Review by Booklist Review
Kochalka's trademark is off-the-wall cartoon humor, and his latest is no exception: Banana Fox (BF), a daffy detective, is paying a visit to his fan club when he stumbles upon a mystery--the club vice president's pet turtle is missing! With the assistance of a fan who happened to catch BF on his way to the meeting, the bright yellow gumshoe bungles his way through the investigation, which involves imposter club members, hypnosis, a mouth-puckering soft drink, and a malfunctioning machine making BF's favorite drink (a banana smoothie, of course). Against all odds (and with not-inconsiderable help from his fans), BF solves the case, captures the bad guys, and gains a sidekick in the process. No, it doesn't make much sense, but the wacky plot and absurd humor echo the imaginative games kids play, and the candy-bright, boldly outlined figures that practically bounce off the page are tailor-made for early-elementary-school comics fans. The implied backstory and concluding team-up practically promise a sequel. Dog Man fans on the younger side will appreciate this.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Dog Man meets InvestiGators in this enthusiastic early graphic novel series opener by Eisner Award winner Kochalka (Johnny Boo). In 11 chapters, Kochalka follows the clueless, bungling Banana Fox, a bright yellow long-snouted fox and self-proclaimed "world's greatest detective," who makes banana smoothies at the local Smoothie Shack after jailing Sour Grapes, the leader of the Secret Sour Society. When a girl with light brown skin and curly orange hair--whom Banana Fox promptly nicknames Flashlight for the red one she carries--warns the detective that the Secret Sour Society is "still at work doing crimes," Banana Fox, instead of pursuing the tip, deems the weekly Banana Fox Fan Club meeting more pressing. There they discover that someone has stolen bespectacled Vice President William's pet turtle. Clues lead Banana Fox to the sewers, where Sour Grapes Jr., a grass green fox, has used Super Sour Soda to both mind control William and turn his turtle into a "giant mutant monster." Full of humorous internal logic ("I figured it out./ William knew that I, Banana Fox... following the clues... would flush myself down the toilet"), bold strokes, and a bright palette, younger readers are sure to enjoy Banana Fox's shenanigans. Ages 7--10. (Jan.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A ditzy detective must stop a more-silly-than-sinister society. Banana Fox, the world-renowned lemon-hued vulpine detective, now works at the Smoothie Shack making his favorite smoothies (banana, natch). One day, a girl Banana Fox nicknames Flashlight (for the cherry-red one she carries) convinces him to once again take up sleuthing. The two meet William, who happens to be the vice president of the Banana Fox Fan Club but more importantly is missing his beloved turtle, Tur-Tur. William loves to drink Super Sour Soda, which tips off Flashlight that the nefarious villains Sour Grapes Jr. (a green fox) and the Sour Apple Gang (you guessed it: green apples) may have infiltrated William's club. As Flashlight tries to convince the oblivious Banana Fox of the mounting sour clues, Sour Grapes Jr.'s comically dastardly jiggery-pokery is revealed through rampantly zany escapades including flushing toilets, giant turtles, and banana bikes. Kochalka's graphic series opener positively vibrates off the page with its large illustrations colored in an eye-popping spectrum of pinks, greens, and yellows coupled with ballooning visual gags. If this sounds like a lot of whimsical nonsense bordering on a fever dream, it is. However, those familiar with Kochalka's trademark tomfoolery should certainly be at home here, where silliness eclipses plot. Flashlight and William are both human; she has brown skin and puffy orange hair, and he presents White. Over-the-top goofiness guarantees abundant giggles. (Graphic humor. 7-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
