Brawl of the Wild
Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild is the sixth graphic novel in Dav Pilkey's popular Dog Man series, aimed at young readers. This adventure follows Dog Man, a half-dog, half-human police officer, as he is framed for a crime he didn't commit and subsequently sent to jail. His friends, including Li'l Petey and Chief, work to prove his innocence while Dog Man grapples with his identity and place in the world.
Concerns
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumWhile 'Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild' itself does not feature explicit LGBTQ+ content, the broader 'Dog Man' universe created by Dav Pilkey includes a non-binary character named El. El uses they/them pronouns and appears in 'Cat Kid Comic Club: Perspectives,' a spin-off series featuring characters from the Dog Man world. This indicates an evolution of LGBTQ+ representation within the author's overall body of work connected to the series.
The character El is identified as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, as explicitly stated in the Dog Man Wiki, referencing their appearance in 'Cat Kid Comic Club: Perspectives'. The wiki also categorizes El under 'LGBTQ Characters'.
Violence
MediumThe book contains cartoonish violence, typical of the series, including fantastical fights and implied grotesque situations. The origin story of Dog Man, recounted in the series, involves a severe explosion that leads to a dog's head being surgically attached to a police officer's body. Specific scenes include creatures coming to life and physical confrontations.
Dog Man's origin story involves a cop and a police dog getting severely injured in an explosion, leading to a nurse sewing the dog's head onto the cop's body. In the story, Claymation Philly comes to life from a movie screen, causing the audience to run in horror. Dog Man later eats Claymation Philly during a confrontation and subsequently vomits the clay to extinguish a fire.
Scary & Intense Content
MediumThe book contains several moments of suspense and emotional intensity. Dog Man is unjustly imprisoned, leading to a period where his 'spirit is broken.' The emergence of Claymation Philly from a movie screen causes terror among the audience. While not graphic, the themes of injustice and being ostracized can be emotionally impactful for young readers.
Dog Man is framed for a crime and sent to jail, leading to a point where his 'spirit is broken' according to the warden. The animation character Claymation Philly comes to life from a movie screen, causing the audience to 'run away in horror' during the premiere.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThemes of disrespect and rebellion are present, particularly as Dog Man is wrongly accused and treated poorly by other police officers. Petey, a central character, also struggles with his moral compass and exhibits rebellious or disrespectful behavior, though he is often learning to be good. This highlights the struggle between good and evil, and sometimes includes backtalk and defiance.
Dog Man is 'cruelly taunted' by other police officers while awaiting trial for a crime he didn't commit. Petey, the cat, initially refuses to help Dog Man, stating, 'why should I care about Dog Man, he's the reason I got locked up in the first place,' demonstrating defiance and a lack of empathy before his character development.
Romance and Sexual Content
LowThere is no explicit or implied romantic or sexual content present in 'Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild' or generally within the Dog Man series. Character relationships are focused on friendship, family (such as Petey and Li'l Petey), and mentor-mentee dynamics.
The narrative focuses on Dog Man's struggle for innocence and his relationships with allies like Li'l Petey and Chief, without any romantic undertones. The bond between Petey and Li'l Petey is that of a father and son, devoid of romantic or sexual elements.
Profanity
LowThe language in the book is generally mild, consistent with its target audience. While it includes some childish humor like 'diarrhea jokes,' there is no strong profanity or explicit curse words. Occasional expressions of anger or frustration are present but do not escalate to offensive language.
Li'l Petey tells Petey a 'diarrhea joke,' which annoys Petey. Petey, in a moment of frustration, yells at Big Jim to 'get out of here get out and don't you ever come back you weirdo' after being annoyed by him.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThe book features fantastical elements and villains with unusual powers, such as a 'living spray' that animates objects. However, these elements are treated as science fiction or fantasy rather than explicit witchcraft, sorcery, or occult practices. There are no depictions of magic rituals, demons, or supernatural spells.
The FLEAS use a 'living spray' to animate the character Claymation Philly from a movie screen and to try and make a car 'supa evil.' These are technological or whimsical inventions rather than supernatural occult practices.
Substance Use
LowThere are no instances of substance use, including alcohol, drugs, or smoking, depicted or referenced in 'Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild.' The narrative is clean regarding any such content.
The plot focuses on Dog Man's adventures and moral lessons, completely omitting any scenes or dialogue related to alcohol consumption, drug use, or smoking.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowNo explicit anti-Christian themes or direct criticism of Christian beliefs, symbols, or figures were found within 'Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild.' The series generally promotes universal positive values such as empathy, kindness, and persistence.
The story does not engage with religious themes, either positively or negatively. The moral lessons within the book, such as Petey's journey to becoming good and the importance of friendship, are presented in a secular context.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Ages 7 and up. The graphic novel format with its engaging illustrations and accessible language makes it suitable for early to mid-elementary school children. While it contains mild cartoon violence and themes of injustice, these are presented in a humorous and child-friendly manner, focusing on positive themes like empathy and friendship.
Additional Notes
The 'Dog Man' series is known for its humor, positive messages about kindness and empathy, and its encouragement of creativity through the 'flip-o-rama' sections. Parents should be aware of the cartoonish nature of the violence and the occasional potty humor, which are consistent across the series. The presence of a non-binary character in a related Dav Pilkey series ('Cat Kid Comic Club') suggests an evolving approach to diversity in the author's works, which may be relevant for parents considering the broader franchise.
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