Look up at the sky – who is that daring hero floating by? It’s… Batpig!
Rob Harrell is the author-illustrator of the highly praised graphic novel Monster on the Hill and the illustrated book series The Life of Zarf. His fifth book, Wink, is a fictional story drawn from his own experiences with rare eye cancer. His latest graphic novel series, Batpig: When Pigs Fly, is inspired by the illustrations from Wink.
Gary Yorkshire was your perfectly average, fuzzy pink pig who loved eating tasty sandwiches, playing video games and hanging out with his friends Carl the fish and Brooklyn the bat.
Now, he’s an unstoppable super-swine hero who boldly fights for justice – from catching litterers to defeating powerful supervillains intent on destruction. Will Batpig prevail? And will he find a suitable spandex costume to flatter his rear end?
This is a brilliantly hilarious graphic novel. When the first panel showed Gary strapped to a giant rocket with a lit fuse, I was instantly hooked! When Pigs Fly tells the story of Gary who goes through an unfortunate – turned fortunate – event that results in his super heroism. When Pigs Fly is a standalone graphic novel, but you may recognise Gary from Harrell’s other graphic novel, Wink.
Harrell incorporates a blend of narration, dialogue, illustrations and comic asides. Together, these create a mix perfect for middle-grade readers and beyond. But in between all the (literal) potty humour and witty one-liners, there’s a lot to take away from this graphic novel.
When Gary develops superhero abilities, he goes through a journey of trial, error and overcoming personal identity – and readers are all aboard for this rollercoaster ride. When Pigs Fly focuses on the importance of friendship while maintaining your individuality. The friendship between Gary, Carl and Brooklyn is hilariously sincere and their unique dynamic has left me quite attached to the trio.
I recommend When Pigs Fly for readers aged 8+ and fans of Dog Man and Captain Underpants.. If you have a reluctant reader in your midst, this book is the perfect way to spark a love for reading.
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