Description
Product Description
Beware, villains! Cat Ninja may appear to be nothing more than a silly internet meme. But he is evil's greatest enemy, and the silent master of Kat Fu and carpet scratching! From Epic! Originals, Cat Ninja is a hilarious graphic novel series about a lovable cat with a heroic alter-ego.
Raised from a kitten by a kindly old ninja master, Claude now spends his days as the pampered house cat of an eleven-year-old boy. But when trouble arises, Claude dons his mask and springs into action as Cat Ninja—Metro City's secret protector! In Book 1 of the series, follow our feline hero’s early exploits as he tries to keep his secret identity under wraps while thwarting the evil plans of slimy crooks, rampaging robots, and a certain rodent nemesis who lives under the same roof!
From School Library Journal
Gr 4–6—Cody and Mercado offer a humorous and action-packed take on the idea that pets lead secret lives. Claude is a regular gray house cat by day and legendary Cat Ninja by night. He fights evil in Metro City with the skills he learned from a gentle ninja master who rescued him from an alley. Metro City is also home to the dastardly Doctor Von Malice, a witchlike human with green-tinged skin, who has enlisted a menagerie of villainous animals to wreak havoc. Ninja Cat's archenemy is a lethargic house pet named Mr. Squeaks, also known as the diabolical Master Hamster, who is determined to hack Metro City's email accounts. In each chapter, Cat Ninja takes on a different enemy: intimidating raccoons, a literal cat burglar, an enraged roach, and an enthusiastic robot dog. Ultimately, these encounters build to a final battle with Doctor Von Malice. Amid the thrilling adventures, Cody includes relatable subplots of family drama and lessons about Internet safety without stopping the momentum of the story or making it didactic. Mercado's frenetic art will have readers feel as though they, too, are swinging through the skies of Metro City. The vibrant use of color dominated by shades of purple allows for the seamless switching between the animals' personas. Though most characters are animals, the humans, such as the pet owners, appear to be diverse in terms of race and ethnicity. VERDICT Bright, funny, and brimming with kid appeal. It'll be hard to keep this one on shelves, and readers will quickly demand a sequel.—Jennie Law, Georgia State Univ., Atlanta
Review
“Cody’s hyperbolic superhero-movie narration and Mercado’s vibrant, dynamic panels hit the sweet spot, marrying humor and heroics . . . perfection!” —KIRKUS STARRED REVIEW
(Kirkus Reviews)
About the Author
Matthew Cody is the author of several popular books, including the award-winning Supers of Noble’s Green trilogy: Powerless, Super, and Villainous. He is also the author of Will in Scarlet and The Dead Gentleman, as well as the fantasy series The Secrets of the Pied Piper. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and son.
Yehudi Mercado was born in Mexico City and raised in Houston, Texas. He is a former Disney art director turned successful graphic novelist. His graphic novels as writer-illustrator include Buffalo Speedway, Pantalones, TX, Rocket Salvage, and Sci-Fu: Kick it Off. He is currently showrunning a narrative podcast based on his graphic novel Hero Hotel.