The Bad Guys: Episode 12: The One?! by Aaron Blabey

Scholastic, 2020. ISBN: 9781760668679.
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Mr Wolf and his friends are back in another amazing adventure that will thrill fans of the series. Carrying on from Episode 11: Dawn of the Underlord, where we found Snake turned into a Dark Lord, after opening a door into another dimension, this time Snake is trying to use his terrifying powers to deal with The One. Agent Fox appears to have mysterious powers and the group forms into Team A and Team B to stop Snake and the scary dark lords. And who is The One?
As with all the predecessors, this is a hilarious chapter book that will delight fans and even newcomers to the series as it has enough background for readers to work out what is going on. The references to dark lords, The One, and the Master will bring grins to the faces of readers, while they will chuckle aloud at the doorway that is found in Granny Gumbo's poop burgers restaurant. All the uproariously funny narrative is accompanied by equally funny illustrations that complement the text. I love the Snake portrayed as a Dark Lord and Mr Piranha as The Oracle is a delight, their facial expressions sublime.
Beginning readers will love this chapter graphic novel with its bold black text and big print, while older readers will just love the humour and references to stuff going on in society today. And the cliff-hanger will have them begging for the next episode.
This series is a must purchase for every library as it caters not only to people who love humour, but reluctant and beginning readers as well. A note on the front cover reads "Soon to be major motion picture from Dreamworks" so the popularity of the series can only increase.
Pat Pledger