Action! Adventure! Danger! A superhero in...diapers?! This graphic novel by George Beard and Harold Hutchins, the creators of the infamous
Captain Underpants series, has it all! Beard and Hutchins are two imaginative fourth graders whose superhero has saved the world over five times (see author note at bottom of review). Beard writes the stories and Hutchins draws the pictures.
The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby contains 11 cool Flip-O-Ramas, where you flip two pages of the book quickly back and forth to simulate live animation (you have to add your own sound effects, however).
Our adventure begins with a car speeding to the hospital with Mr. and Mrs. Hoskins about to give birth. Meanwhile, Deputy Dangerous and Danger Dog plot to take over the world. They open a fake “underware” laundrymat and lure Captain Underpants there so that they can steal his super powers with a “Super Power Taker-Awayer Ray 2000.” Danger Dog drinks half the super potion, but the cops crash in before Deputy Dangerous can slurp down his share. Danger Dog uses his new “lazer eye powers” to burn a hole in the wall and flies away with Deputy on his back.
Back at the hospital, the doctor gives the newborn baby boy the “spank of life”. Baby flies out the window, lands on the villains being chased by the cops, and accidentally drinks the rest of the power juice.
ka-POW!
Super Diaper Baby is created! Read the rest of the book to find out how Deputy Dangerous plots his revenge with the Robo-Ant 2000, resulting in a surprising twist of events. Beard and Hutchins generously provide a “How 2 Draw” section in the back so readers can learn how to draw their own Super Diaper Baby, Diaper Dog, Deputy Doo-Doo, and Robo-Ant 2000.
With poop jokes and plenty of playground humor, this graphic novel is obviously targeted for boys ages 7 - 10, yet girls and adults may get a kick out of it, too. Believe it or not, some people wanted Super Diaper Baby banned from the libraries and classrooms, objecting to the toilet humor and bad grammar.
Spoiler alert: Beard and Hutchins are fictitious characters created by the real Dav Pilkey (http://www.pilkey.com) , author of tons of graphic novels for kids.
Want to read another graphic novel that will make you laugh? Read the sequel
The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, Kung-Fu Cavemen of the Future, or try
Luke on the Loose and
Astro Boy (see links below).