Off the Hook

January 6, 2020
World-famous cupcake maker Gustavo Mustachio hasn’t been seen in two weeks, and Mango and Brash, two alligators—wearing V.E.S.T. (Very Exciting Spy Technology) for their work with S.U.I.T. (Special Undercover Investigation Teams)—are dispatched to Gustavo’s bakery, Batter Down, to find out more. Brash is level-headed, buoyant Mango can’t resist puns and wordplay (“We’re alligators. SNAPPY is what we do best!”), and both dive into toilets and travel through city sewers in service of the case. As the head scientist at the Science Factory across town prepares to announce a great discovery, a mysterious customer delivers a giant birthday cake from Batter Down, leading to the Science Factory’s explosion and adding another facet to the mystery. Helicopters, many-armed gadgets, and wild schemes proliferate this graphic novel series opener as origin stories explain characters’ behavior (and occasionally slow the story’s frenetic pace). In high-intensity colors, straightforward panel artwork by Green (Hippopot­a­mister) offers plenty of slapstick gags to Brash and Mango’s tale. Fast-paced fun for the bad pun and dorky joke crowd: “Now let’s flush ourselves down the nearest toilet and GATER DONE!” Ages 7–10.