The phenomenally successful Bad Kitty series is purr-fect for fans of Dav Pilkey's Dog Man and Ben Clanton's Narwhal and Jelly series, reluctant readers, comic book fans, and cranky cats.
It's been a long time since Kitty has had a play date. So, her owners decide it's about time she interacts with some friends in Bad Supercat , a full color chapter book in Nick Bruel's New York Times bestselling series.
But the play date takes a turn when Kitty and her friend, Strange Kitty, don their armor and become...Super Cat and Captain FantastiCat!
Together, they must go on a scavenger hunt across the world (their house and yard) and recover the Orbs of Destiny (some dog balls) in order to prevent the 92 universes from being turned into cheese by the nefarious Dr. Lagomorph….
Will they succeed in their mission? Or will the world as we know it descend into chaos and curds?
Nick Bruel is the New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of children's books including Bad Kitty, Bad Kitty Gets a Bath, Bad Kitty Meets the Baby, and Boing!, among others. Nick is a freelance illustrator and cartoonist, and during his down time, he collects PEZ dispensers and grows tomatoes in the backyard. He lives in Tarrytown, NY with his wife Carina and their lovely cat Esmerelda.
Bad Kitty's person says she needs to unplug from devices and socialize in person. He sets up a playdate for her with Strange Kitty but then they have to find something they are both interested in. Eventually they settle on pretending they are superheroes, but will this be enough fun or Bad Kitty or will this playdate be a disaster?
I like that this shows you can have fun without a device and only some imagination. I also liked the message that sometimes those who are acting out with bad behaviors are really just people who want someone to take time to understand them. The little bunnies who come over with their older sibling to join in the role play are adorable, and I love how they use that to their advantage. There are lots of nods to modern superhero books and movies for the adults reading this with kids (I think the kids will totally miss the references). I did not like that Bad Kitty doesn't help with clean up before or after the playdate; her owner is not holding her accountable and just does it himself. I know, she's a cat, but she's a somewhat anthropomorphic cat. I wish she had done it and realized it doesn't take that long. Not my favorite Bad Kitty, but it could be good for kids glued to electronic devices and superhero fans.
Notes on content: Bad Kitty gets too into the imagined story and pushes someone at one point. She apologizes through actions.
I read this book solely because I have the CUTEST most PRECIOUS library kid who is absolutely OBSESSED with Bad Kitty and asks for more every day. He told me "Bad Kitty: Supercat" was the first "Bad Kitty" book he read and it's the one that got him interested, so I decided I had to start there too. I can certainly see why a 9 year old would be into this series. Things I appreciated were:
- The vocabulary is high level for such a silly story, but the pictures make it so that even if a reader doesn't know what all the words mean, they can still understand the story. - There are some good life lessons being taught here in a sneaky and cheeky way. For example, in "Bad Kitty: Supercat", Kitty has to learn to clean up her area, she has to cooperate with a new friend who she finds "strange" (and ends up having a great time), and she has to spend time without her electronic devices and learn that fun can be had without them. - I love the concept of the unseen but very involved narrator, especially in conjunction with our (mostly) nonverbal protagonist (Kitty).
Of course, there were times when the content didn't hold my attention, but only because it's for children. Kids will get a big hoot out of the storylines I find uninteresting as an adult (aka, like 30+ pages of a superhero themed playdate blablablabla...) I did think it was cool how there were interactive elements though, like a "Super power generator" where you use the letters in your name to find out your super power and your weakness, and a page with instructions on making your own superhero uniform out of recycled household materials.
All in all, I'm on board with "Bad Kitty" for sure.
In Bad Kitty: Supercat, Kitty makes messes around the house because she is bored. When her owner says that Kitty is due for a playdate, Kitty freaks out. Why can't she play on her devices and avoid the horror of having to play with another animal? Despite the uncertainty, Kitty's potential playmates come over but they are rejected quickly. Chatty Kitty is too talkative, Petunia the dog wants to chase cats, and Stinky Kitty...well, Stinky Kitty stinks so how Bad Kitty can have a playdate? When Strange Kitty comes over, Bad Kitty is introduced to the world of imagination and comics! Together, they must go on a scavenger hunt in Bad Kitty's space and recover the Orbs of Destiny (some dog balls) in order to prevent the 92 universes from being turned into cheese by the nefarious Dr. Lagomorph!
Bad Kitty: Supercat is a fun graphic novel in which Bad Kitty could be like every American kid out there, with too much time with electronic devices and not enough imagination. When Strange Kitty arrives with their active imagination. Bad Kitty is transported into a world where she becomes the superhero Super Cat on a dangerous adventure.
The art is bright and colorful and the prose is great for children ages 8 and up. A few words may need some extra explanation like merriment, but overall, this book is an entertaining and relatable story of a grumpy cat pushed out of her comfort zone.
I love the whole story line it,s just a little weird I’m like [kitty] you are not in trouble for being a little rough it’s ok.Good [kitty]. But seriously I love Bunny’s I’m like your so fluffy oh yes you are back to the story line: I wish [bad] [kitty] in the book : I wish they put in the book when [bad] [kitty] goes to strange kitty and mouse I forgot his name I think it is mouse any way strange kitty & mouse place were they live house and I’m 8 still even though I’ve read other books about [bad] [kitty] and left star reviews in [bad] [kitty] ok BYE!!! .
Once again, Kitty is being a kitty but with electronic devices? When her devices are taken away what is a bored kitty to do? A playdate with her friends!
A couple of her friends come over and convince her to play superheroes. Kitty becomes SUPERCAT! It is a cute little tale of engaging your imagination and seeing what the world holds without electronic devices. Included are tables of superheroes power and vulnerabilities based on your name.
This graphic novel reminds me a lot of Bad Kitty: Drawn to Trouble. There’s a funny story with a guide for kids for making DIY superhero costumes, origin stories, strengths, and weaknesses. I loved it!
Also, this is my first of the full-color hardcover Bad Kitty books and it really adds to the overall graphic novel experience!
This was okay but the references to Infinity War were distracting. I wanted it to be its own superhero thing. He even stole Thanos’ quote: “I am inevitable.” And Dr. Lagomorph’s helmet is a clear knock-off of Magneto’s helmet, especially when they mentioned telepathy blocker near the end of the book.
Pretty good installment of the series. I love Uncle Murray, but I only love him as a side character with a small part in the book, so I was kind of thankful he wasn't in this one. I love Strange Kitty. It was funny how he interacted with the owner. I loved the elements of playing make-believe in this book. The return of Dr. Lagomorph! 😁
I enjoyed the cat versions of references to mainstream media. It contained instructions for the reader to make their own superhero costume at home. I got a kick out of the superpower and super weakness generator based on my name.
A funny read 😆 I looooooove how funny Bad Kitty is!!!!!!! A great series. Also apparently my power is Super Speed (which is funny because I was already writing a book about what life would be like with Super Speed) …and my weakness is… FRUIT??? Um… WEIRD!!!