Fann Club: Batman Squad

Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7

FANN CLUB: THE BATMAN SQUAD is a great send-up of the Batman mythos as well as a series of silly adventures from the mind of satirist Jim Benton.

Ernest Fann idolizes Batman. It might not even be much of a stretch to say he wants to model his life after him. So, with no particular training or superpowers, young Ernest decides to set up a crime fighting unit consisting entirely of his immediate friends and his dog. Ernest takes on the name of Gerbilwing, his best friend Jack becomes Nightstand, his sitter Harriet is dubbed Nightshadow, and his dog Westy takes on the crime-fighting alias of Night Terrier.

Their very important training exercises—all designed by Ernest, of course, consist of Scowling, Standing Mysteriously on A Roof, and going on neighborhood patrol. But things get complicated when Ernest and Jack—er, we mean Gerbilwing and Nightstand--visit a bank that happens to be in the middle of a robbery. And not just any robbery, but one that’s being committed by a werewolf! What’s his connection to a number of “disasters” that have been going on in Ernest’s neighborhood? Will The Batman Squad taste defeat on their very first day of crime-fighting?

FANN CLUB: THE BATMAN SQUAD is a great send-up of the Batman mythos as well as a series of silly adventures from the mind of satirist Jim Benton.

About the Author

The irreverent Jim K. Benton is an American illustrator and writer. He is the New York Times bestselling writer of the Dear Dumb Diary series and a cartoonist whose unique style of humor has been seen on toys, television, T-shirts, greeting cards, and even underwear. Properties he has created also include Dog of Glee, Franny K. Stein, Just Jimmy, Just Plain Mean, Sweetypuss, The Misters, Meany Doodles, Vampy Doodles, Kissy Doodles, and jOkObo apparel. But he is probably most known for his creation It's Happy Bunny.

Author Residence: Michigan

Author Hometown: Birmingham, Michigan

The irreverent Jim K. Benton is an American illustrator and writer. He is the New York Times bestselling writer of the Dear Dumb Diary series and a cartoonist whose unique style of humor has been seen on toys, television, T-shirts, greeting cards, and even underwear. Properties he has created also include Dog of Glee, Franny K. Stein, Just Jimmy, Just Plain Mean, Sweetypuss, The Misters, Meany Doodles, Vampy Doodles, Kissy Doodles, and jOkObo apparel. But he is probably most known for his creation It's Happy Bunny.

Illustrator Residence:Michigan

Illustrator Hometown:Birmingham, Michigan