Batpig: When Pigs Fly; Rob Harrell

Batpig is ready to swoop into the lives of middle-grade readers and is set to bring action, life lessons and gross-out giggles.

There was nothing special about sixth-grader pig Gary Yorkshire. He enjoyed playing video games, reading comics, taking mud baths and hanging out with his friends, Carl the fish and Brooklyn the bat.

But then Brooklyn accidentally bit her friend and now there’s nothing ordinary about Gary. He has superpowers - strength, flight and mind control. Batpig has been born and must now fight wrongdoers, evil villains and save the city. But can the apartment-dwelling Gary become a super swine…

I was laughing-out-loud from the first moment I met Gary - he was strapped to a rocket, had been forced-fed a poison pill and was heading straight to the sun courtesy of the actions of a potty-mouthed lizard called Repto-man - more on him later.

Gary’s origin story is woven in to two individual adventures, both of which are bursting with silliness and an abundance of pig puns. The action and laughs come thick and fast as Gary, with the help of Brooklyn, gets to grips with his new powers. There are spandex costumes to be created, catchphrases to master and the perfect superhero ringtone to compose.

All superheroes need villains and Gary finds his in the form of Carl’s pet lizard who morphs into Repto-man and a crazed butcher who is on a mission to take over the world. Batpig is going to need all of his swine superpowers and a little help from his friends but with Carl feeling neglected and Brooklyn’s fear of flying it isn’t going to be easy to save his own bacon and the city.

Each character brings plenty of humour, heart, wit and sarcasm and readers will each have their favourites - I think Carl who loves hanging out in toilet bowls is mine. In amongst the laughs, gross-out scenes and potty-jokes, there are some nice messages about identity and friendship. Anyone who has felt like the one left out of a friendship trio will relate to Carl who is kept out of the superhero secret thanks to his reputation as a bit of a blabbermouth.

When Pigs Fly is a very entertaining and engaging start to a new series and I look forward to more adventures with Batpig and his friends, the next title is due out in 2022.

With huge thanks to Harper Collins for the copy I received in exchange for an honest review.

Recommended for 7+.