What do you think?
Rate this book
Cat Ninja #4
Cat Ninja: Welcome to the 'Burbs
Everyone’s favorite feline superhero is back for even more hilarious adventures set in the Cat Ninja-verse. Catch up with Cat Ninja, Master Hamster, and the rest of the family as they face...the suburbs!
When Dad buys a new house outside the city, the kids are less than excited about new neighbors, backyard barbecues, and quiet, tree-lined streets. And they’re not alone—a summer in the suburbs is enough to make Cat Ninja miss the villains of Metro City!
Our hero and his family feel like fish out of water when they arrive in Peaceful Valley, but it won’t be long before Dad’s new neighborhood reveals its scaly, golden underbelly.
This volume
When Dad buys a new house outside the city, the kids are less than excited about new neighbors, backyard barbecues, and quiet, tree-lined streets. And they’re not alone—a summer in the suburbs is enough to make Cat Ninja miss the villains of Metro City!
Our hero and his family feel like fish out of water when they arrive in Peaceful Valley, but it won’t be long before Dad’s new neighborhood reveals its scaly, golden underbelly.
This volume
160 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2022
1 person is currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Cody
47 books147 followersOriginally from the Midwest, Matthew Cody now lives in New York City with his wife and son. When not writing books or goofing off with his family, he teaches creative writing to kids of all ages.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 17, 2022
In the latest installment of this graphic novel, Cat Ninja, Master Hamster and the family have moved from Metro City to Peaceful Valley after their dad purchased a new house. An unexpected visit from their new next-door neighbor with a welcoming gift, and the disappearance of Master Hamster, leads Cat Ninja and robot-dog Adonis on a chase through Peaceful Valley hunting the notorious Goldfather and his slimy henchmen.
Cat Ninja is a totally new series to me which I thoroughly enjoyed. The kid appeal of this is on fire. I can see why it's one of Epic! most popular series. There's lots of action as the masked feline shreds his way across the pages on his board with his pal Adonis in tow. Cat Ninja/AKA Claude also this time assists the crime fighter, Octopunch in dealing with a rampaging monster truck. Master Hamster/AKA Mr. Stiches also had me in stiches with his workout routine. I could read tons of stories about him, he's surly and just downright funny. I loved the way Cat Ninja and Master Hamster had their alter ego/pet personalities and their superhero status. It was fun to watch them interact with Marcie and Leon and then go out on missions. I've seen reviews that describe this as being like Phineas and Ferb, which fits it perfectly. The illustrations have such beautiful vibrant colors, and I especially loved the martial arts style feline kicks and moves. The panels of backstory about Fish-Face Malone and the rest of the villains were so appreciated. This graphic novel features two diverse siblings, exciting panels, one superhero cat, a robot-dog, a humorous hamster and tons of adventure. This would make a perfect gift for a cat loving, superhero fan. ** A huge thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing for the E-ARC**
Cat Ninja is a totally new series to me which I thoroughly enjoyed. The kid appeal of this is on fire. I can see why it's one of Epic! most popular series. There's lots of action as the masked feline shreds his way across the pages on his board with his pal Adonis in tow. Cat Ninja/AKA Claude also this time assists the crime fighter, Octopunch in dealing with a rampaging monster truck. Master Hamster/AKA Mr. Stiches also had me in stiches with his workout routine. I could read tons of stories about him, he's surly and just downright funny. I loved the way Cat Ninja and Master Hamster had their alter ego/pet personalities and their superhero status. It was fun to watch them interact with Marcie and Leon and then go out on missions. I've seen reviews that describe this as being like Phineas and Ferb, which fits it perfectly. The illustrations have such beautiful vibrant colors, and I especially loved the martial arts style feline kicks and moves. The panels of backstory about Fish-Face Malone and the rest of the villains were so appreciated. This graphic novel features two diverse siblings, exciting panels, one superhero cat, a robot-dog, a humorous hamster and tons of adventure. This would make a perfect gift for a cat loving, superhero fan. ** A huge thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing for the E-ARC**
November 2, 2022
This is my first Cat Ninja book and...let's just say it's quite the ride.
Dad has bought a house in the suburbs, which means a move from Metro City to a quieter area. While there is a bit of rough adjustment (friends, area, and such), most neighbors are friendly enough, but when one brings over a pet fish as a present, the adventure begins. The fish is a henchman for the evil Godfather (fish-mafia), and when Mr. Squeaks disappears, Cat Ninja needs to face down the threat. But there's more to the mafia than meets the eye.
Although the fourth in the series, this book can be picked up and read on its own without too much trouble sinking in. The reader does get a chance to discover the newness of everything, since the family is just moving into the new neighborhood and has some 'new' beginnings themselves. The situations do ring a bit of familiarity for anyone having to find new friends and steering the waters of divorced parents, but that's not the main thrust. This one is all about action and fun and intrigue and...well, super-spy adventure.
The illustrations are bright and bold or carry just the right amount of secret dimness, letting the atmosphere of each situation come across nicely. It's wonderful to see the characters in action with all of their various personality quirks. Even the bad guys shine, especially since there are additional panels to give a little backstory on each one. And the text gives what is needed and lets the illustrations do the rest. The entire thing does end with a bit of a cliff-hanger...so the next book won't be a stand-alone? We'll see.
I enjoyed this one quite a bit, but then, it's not hard to adore ninja cats, clever hamsters, and the rest of the crew. I received a DRC and found it to be a fun tale.
Dad has bought a house in the suburbs, which means a move from Metro City to a quieter area. While there is a bit of rough adjustment (friends, area, and such), most neighbors are friendly enough, but when one brings over a pet fish as a present, the adventure begins. The fish is a henchman for the evil Godfather (fish-mafia), and when Mr. Squeaks disappears, Cat Ninja needs to face down the threat. But there's more to the mafia than meets the eye.
Although the fourth in the series, this book can be picked up and read on its own without too much trouble sinking in. The reader does get a chance to discover the newness of everything, since the family is just moving into the new neighborhood and has some 'new' beginnings themselves. The situations do ring a bit of familiarity for anyone having to find new friends and steering the waters of divorced parents, but that's not the main thrust. This one is all about action and fun and intrigue and...well, super-spy adventure.
The illustrations are bright and bold or carry just the right amount of secret dimness, letting the atmosphere of each situation come across nicely. It's wonderful to see the characters in action with all of their various personality quirks. Even the bad guys shine, especially since there are additional panels to give a little backstory on each one. And the text gives what is needed and lets the illustrations do the rest. The entire thing does end with a bit of a cliff-hanger...so the next book won't be a stand-alone? We'll see.
I enjoyed this one quite a bit, but then, it's not hard to adore ninja cats, clever hamsters, and the rest of the crew. I received a DRC and found it to be a fun tale.
December 7, 2023
I read this before. I know I did. The problem with reading books out of order and not keeping a list (or writing Goodreads reviews)!
It's still fantastic, though! A little hard to pick up after forgetting most of the details, beyond there's a cat who is also a ninja (and actually silent, imagine!), an evil mastermind hamster, and—oh, I guess that the dog is is a spoiler for one of the prior books, but that also!
(Can I also add that I'm actually kind of jealous of Leon's room? Marcie's... less so, haha.)
The one thing that puzzles me is the Metro City interlude. I don't know if I've missed something, that Cat Ninja is happy to hand over the "Ninjacycle and the jet" to Octopunch for what reason so he can take the bus back, or if that really was just a daydream... I don't know. Just a weird reason for Cat Ninja to conveniently be away while some major plot point happens.
The bonus story is also cute! What are friends for? :D
Absolutely recommended for fans of the series! Only somewhat recommended for fans of cats/ninja who happen to stumble across only this volume, for reasons stated above.
It's still fantastic, though! A little hard to pick up after forgetting most of the details, beyond there's a cat who is also a ninja (and actually silent, imagine!), an evil mastermind hamster, and—oh, I guess that the dog is is a spoiler for one of the prior books, but that also!
(Can I also add that I'm actually kind of jealous of Leon's room? Marcie's... less so, haha.)
The one thing that puzzles me is the Metro City interlude. I don't know if I've missed something, that Cat Ninja is happy to hand over the "Ninjacycle and the jet" to Octopunch for what reason so he can take the bus back, or if that really was just a daydream... I don't know. Just a weird reason for Cat Ninja to conveniently be away while some major plot point happens.
The bonus story is also cute! What are friends for? :D
Absolutely recommended for fans of the series! Only somewhat recommended for fans of cats/ninja who happen to stumble across only this volume, for reasons stated above.
February 17, 2023
Cat Ninja leaves the big city behind for the suburbs when he goes with Leon and Marcie to visit their father. Unfortunately for CatNinja, things in the 'burbs work differently than he's used to, so he returns to the city on patrol, but finds someone else saving the day. He returns to the 'burbs to discover that something isn't right. The goldfish given to the family by a neighbor turns out to have been genetically altered into a mob box called Goldfather who is running the neighborhood through blackmail and control of the sewer system. Unfortunately, Mr. Squeaks, the criminal genius hamster's been captured. Naturally it is up to Cat Ninja and Adonis, the robot dog, to save the day. With bright, appealing illustrations this graphic novel is bound to be a hit with fans of the series as well as fans of Captain Underpants or Dog Man. The story is action-packed while also presenting lots of humor. The extra story at the end about Adonis, the robot dog's attempt at being Cat Ninja's sidekick is hilarious. A kid-friendly, winning superhero story that many young readers are bound to love.
December 15, 2022
I still love this series and its characters so much, but this is my least liked of the books. I did like how ruthless the fish mafia characters were.
3.5
3.5
January 12, 2025
Bean’s rating.
March 31, 2025
Cat ninja is a cool book and I do like it is an interesting book it is funny.-KL
November 21, 2025
This has to be one of the best books ever made
December 7, 2022
Copy provided by the publisher
Claude, aka Cat Ninja, has gotten up to a lot of trouble since we met him in the first installment, Cat Ninja. Now, he is moving from Metro City to Peaceful Valley, to live for a month with Marcie and Leon's father. He's bought a house in the suburb so that the kids and their pets, the robotic dog Adonis and Mr. Squeaks the hamster, have more room. Marcie doesn't want to be away from her friends, but after Leon wipes out on his skateboard trying to impress neighborhood children, develops a group of friends even though Leon doesn't. The neighbors seem friendly, even though it's a little odd that Mrs. Widdle brings the family a sullen looking fish as a welcoming gift. The fish is, of course, an evil henchman, and soon Cat Ninja and crew are called upon to fight the fish mafia. Cat Ninja has some problems; because he's in the suburbs, he isn't as quick to respond to crises, and Octopunch gets more acclaim. He's also in the sights of Fish Face Malone, who wants to take him down, but the Goldfather, a fish in charge of the syndicate, manages to deal with Fish Face. When Mr. Squeaks is kidnapped by the evil fish, Cat Ninja starts to notice that the only pets in Peaceful Valley are piscine, and also uncovers alarming information about the local Goldfather's Fish Flake factory that employs many local residents, including Marcie and Leon's father. Will Cat Ninja be able to save the day?
**Slight spoiler because it was SO funny.**
Strengths: These Epic! Originals graphic novels always remind me strongly of the Harvey World comic books we would get as a treat at gas stations on road trips-- it didn't matter that we picked up Richie Rich number 83 without reading the proceeding ones. While Cat Ninja seems to have a few new skills and adversaries, it's easy enough to catch up with his antics. This volume deftly combined some real life concerns, like moving to a new neighborhood and navigating life with divorced parents, with the goofy fight with the Goldfather's syndicate.
Weaknesses: This ends on quite the cliffhanger, and because these have been published in a couple of formats, I'm not quite sure what follows this book; it looks like the stand alone Baby's Day Out, but there might also be a combined volume.
What I really think: Here's the spoiler: I loved the shout out to Soylent Green! "Goldfather's Fish Flakes are... people. I mean, made by people. In a sewage plant." I'm not sure that any 8-12 year olds will get the reference to that 1973 film, but I appreciated it, especially since I had forgotten that the movie takes place in 2022! I appreciate any time a book includes jokes to make it worthwhile for adults to read it. Of course, graphic novel fans will like it best, and this is a great way to introduce the format to younger readers.
Claude, aka Cat Ninja, has gotten up to a lot of trouble since we met him in the first installment, Cat Ninja. Now, he is moving from Metro City to Peaceful Valley, to live for a month with Marcie and Leon's father. He's bought a house in the suburb so that the kids and their pets, the robotic dog Adonis and Mr. Squeaks the hamster, have more room. Marcie doesn't want to be away from her friends, but after Leon wipes out on his skateboard trying to impress neighborhood children, develops a group of friends even though Leon doesn't. The neighbors seem friendly, even though it's a little odd that Mrs. Widdle brings the family a sullen looking fish as a welcoming gift. The fish is, of course, an evil henchman, and soon Cat Ninja and crew are called upon to fight the fish mafia. Cat Ninja has some problems; because he's in the suburbs, he isn't as quick to respond to crises, and Octopunch gets more acclaim. He's also in the sights of Fish Face Malone, who wants to take him down, but the Goldfather, a fish in charge of the syndicate, manages to deal with Fish Face. When Mr. Squeaks is kidnapped by the evil fish, Cat Ninja starts to notice that the only pets in Peaceful Valley are piscine, and also uncovers alarming information about the local Goldfather's Fish Flake factory that employs many local residents, including Marcie and Leon's father. Will Cat Ninja be able to save the day?
**Slight spoiler because it was SO funny.**
Strengths: These Epic! Originals graphic novels always remind me strongly of the Harvey World comic books we would get as a treat at gas stations on road trips-- it didn't matter that we picked up Richie Rich number 83 without reading the proceeding ones. While Cat Ninja seems to have a few new skills and adversaries, it's easy enough to catch up with his antics. This volume deftly combined some real life concerns, like moving to a new neighborhood and navigating life with divorced parents, with the goofy fight with the Goldfather's syndicate.
Weaknesses: This ends on quite the cliffhanger, and because these have been published in a couple of formats, I'm not quite sure what follows this book; it looks like the stand alone Baby's Day Out, but there might also be a combined volume.
What I really think: Here's the spoiler: I loved the shout out to Soylent Green! "Goldfather's Fish Flakes are... people. I mean, made by people. In a sewage plant." I'm not sure that any 8-12 year olds will get the reference to that 1973 film, but I appreciated it, especially since I had forgotten that the movie takes place in 2022! I appreciate any time a book includes jokes to make it worthwhile for adults to read it. Of course, graphic novel fans will like it best, and this is a great way to introduce the format to younger readers.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews