My Buddy, Killer Croc

by Sara Farizan, Nicoletta Baldari (Contributor)

My Buddy, Killer Croc is a charming tale of a boy in a new school, his new friends and enemies, and the super-villain who teaches him how to put the bullies in their place.

Andy is new to Gotham. He's shy and quiet and in need of friends. Then he meets his wrestling hero, Waylon Jones, now known as Killer Croc. How will Andy react when he finds out the truth about his idol?

Andy, like a lot of kids, feels a little lost and out of place when he moves to Gotham. He's quiet and shy...and a little worried that the scar on his face makes him stick out. Some classmates make him feel welcome, and others don't. But Andy has a secret.

Back in Florida, his dad introduced him to the wrestler Waylon Jones, and Andy's pretty sure he's in Gotham now, too. If Andy can find him and ask for some wrestling tips, he can have it all. Finding Jones won't be too hard, either...because in Gotham, Jones goes by the name Killer Croc! Trouble is, Batman is looking for Andy's childhood hero, too.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Middle Grade, Superheroes, Fiction, Childrens, Dc Comics

152 pages, Paperback

First published August 30, 2022

About the author

Sara Farizan (1984, Massachusetts).

Her parents immigrated from Iran in the seventies, her father a surgeon and her mother a homemaker. Sara grew up feeling different in her private high school not only because of her ethnicity but also because of her liking girls romantically, her lack of excitement in science and math, and her love of writing plays and short stories. So she came out of the closet in college, realized math and science weren’t so bad (but not for her), and decided she wanted to be a writer. She is an MFA graduate of Lesley University and holds a BA in film and media studies from American University. Sara has been a Hollywood intern, a waitress, a comic book/record store employee, an art magazine blogger, a marketing temp, and an after-school teacher, but above all else she has always been a writer.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little boy named Andy befriends Killer Croc (KC) who helps him deal with bullies at school. If you know of a child (8-12) who is having trouble adjusting to a new school you might want to give this book a once over; it may help them see that new friends can be made if you take a chance.

[Tawfek · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a Buddy Read with Pink Whitney Red Corey Gold Chad Yellow Kadi Bluetiful Jenny

***spoilers
So this was kind of disappointing for me, i expected more, Its like Harley set up in Gotham, but unlike Harley canon lovers will love this because it didn't really stray from the canon killer croc that we know, it might have just introduced a new dimension and possibilities to his character.
i also liked The Loser wrestling championship federation being realistic, that moment where the wrestlers are talking together during the match, and croc asking for 20$ to agree to talk with the kid.
Andy is a sweet kid, maybe a touch naive, but he is kind and book smart, and an artist to top it off.
his aunt was amazing too except for one sentence that she said that cost her later.
first 50 pages put me in "i hate this" mood, but then it picked up in a book that's 150 pages that 33% , i just can't justify giving this more, since the writing style is pretty mediocre, like the rest of YA DC except Harley.
I loved the art, and this is the constant positive in DC YA/MG graphic novels, you are always in for a new style of art.
i loved the humane story, and that also has been always a constant if we disregard zatanna (who i remember nothing good about her YA story)
i liked when the aunt and the kid stood up to batman, that was the highlight for me, take that you sucker.
Like i said many positives in this graphic novel, it just didn't resonate well for me overall.

[Jenny Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buddy read with Whitney Chad Tawfek Kadi and Corey
This was a pretty good middle grade graphic novel. We have Andy who is a huge fan of the wrestler Killer Croc, who is a friend of his fathers. He gets to meet him at one point and this leads to him helping him out while he's on the run.
I felt like Andy was a bit naive when he blindly trusted Killer Croc, but I do like Croc helped him with his bully problem. The art is not my favorite, but it does fit for middle grade, and it's not bad just not my personal fave. I love the way Croc's tail is exaggerated though, and the bright colors.
I also like how we get to see Croc's pain and loneliness in a few scenes.
Check out my YouTube channel for bookish videos and monthly wrap ups!

[Corey Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buddy read with: Kadi, Tawkek, Jenny, Chad, and Whitney.

Going into this I figured it would be this toned down story about a little kid who meets this kid version of Croc and they become friends.
I was wrong.
And I'm glad I was. Because this managed to be a super fun story, while also being "kid friendly" enough.

We follow Andy who recently moved to Gotham to live with his Aunt. We see a series of flashbacks where Andy's dad takes him to a wrestling match that the Croc is wrestling at. Andy is blown away. Ever since then he has been a huge fan of Killer Croc.

Then we go back to present day where Andy is running from some bullies when goes into the sewers to hide. That's where him and the Croc meet once again. What seems like a nice friendship, quickly turns into something not so friendly. I won't spoil anything else but that's the main plot. Overall, this book was really cute and wholesome. Maybe I had my expectations to low, because I was not expecting to like this as much as I did. The art was great, and there were a few moments that got a chuckle out of me. I would definitely recommend this for any parent or someone who just wants a cute story.

[Whitney (The Cover Collector) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buddy read with Chad, Corey, Jenny, Kadi, and Tawfek.

Andy is new in Gotham. His criminal father has ‘gone away’ for a while, so he’s been living with his Aunt, Meredith. His favourite wrestler is Killer Croc, who is a crocodile man. Andy has a scar on his face, so he understands what it’s like to be stared at and treated badly just like Killer Croc has been. Unfortunately Killer Croc, who’s real name is Waylon Jones, has also turned to a life of crime…

Andy ends up going down a bad path, doing deeds for Waylon, all the while neglecting his friends and family who have noticed something’s not quite right. ‘The road to hell is paved with good intentions’ and all that. But Waylon isn’t all bad and Andy sees someone who is struggling at life. Everyone deserves a second chance, right? Right??

I enjoyed this story. It’s written for kids, so the writing was pretty simple. But they did have conversations with just the right amount of depth and personality. I’m not sure if these convos are convos real kids would have between each other, but…All in all it’s a quick, light read with gorgeous coloring and an adorable art style.

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's cute. A little too cute, at times, and it threw me off. A bit too many things thrown around without any real weight to them. A simple story, I guess it's fine for a kids book (I do like having a main character with a visual scar, that's not a common thing) but there are so many other OGNs from DC's lineup that do a lot more with less.

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this middle grade book. Croc is actually a great character for a humanizing storyline like this, because he genuinely does have a tragic backstory. Farizan's take is surprisingly balanced, showcasing his legitimate feelings of isolation without glossing over the terrible things he can do. Andy's attachment to him makes sense in context, because he identifies with him and because he represents a connection to his absent father. There are definitely things glossed over here, like how neglected Andy was before his aunt became his guardian. And I definitely could've done without the plot thread about his aunt dating his teacher, which is extremely unprofessional. But the takeaway here, that a person can care about you and have things to offer you but still be a negative presence in your life, is done well enough and will probably hit with too many kids.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light story, with a few too many threads that don't go anywhere, but a lot of heart, buoyed by the amazing artwork from Baldari - will definitely be checking out more books from her.

[Mariah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is aggressively okay. Like many graphic novels because it lacks the page and word count of a traditional novel many elements feel rushed and end abruptly. While the Killer Croc aspect was well done, Andy's relationship with any of the other characters was shallow.

Also it does that thing were a grown person who has presumably lived in the crime ridden, villain laden, politically ruined cesspool that is Gotham City their whole life has a problem with Batman because 'the law says blah blah blah'. The argument about legality, slipper slopes, and the ethics of vigilantism may fly in Metropolis, but I cannot fathom an adult who doesn't have anything shady up their sleeve being virulently Anti-Batman knowing how bad Gotham City is. The Joker alone is argument enough.

Jokes aside while there are valid reasons to argue against Batman being so influential or the dangers of over reliance on him to solve structural issues this book doesn't actually have anything to say about that. There's an interesting parallel that could have been drawn between the treatment of Batman vs Waylon that would better support the narrative's supposition that if robbed of care and love at a key juncture anyone could make poor decisions. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure the only reason this topic was raised at all was to check off a box on the list of moralizations to cover.

I don't like the recent trend of declawing villains, however, I'd argue Waylon has always had a tragic background embedded in to his stories that this is only highlighting rather than a total betrayal of the source materials' intentions - Cruella comes to mind.

All these words just to say, it's alright, I guess.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I’m definitely too old for this, I can see it charming the middle-grade set. Lovely art and well-drawn characters, including a toned-down and more sympathetic Killer Croc (removing all of cannibalistic tendencies was definitely the right choice - hoagies not human legs!).

Also, there’s a nice through-line in here that manages of avoid being preachy while still being useful and instructive for kids: mistrust adults who want you to do things that just feel wrong, even if those things seem cool or grown up at first. That’s how you end up robbing highly metaphorical dowagers at charity galas!

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story. Charming, nuanced, fundamentally light hearted without taking serious things too lightly. Also the art style is extremely charming and deft, with shades of both B:TAS and classic Disney.

CN: school bullying, peril, violence, poor parenting, parental imprisonment

[Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting take on a classic DC villain!

[Seher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very cute, I want more comic standalones like this.

[Shae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I almost CRIED. I love Andy to pieces but also Waylon. They're such good buddies, oh no. The nods to the other Rogues and aspects of Gotham life were great, and the Bruce design is so good!

[Karl Gruenewald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I probably never would have known this book existed if I hadn't found it on a supermarket shelf, recognized it as a lost library book, and decided to be a good Samaritan and return it. Of course I had to read it, first.

This is a fun one-shot adventure set in the world of the Dark Knight, but revolving mostly around the life of a young boy and his relationship with a minor villain. As much as I would call myself a fan of Batman, what I enjoyed most about this story is the fact that it's set in Gotham City but looked at more than just the daily grind of its usual vigilante protagonist. I would be happy to see more stories like this, and was delightfully surprised to find it in a graphic novel intended for children.

[Femme Power Comix · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Snapdragon · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, by the cover I would never have thought this book takes place in the DC universe. The art style does not indicate that the story is set in Gotham. Very misleading.

The way the panels cut from scene to scene is choppy. The first few panel start on a school bus then move to inside the school then inside a classroom. There no good establishment of what happening.

This book is very kiddy. The only reason parents will get this book for their kid is because it has Batman and their kid likes Batman. There nothing superhero about this book.

This is a cute story and would be good if it were it own thing. However with it being set in the DC universe is feel so out of place.

*****Cybils Award Review *****

My Buddy, Killer Croc is about a boy name Andy who has long hair. However he does boy things like wrestling. Andy has the girl stereotype of long hair but does not question his gander identity. 😡

On the bright side the team who made this graphic novel are all women.

My Buddy, Killer Croc gets an E for low effort in diversity.

***** End of Satire *****

Note: I do not condone the Cybils Award guidelines.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations with amazing colors. There's so much style a mood conveyed with this art. And as a bonus, its not just the normal brooding and grim grime of we think of with Gotham.

The story is good. It wasn't 100% what I was expecting which was nice.

But its the little things that have got me singing praises... Our MC has a visible scar! We have an incarnated/mandatory therapy (I can't quite remember/it wasn't totally clear) parent. We have folks acknowledging that bad things can happen to folks which can make it easier for them to be bad, but at the end of the day we're still responsible for our actions. We have a vulnerable "villain" who shares that he's been a victim, but that he's haunted by the bad stuff he's done on his own.

I'm just super impressed and pleased!

[Raven Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

The focus of having Killer Croc as the "hero" is a familiar, but neat twist. However, the one thing I was wondering is if the reader will understand Croc, no matter how "good or nice" he seems is not a "good guy." There is an interesting nod to the Aunt of the story being bisexual, but it is glossed over (perhaps we are being set up for a sequel?). Therefore, I am not sure if it was really needed or perhaps this concept could have been introduced in a less clunky manner. Overall, this is a cozy story about real love and friendship. I enjoyed it, but it was not OMG my favorite book ever. The illustrations unfortunately, were sometimes too crowded to view them comfortably, but work for the comic-graphic novel setting.

[Kristen Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andy is new in town and living with his aunt while is dad is away getting help. When he finds out one of his old wrestling heroes - Killer Croc - is in town he decides to help him, only he doesn’t realize what he has gotten himself into. This graphic novel is much more than just your average DC comic, I enjoyed seeing the relationship grow between Andy and his aunt as well as seeing him find out why some heroes really aren’t what they seem. I also loved how snarky he was to Batman at one point. There are many humorous moments in the book even with such serious topics as displacement, finding one’s place, and finding out the truth behind one’s childhood heroes.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid and simple read for kids. Andy is the new kid in school. He just moved to Gotham to live with his Aunt after something unsaid happened to his father. Andy has a severe burn across one cheek from spilling scalding water on it (even though that doesn't play much into the story.) Andy is into making comics with a girl at his school, Maggie. One day Andy meets Killer Croc and reminds him they met in Florida when Croc was a wrestler. They become friends but Croc has Andy stealing for him. Batman eventually sets Andy on the right path. Like I said it's a simple comic meant for children. The art's great.

[libreroaming · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of kid named Andy who idolizes Killer Croc from his wrestling days and ends up meeting him again in a chance encounter while they're both hiding in the Gotham sewer, Andy from bullies and Croc from the police. For a book geared to younger readers, the story is a perfect scope to introduce kids to Gotham's world while making the problems of new school and absent father the center stage. Unfortunately, the art doesn't seem to work well with the narrative, going for cartoony exaggerations every panel, even when the dialogue is calm and introspective. A good story whose delivery is hobbled by the art.

[Niche · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

This was a strange one, I came in expecting it to be more middle-grade, but this felt a lot more somber coming of age "never meet your heroes" type tale. I wasn't a huge fan of the art, I like characters to have a more defined/weighted outline and here they kind of blended into the background. For the story, it's always kind of neat to see Gotham from the perspective of a civilian. Andy is sent to live with his aunt and develops an exploited friendship with his anti-hero wrestling idol, Killer Croc, until the scales fall from his eyes.

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great DC YA title...

It's got a Disney/Pixar feel to the art, which is kind of odd when you're dealing with Gotham City, Batman, and Killer Croc.

Nice to see them TRY and humanize Killer Croc. Loads of authors and artists have leaned heavily on the bestial side, but he's essentially a foster kid who got dealt a crappy hand. It was refreshing to see someone able to reach through all the abuse and connect. I think the only other time I've seen that is Croc's appearances in the Gotham Academy comics.

[Renata · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really cute! I love Aunt Meredith! I feel like Killer Croc isn't necessarily the Batman villain with the most name recognition but in this case it works well because kids might not know the backstory and I think they can appreciate him having misfit solidarity with Andy.

[Ehryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book! It was fun to see Killer Croc interact with Andy and see how choices really make your life. I felt sympathy for Waylon, but also understood that he is still a criminal. The ending was so touching.

[D.T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's paint by numbers (meaning it does nothing to differentiate this typical story of a kid looking up to the wrong type of adult), but it's cute.

i don't remember them outright stating what happened to andy's dad. he either had substance abuse or mental health issues

2.5

[Joel Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is definitely the sweetest and cutest Batman story I've read. It's a great prompt: supervillains can have friends too, right? It's a coming-of-age tale about conflict, belief and trust. There are some powerful family moments exemplifying unconditional love.

[Kai Charles(Fiction State Of Mind) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really sweet story about an unconventional friendship.

[Mateen Mahboubi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even bad guys deserve a second chance and a friend.