Secret Agent Derek ‘Danger’ Dale

Secret Agent Derek ‘Danger’ Dale: The Case of the Animals Behaving Really, Really Badly by Michael Gerard Bauer, illustrated by Joe Bauer (Omnibus Books for Scholastic Australia)
PB RRP $12.99
ISBN 978-1-74299-065-1
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

 Secret Agent Derek ‘Danger’ Dale is the superhero drawn by Eric Vale when he is bored in class at school. And here finally is a full length adventure for all his fans. The Case of the Animals Behaving Really, Really Badly sees Agent Dale of Secret Agents ‘r’ NOT us up against Dr Evil McEvilness.

From the opening of the story, with Agent Dale facing certain death at the hands of Countess Krystal, to the end when he bursts through Archibald Boss’s office door after defeating McEvilness, Danger Dale is placed in seemingly impossible predicaments. But being the hero that everyone knows him to be (especially his creator, Eric Vale!) he manages to bumble his way out of every dangerous situation.

The Case of the Animals Behaving Really, Really Badly is a quick and easy read. Fun and light, it combines handwritten text and wordless comic strips on every page. It has the silliness young boys will love, great sarcasm, dry humour and a wonderful mix of ridiculous names.

This book is a spin off from the Eric Vale series for slightly younger readers, 8 plus, but any fan of Eric Vale will enjoy reading this.

 

Eric Vale off the Rails

Eric Vale off the Rails by Michael Gerard Bauer, illustrated by Joe Bauer (Omnibus Books)
PB RRP $14.99
ISBN 978-1-86291-994-5
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Eric Vale is back in a new adventure, back in trouble. This time the trouble is all Chewy’s fault but how is Eric going to explain his own extremely unusual behaviour to Principal Porter.

Eric Vale Off the Rails is once again packed full of Secret Agent Derek ‘Danger’ Dale comic strips, amusing illustrations and a sense of humour aimed perfectly at early primary aged boys. Vampires, werewolves and especially aliens run wild through Eric’s ‘side of the story’ as he desperately tries to explain to the principal, and his parents, why he turned the fire hose onto the substitute teacher in the middle of a museum excursion.

Eric Vale is a popular series. Easy to read, laugh-aloud moments and the nerdy antics of Eric and his friend Chewy all mix to make and entertaining story for young boys. Suspend disbelief and go on the ride that is Eric Vale’s life. It’s great fun!

Eric Vale Super Male

Eric Vale Super Male by Michael Gerard Bauer, illustrated by Joe Bauer (Omnibus Books)
PB RRP $14.99
ISBN 978-1-86291-993-8
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Things are looking up for Eric Vale. His school is about to hold the annual fete and the week leading up to it has been designated superhero week. And there is no subject Eric knows more about, or enjoys as much, as superheroes.

In fact, there just may be a few chances for Eric to save the day (and Sophie Peters) and become a superhero himself. That would stop the bullies teasing and the sneers of Meredith Murdoch. But in Eric’s world, nothing runs quite to plan. For once in his life he’d like to be known as Eric Vale Super Male, rather than Eric Vale Super Fail!

Eric Vale Super Male is a fun follow-up to Eric Vale Epic Fail. Eric still fails to keep his focus in class, turning his attention instead to the creation of his comic strip hero Secret Agent Derek ‘Danger’ Dale. With his loyal sidekick Chewy Rodriguez, Eric continues to bumble his way good-heartedly through school life.

This is an entertaining story for primary aged children and there is much for them to relate to. The ‘Danger’ Dale comic strip woven throughout is fabulous too and adds to the many laugh-aloud moments throughout. It is an easy read with fun illustrations on every page making it accessible to beginning readers.