The O.D.D. Squad: Attack of Aunty Enchanty by Stuart Heritage. Illus. by Vincent Batignole

213p

Hot on the tail of Rise of Invisdog, No 1 in the O.D.D. Squad series, Puffin has published a second hilarious superhero adventure in 2024. Justice City is under siege again in this hybrid early chapter book/graphic novel. This time, a villain by the name of The Incredible Slowman is comically and quickly apprehended.  The fast result meant something is wrong and the O.D.D. Squad are not at all surprised that  Kaiju (giant monsters) run rampant busting up the city that same night. From within their ranks, key members of the O.D.D. Squad sleepwalk and transform into Kaiju.  But when Graham the jellyfish is kidnapped,  Detective Octopus, (of course wearing her Roboctopus suit for surviving on dry land) also disappears.

Humans (Mayor Flurt, Timothy Jenkins, Arnab, SeoYeon and Paul)  try to assist the ODD Squad after it becomes clear that Aunty Enchanty a powerful sorceress, is planning to destroy Justice City by enchanting villians at Jaggedy Island Jail with her dainty wand.  The action heats up as increasing numbers of Kaiju cause havoc but this time they resemble: a spiky covered dinosaur , a fire-breathing bat and a multi-eyed lava monster.

The cast page that prefaces this mystery reintroduces readers to Quack Attack, Detective Octopus and Invisdog. Quack Attack, the first superhero on earth uses his sonic quack to send criminals flying. Detective octopus has nine brains and is the smartest deductive thinker ever. Invisidog can walk through walls and fly.

The jokes flow – when coerced into deciphering hieroglyphics to highten the sorceress' powers, they manage to trick Aunty into enchanting herself to experience continuous farting fits. But can the gang ultimately overwhelm the villain and protect their city from further destruction?

Vincent Batignole‘s cartoon panels are bright and full colour to help readers transition to chapter books. Elsewhere big fonts and bold illustrations will appeal to fans of Dog Man. TV news updates keep the action moving and segue to more toilet humour when returning audiences to their regular viewing of shows like “The World’s Itchiest Bumhole” or “How Smelly is  your Bum?”

The book ends with acknowledgements and a long section about the ‘story of Stewart’s book’ which is a pleasant explanation of the journey of any work of fiction from concept to distribution. Highly recommended for maximum engagement and endorphin inducing silliness.

Themes: Adventure, Fantasy, Graphic novel, Superheroes, Detective.

Deborah Robins