Boo the World's Cutest Dog Volume 1 by Kristen Deacon

I'm a sucker for cute graphic-novels: My Little Pony, Grumpy Cat, Boo, Pusheen - I see them, and I just can't help myself. Cuteness is my kryptonite.

Boo, the World's Cutest Dog, was super popular a few years ago when his photos went viral. You couldn't go anywhere without seeing his adorable little face plastered across something. I remember this store got some of the dolls during the height of the craze, and they literally sold out a few hours after opening.

This graphic-novel has several stories, done by a number of artists and story-writers. There's no continuity: the only thing they have in common is that they're all about Boo and his friends.

Boo and the Birthday Bash: ☆

This story annoyed me. It's about a spoiled, bratty teenage girl on the day of her birthday. She throws a humongous tantrum when her pet dog gets more attention than she does at her party. The story ends in her favor. Obviously.

The Boo Over the Cuckoo's Nest: ☆

This story also annoyed me. Boo & his friends are afraid that they aren't going to get breakfast because their human is sick. They end up destroying the entire kitchen in their attempt to feed themselves. Bratty selfishness without consequence seems to be a motif in this collection.

Also, the title confuses me. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a very dark story about a psychiatric hospital. I wasn't really sure how it was relevant to this story line. Young children, who I am guessing are the target audience for this story collection, probably aren't going to get that reference.

Boovie Star: ☆

Weird story about Boo auditioning for a movie role. He's upset because he knows that if he gets the job, he won't see his friends all summer. Harmless, but boring. I wasn't a fan of this one, either.

Photo Shoot: ☆☆☆

This was the first story I actually liked. Boo keeps running into a very nervous chihuahua who chews up everything in sight when he's nervous. Gets bonus points for no bad Boo-puns in the title.
 
Cloak and Dog-ger: ☆

Ouch. That pun. *winces* This story is proof that dogs would make the worst secret agents ever. Kind of remind me of Cats & Dogs (2001). Any of you remember seeing that movie?

Walk in the Park: ☆½

Boo is so desperate for his cookie fix that he begins hallucinating cookies everywhere in the park. Disturbing for two reasons: 1) seems to be alluding to addiction and 2) the cookies in question are chocolate-chip cookies, and you definitely shouldn't be feeding those to your dogs.

It's Dog-Squatch: ☆☆

This one was ok, too. Boo & friends are camping and telling spooky stories, when suddenly they think they're being stalked by the dog-squatch. Twist ending.

Crazy Sunday: ☆

Boo is kidnapped by this rich guy who wants to be King of Instagram, basically, only to escape and meet Scooby Doo parodies and Wizard of Oz parodies. Ends almost identically to Cloak and Dog-ger. "Crazy Sunday" is right - this plot was messed up in a bad Christmas special kind of way.

After Crazy Sunday, we're treated to Boo's diary entries and then a cover gallery.

This Boo graphic-novel was disappointing. I loved the cover gallery and the art was cute, but all the stories seemed very lazily-written. I kind of got the impression that whoever created this was expecting Boo's cuteness and fame to sell copies regardless of whether or not the writing was good. They really ought to take a page from the My Little Pony fandom and write clever, engaging story lines that appeal to both young and old with clever pop-culture references and good characterization.

Thanks to Netgalley/the publisher for the review copy!

1 out of 5 stars.