Movie theaters throughout the world have played a major role in the revival of many superheroes and comic strip characters. In the last few years, bookstores and libraries started carrying larger selections of comic books and graphic novels. This influx of new characters and plots helped to create interest in both the reading and collecting of these serialized gems. I believe the popularity of graphic novels has also been fueled by the creativity and inspiration of countless authors/illustrators. Many of them first shared their work on their websites and social media accounts. Social media is where I discovered Teen Dog.

This BOOM! Box published graphic novel was created, illustrated and written by Jake Lawrence, a cartoonist/illustrator based in Melbourne, Australia. If the name Jake Lawrence sounds familiar to you, it’s because he is also the creator of the webcomic Time Cowboy. Teen Dog is a spinoff character from that series.

In this volume, Teen Dog is joined by fellow canine characters, Thug Pug and Dark Teen Dog. The human characters are Mariella, Sara, Jim, Jordan and Maya.

Most of the story lines take place in and around Tantamount High School. Teen Dog and his best friend, Mariella, face issues such as after school jobs, bullying, relationships — including their own — and Prom. Their adventures are not only realistic and spot-on, but also hilarious. The shared struggles will be familiar, as well as the dimensional personality elements. You will also meet ancillary characters like robots who work in a pizza parlor, and a couple disgruntled teachers.

The illustrations pop with color and unwritten story lines. Look closely for interesting details, especially in Teen Dog's locker.

I loved reading this graphic novel. I rate it at the top of the scale with five stars. *I read it twice to make sure I didn't miss anything in the text or illustrations. I'm glad I did because I found a few more laughs.

Teen Dog is a serial graphic novel. I will not spoil the entire ending for you, but this volume foreshadows Teen Dog and his friends giving thought to what their lives may be like after high school.

This graphic novel is appropriate for tweens and teens. There is no nudity, profanity, or graphic violence.

I borrowed a copy of Teen Dog from my local library for this review.

You can also learn more about graphics novels at BellaOnline’s Manga / Comics Site. 

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