Good Dog, Bad Dog

David Shelton, of the brilliant and award-winning A Boy and a Bear in a Boat, sends his dynamic duo on three tricky cases in this paperback edition from the DFC library. Kirk Bergman and his new partner Duncan McBoo are a dream team of canine cops; Bergman is always on the job, looking for clues and ready for action whilst McBoo brings the brawn, but can sometimes get a little distracted by his penchant for banana milkshakes. Wise-guys and dastardly criminals of the doggy underworld forge wicked plans and there are shoot-outs, punch-ups and car chases enough to satisfy any action fans. The clever nods to gangster noir and Americana should impress the adults too – I particularly loved the view of ‘Hoppers’ café in the style of Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks.

Jokes come thick and fast and the dark palette of the panels keeps everything in a cool and mature tone. Young readers will enjoy the physical comedy of the action and the text is simple enough to ensure everyone is on the same page. Cool, stylish and smart: DFC comics are for kids who like to think outside the box, and Good Dog, Bad Dog is another classy addition to their list.