of action, adventure, and comedy.
The Dog Man books have proven incredibly popular, frequently appearing on the New York Times bestseller lists for children’s series. They have sold over 26 million copies worldwide as of 2020. The series appeals to young readers with its hilarious characters, engaging stories, and vibrant graphic novel art style.
The First Dog Man Book
The first book in the Dog Man series is simply titled Dog Man. It was written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey and published in 2016 by Scholastic. Dog Man chronicles the adventures of a part dog, part man superhero created when Officer Knight’s police dog Greg ate his owner’s cop uniform and was then accidentally merged with Officer Knight in a science experiment gone wrong. The book follows Dog Man as he fights crime alongside the police force while also dealing with his canine tendencies like chasing cats and chewing on furniture. Dog Man was a major hit, selling over a million copies. As described on the FictionDB page for the Dog Man series, it marked “the start of another epic series from the creator of Captain Underpants.”
Dog Man: Unleashed
Dog Man: Unleashed is the second book in the popular Dog Man series by author and illustrator Dav Pilkey. It was published on December 27, 2016 by Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic. The main characters include Dog Man, Petey, Li’l Petey, and 80-HD the robot dog.
Dog Man: Unleashed continues the adventures of the crime-fighting canine Dog Man. In this book, Dog Man still has the head of a police dog and the body of a policeman. He is trying to stop the evil cat Petey from creating an army of robots to take over the city. Meanwhile, Li’l Petey, the son of Petey, struggles with being part cat and part dog.
The book received positive reviews, with critics praising its humor, wacky illustrations, and promotion of themes like individuality and acceptance. Dog Man: Unleashed was a New York Times bestseller and went on to sell over 1 million copies.
The Story and Characters
Dog Man: Unleashed focuses on the main characters of Dog Man, a crime-fighting canine who is half-dog and half-man, and Petey, Dog Man’s arch nemesis. According to the Dog Man Wiki, the major characters featured in this book include:
Dog Man – The hero of the series, Dog Man is a police dog who had the head of a police officer grafted onto his body after an accident. Dog Man uses his super sniffer and strength to fight crime and help the police force.
Petey – A cat and Dog Man’s former best friend, Petey becomes a supervillain after being rejected from the police force. Petey is clever and conniving, constantly hatching plans to defeat Dog Man.
Some other notable characters are Chief, the head of the police force; Flippy, a friendly robot dog; and Sarah Hatoff, a news reporter. The book also features a number of fun animal cops that help Dog Man take down Petey.
Plot Summary
Dog Man: Unleashed, written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey, is the second book in the Dog Man series. The story picks up where the first Dog Man book left off, with the hero Dog Man and his canine companion Petey living together after defeating their arch nemesis Petey’s evil owner, Professor Pippy P. Poopypants.
In this book, Petey becomes frustrated about always living in Dog Man’s shadow. When an accident causes the Captain’s brain dots to spill into Petey’s fishbowl, giving Petey temporary mind-reading powers, Petey hatches a plan to hypnotize the citizens into giving him money and power. Meanwhile, Dog Man is busy dealing with his own problems, including fighting a T-Rex skeleton come to life and trying to catch a mysterious stranger with telekinetic abilities.
After a climactic battle, Dog Man manages to stop Petey’s criminal schemes and convinces him to use his powers for good instead. By working together, the two friends are able to defeat their enemies. The book ends with Dog Man and Petey resolving their differences and once again living together in friendship and harmony.
Some of the major themes explored in the book include friendship, teamwork, integrity, and not judging others by their appearance. The story is told through Dav Pilkey’s trademark comic panels combining humorous illustrations and dialogue.
(Source: https://www.booktrust.org.uk/book/d/dog-man-unleashed/)
Themes and Style
Dog Man: Unleashed explores several important themes, including friendship, responsibility, and selflessness. The story emphasizes the strong bond between Dog Man and Petey, who remain loyal friends even when Petey becomes a supervillain. Their friendship perseveres despite their opposing roles as hero and villain (Dog Man Unleashed). The book also highlights the theme of responsibility, as Dog Man struggles to balance his superhero duties with his canine instincts and impulses. He learns to take responsibility for his actions. Finally, Dog Man repeatedly puts the greater good above his own interests, showing selflessness and heroism.
The book combines action and humor with powerful messages about friendship. Author Dav Pilkey uses punchy dialogue and dynamic artwork to create an engaging graphic novel. The exaggerated artwork and silly wordplay make heavy themes approachable for young readers.
Critical Reception
Dog Man Unleashed received mostly positive reviews upon its release in 2016. On Goodreads, it holds a 4.3 out of 5 star rating based on over 800 reviews from readers. Many praise the book for its humor, wacky illustrations, and appeal to kids. As one Goodreads reviewer states, “This was a super cute, funny read. My son absolutely loves this series.”
Professional reviews also compliment the creative storytelling and visual style. Common Sense Media calls it “another winner” and writes, “Pilkey’s blending of text and graphic elements will draw in even the most reluctant readers.” They ultimately give the book 4 out of 5 stars.
Overall, reviewers agree that Dog Man Unleashed delivers the same signature humor and imaginative spirit that made the original Dog Man so beloved among elementary school kids. Fans of the series are sure to enjoy this zany second installment. It expands the world and characters in entertaining new ways while staying true to Pilkey’s anarchic, freewheeling style.
Sequels and Spin-offs
After the success of the first two Dog Man books, Dav Pilkey continued the series with several more sequels and spin-offs. Some of the later books in the series include Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties, which was published in 2017 as the third book in the series. This book introduces a pair of criminal cats named Petey and Lil’ Petey who team up to try to outsmart Dog Man and the police.
Other notable sequels include Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas (2018), Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild (2019), Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls (2019), and Dog Man: Mothering Heights (2021). The series has expanded to over 10 books as of 2022.
In addition to the main series, Pilkey has also published some spin-off books such as Cat Kid Comic Club (2021) which focuses on Li’l Petey from Dog Man starting a comic book club with other characters.
Adaptations
The Dog Man series has inspired several adaptations beyond the graphic novels. In December 2020, it was announced that DreamWorks Animation was developing a feature film based on Dog Man to be released theatrically. The film will be directed by Peter Hastings and produced by Dav Pilkey (Source). There are also plans for a Dog Man animated series, though details have not yet been confirmed (Source).
The popularity of the Dog Man books has led to strong demand for expanded media based on the characters and stories. Fans are eagerly anticipating the planned movie and animated series to bring Dog Man to life on the screen. The film and TV adaptations have the potential to expose the franchise to wider, global audiences beyond just the books.
Conclusion
Dog Man: Unleashed has resonated strongly with readers for several reasons. First, the humor and illustrations appeal to children, while the storytelling and character development engage older readers. Dog Man as a character is relatable and has a good heart, despite his monstrous appearance. The books tackle themes like friendship, morality, and redemption that resonate across ages. Additionally, the Dog Man series creates an immersive, imaginative world that readers enjoy escaping into. The stories are fast-paced, funny, and exciting, making them hard to put down. Ultimately, the Dog Man books succeed because they blend child-friendly humor with thoughtful storytelling that people of all ages can appreciate.
According to an article on the Scholastic website[1], the reason for the popularity is that Pilkey skillfully weaves “meaningful themes of friendship, empathy and courage throughout his humorous and imaginative storylines.” The article goes on to cite the series’ “storytelling full of heart” as a key factor in its success.