Cat Ninja

by Matthew Cody, Yehudi Mercado (Illustrator)

Overview

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!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781524860943
Publisher:	Andrews McMeel Publishing
Publication date:	10/13/2020
Series:	Cat Ninja , #1
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	105,437
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	GN390L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

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 graphic novels Zatanna and the House of Secrets from DC Comics and The Bright Family from Epic/Andrews McMeel. He lives in Manhattan, New York, 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.,

Editorial Reviews

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)

From the Publisher

★ 2020-07-15
Who can save the city and meme his way into the hearts of all? Cat Ninja!

Metro City has no idea that its adorable yet deadly protector Cat Ninja is but a humble house cat by day. Leon’s cat, Claude, appears ordinary enough, but when Master Hamster threatens everyone’s bank accounts from his hamster-ball–headed super robot body, Claude becomes Cat Ninja, using the skills he learned as a kitten watching ninja movies with a kindly old lady—who became a ninja crime fighter when attacked. Yes, there are villains everywhere for Cat Ninja to fight, but Leon is having a rough time too. His parents are just beginning divorce proceedings; he and his sister, Marcie, hate having two houses and the way their parents separately vie for their attention. While the family drama plays out, Cat Ninja is busy keeping the city safe from the Raccoon Bros and Chat Noir, but is our kitty hero up to beating a supervillain menace who’s arming the city’s baddies? Cody’s hyperbolic superhero-movie narration and Mercado’s vibrant, dynamic panels hit the sweet spot, marrying humor and heroics. Leon, Marcie, and their mom all have beige skin; the kids’ dad presents White. A short comic featuring villain Fury Roach penned by Colleen AF Venable and a humorous quiz close what readers will hope is but the first outing for Cat Ninja.

Powerful pussycat perfection! (Graphic fantasy. 7-14)

Kirkus Reviews

01/15/2021

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

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