Evil Emperor Penguin

Evil Emperor Penguin #1

by Laura Ellen Anderson

Far away in the icy wastes of Antarctica lives a warm and cuddly, kind-hearted penguin who only wants to do good in the world...NOT! This is no ordinary penguin! This is EVIL EMPEROR PENGUIN and he's going to take over the world!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Childrens, Humor, Comics, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Juvenile

64 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2015

About the author

Laura Ellen Anderson is the illustrator of several books for children, as well as the author-illustrator of the graphic novel Evil Emperor Penguin. Laura Ellen Anderson lives in London.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a fine book for young readers. I did enjoy how the evil guys weren't really all that evil.

This is not a bad story. It is your basic evil villain story. It is simply not a story I really got into. I didn't think it was bad and I like number 8, the octopus a whole lot. I was sort of indifferent about the whole thing.

[raccoon reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay... probably shoudl have held off on this one until he was older...like 8 maybe. There's just a lot of insulting and name calling. Too much for my like as a parent. And if he was reading on his own I'd not stop him from reading what interested him, but he's 6 and not reading on his own yet...so... yeah... we'll set this series down until he's a bit older. Luckily he didn't ask for another one! There are definitely some funny stories in here and I look to him reading it a few years down the road.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really, really clever, sly, sweet and hilarious. I got this for my 7-year-old for Christmas based on online recommendations, and I'm so glad I did. He loves it, spends time re-reading it to himself when I'm not reading it to him (which is really saying something, since he's not yet at a stage where he enjoys reading to himself in general) - and I also loved it and laughed out loud again and again as I was reading it out loud to him. The adventures of Evil Emperor Penguin (constantly trying to take over the world, and just-as-constantly being infuriatingly thwarted!), his patient octopus second-in-command, No.8, and his incredibly sweet minion Eugene - not to mention his ultimate nemesis, Evil Cat - are perfect for kids but ALSO perfect for adults raised on Pinky & the Brain, with a similar sense of humor. So much fun!

Each of the individual episodes collected here was originally published in Phoenix Comics (which is continuing to publish the strip), so while we're waiting for Volume 2, my son has asked if we can subscribe to Phoenix Comics, too. Score! I'm happy to comply. :)

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny graphic novel. Loved the little snowman guy that was a minion.

[Elaine Fultz, kinda retired librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although very familiar scenario -- comical evil genius (like Invader Zim or Despicable Gru) has stupidcute minion (like Gir and THE Minions) and tries repeatedly to rule the world -- this is pretty fun. Here it's Evil Emperor Penguin and a tiny Yeti named Eugene. And there's also the Batman Albert-like character, an octopus called Number 8. In separate episodes, EEP's directions aren't carried out as expected when Number 8's knitting manual gets combined with "evil invention," creating a weapon that shoots lovely sweaters at its targets. Predictable and unoriginal (there ARE unicorns who fart rainbows), but it's a lark.

[Maggie Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would say this book is for kiddos grades 3-6.
The Evil Emperor Penguin lives in the north pole with his minions of adorable abominable snowmen (though we mostly just interact with Eugene), and Octopus butler Number 8. The Penguin comes up with plans to take over the world, they somehow get hilariously messed up; and then he tries again. I got the jist after one short story, and kept reading out of obligation not interest- but I'm not it's target audience, and I could see younger reluctant readers being excited for this book.

[Mrs C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evil Emperor Penguin reminds me of a meaner Megamind. Fun for children and adults. I loved it.

[J New · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penguins of Madagascar meets Despicable Me in this witty, odd and off-center comic strip collection!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was hilarious and so fun to read! Read this to your kids or yourself! I loved it.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do NOT like EEP, who left a minion to die in a fart cloud (yes it is that kind of book), but pretty much every other character is great. The frustrations of Evil Cat are delightful to behold.

[Kristy McRae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read with my son--we both loved it! Lots of funny stuff here!

[Brenda Kahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this series beginner is delightful fun. Looking forward to book 2.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evil Emperor Penguin (EEP) has grand plans to take over the world with the help of Eugene, his adorable (and not-so-evil) minion yeti, and his octopus butler, Number 8. It's just that his plans never seem to quite turn out the way he planned. In this collection of misadventures he gains an archnemesis, loses and gains a minion, gets a visit from his sister, and struggles to compete for world domination.

A very fun collection of graphic novel short stories starring some rather memorable characters. I definitely want to hunt down more of these. Eugene is adorable but also adds a dash of grounding to the stories. Number 8 is delightfully scatterbrained at times and very wise at others. And EEP is hilariously foiled over and over. Good fun that felt like a good ol' Saturday morning cartoon type thing. Recommended to anyone looking for some graphic novel fun that will entertain anyone with a funny bone 8 to 88.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. Violence is threatened but never ends up bad. Some bathroom humor with a stinky FART machine in one story.

[Sophie Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this graphic novel. It was quirky and fun. It's about an evil penguin trying to take over the world with his minions but he always fails. A bit like Despicable Me. It is extremely funny! The heart of this graphic novel is fun. Everything leads towards a laugh. It was very much my humour, random, sarcastic and outrageous.

The art style really lent itself to the stories fun theme and I loved the cast of characters. The story is done through chapters which do eventually follow on from one another. However, the story can get very repetitive at times - evil penguin wants to conquer the world, creates contraption, contraption does something good instead of bad.

Some of the stories were brilliant and others were dull but for the most part I really enjoyed this. It's not really saying anything but its super fun. Ages 8-12.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evil Emperor Penguin and his minions try various methods to overtake the world. None really succeed, mostly because the minions aren't actually evil, and (mostly unknowingly) end up thwarting the schemes of their boss.

Many similarities to Invader Zim series, so if you like that one you will most likely enjoy this series as well, though EEP doesn't go in for the extreme gross factor Zim often employs. There is a "thwarter" like Dib from Zim, but it's more of a "I wanna take over the world too, so I'm going to mess up your schemes so I get first chance!" Humorous, imaginative, if you need a good "world domination" story, this one will fit the bill!

No real content issues, some playground taunting, some fart jokes, some mild peril and one killer plant.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have no idea if this is a TV show or not, but it would work really well as one. It’s a short scholastic book with short “cartoon” stories. They revolve around an evil emperor penguin and his minions Eugune the loveable abominable snowman and Number 8 the octopus. It feels very much like Pinky and the Brain with an evil mastermind who is never as evil as he sets out to be. And there is a mustache cat to up the cuteness level and be an evil nemesis. This would be a great book for reluctant readers. The characters are likeable and the stories fun.
#LitsyAtoZGN

[Mary Pimbblet · Rating 3 out of 5]

My nine year old daughter loves Evil Emperor Penguin, but her 11 year old sister enjoys it as well. Great collection of silly stories, although the Eugene being turned into a cloud one seemed to end really abruptly, probably there was more of the story in the original Phoenix comics.
A great way to get reluctant readers into reading.

[Stacy K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read with a 6-7 year old. Humor and adventure abound as do the evil schemes of a cat in a top hat.

[Terri Farris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly and fun!

[emyrose8 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious and cute!

[laura (bookies & cookies) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good readalike for the Narwhal and Jelly series

[D.T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eugene must be protected at all costs. Ahem, I like the rivalry between Evil Emperor Penguin (Eep) and Evil Cat. It’s silly and fun! The mini-arc involving Eugene was a pleasant surprise.

3.5

[Wilde Sky · Rating 2 out of 5]

A penguin plots world domination.

Quite interesting, but the villain was not as good as 'The Brain'.

Reading time around thirty minutes.

[Dbdaddict2011]

no

[Daisy May Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ridiculously delightful, deeply clever, intensely wonderful, I am on board, sign me up.

[Guy Sandison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keith worked best with a Brummie accent.

[Sanii_Readzz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 words
1.sweet
2.hilarious
3.amazing.
4.shocking

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a whole load of fun! I loved how each of the different ‘episodes’ (what are they called?) built the big story but were each real fun! I adore Laura’s illustrations so much and these guys are awesome. An evil penguin and his crew… I adore Eugene!

[Evie Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this comic