The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey (review)

Mr. Wolf of folklore fame is, improbably, turning over a new leaf, and he’s invited three acquaintances with equally long rap sheets—Mr. Snake, Mr. Piranha, and Mr. Shark—to join him on a trial mission to do a good deed. It’s a hard sell, and the new recruits can’t fathom how they can work together (two of them should obviously be in water), or even get their attire coordinated (Mr. Wolf: “Hey, where are your hats?” Mr. Snake: “They looked dopey.” Mr. Piranha: “I don’t really have a head.” Mr. Shark: “I ate mine”). Their initial effort at rescuing a cat from a tree has its disappointing moments: Mr. Snake swallows Mr. Piranha, and the terrified cat claws Mr. Wolf. The second mission goes somewhat better—though the dogs they spring from their City Dog Pound prison are as terrified as the cat, all the Bad Guys agree the good deed felt, well, good, and they’re willing to make righteousness their regular gig. That will be good news for kids who revel in the snarky dialogue, fart jokes, slapstick humor, and freewheeling hybrid text/comic/early chapter book mash-up this series debut delivers. The book milks the goofy possibilities of the team’s varied animal natures and physiologies; certainly Mr. Shark in disguise, deceiving a love-smitten gorilla guard at the pound, earns his laughs. Whether Blabey can sustain the hilarity in ensuing volumes is anyone’s guess, but the promise of the forthcoming rescue of 10,000 cage-raised chickens should be enough to lure readers back.