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The Bad Guys

by Aaron Blabey

The Bad Guys series by Aaron Blabey has 20 books and is best read in publication order, starting with The Bad Guys (2015).

Books
20 books
First published
2015
Status
completed
Last checked

Start here: The Bad Guys (2015) — then read straight through in publication order.

Book one

Cover of The Bad Guys, the first book in The Bad Guys

The Bad Guys (2015)

Reading order

The order the books were released — the default way to read the series.

  1. The Bad Guys

    Novel

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  2. The Bad Guys in Mission Unpluckable

    Novel

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  3. The Bad Guys in the Furball Strikes Back

    Novel

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  4. The Bad Guys in Attack of the Zittens

    Novel

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  5. The Bad Guys in Intergalactic Gas

    Novel

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  6. The Bad Guys in Alien vs Bad Guys

    Novel

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  7. The Bad Guys in Do-You-Think-He-Saurus?!

    Novel

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  8. The Bad Guys in Superbad

    Novel

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  9. The Bad Guys in the Big Bad Wolf

    Novel

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  10. The Bad Guys in the Baddest Day Ever

    Novel

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  11. The Bad Guys in Dawn of the Underlord

    Novel

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  12. The Bad Guys in the One?!

    Novel

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  13. The Bad Guys in Cut to the Chase

    Novel

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  14. The Bad Guys: They're Bee-Hind You!

    Novel

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  15. The Bad Guys in Open Wide and Say Arrrgh!

    Novel

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  16. The Bad Guys in the Others?!

    Novel

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  17. The Bad Guys in Let the Games Begin!

    Novel

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  18. The Bad Guys in Look Who's Talking

    Novel

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  19. The Bad Guys in the Serpent and the Beast

    Novel

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  20. The Bad Guys in One Last Thing

    Novel

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About The Bad Guys

Mr. Wolf has spent his whole life being feared on sight, so he recruits fellow "scary" animals -- Mr. Snake, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Shark -- into a gang with an unlikely mission: doing good deeds to prove that bad-looking guys can be good guys too. It rarely goes to plan. Each fast-moving, mostly-dialogue graphic novel sends the gang on a chaotic heist-shaped rescue mission -- breaking into a pound to free shelter dogs, infiltrating a chicken farm, going undercover in outer space -- that inevitably spirals into slapstick disaster before landing, somehow, on the right side of good.

Aaron Blabey writes the whole thing as pure high-energy comedy: snappy back-and-forth banter, cliffhanger chapter breaks, and simple black-and-white cartoon art that reads almost like a storyboard, which makes it exceptionally friendly to younger and reluctant readers who find denser illustrated novels intimidating. Underneath the jokes is a consistent, gentle theme about first impressions being wrong and about choosing who you want to be rather than accepting the reputation you were given.

The series became a global hit and the basis of the 2022 DreamWorks animated film, and it remains one of the most reliable "gets kids reading" recommendations for the 6-10 age range, thanks to its speed, humor, and low barrier to entry.

Frequently asked questions

How many Bad Guys books are there?

20 books, published between 2015/2016 and 2024. The series is complete.

What order should I read The Bad Guys in?

Publication order, starting with The Bad Guys. The missions form one continuous, escalating story, so reading in order matters.

Is The Bad Guys finished?

Yes, the series concluded with Episode 20, One Last Thing, in 2024.

Is The Bad Guys the same story as the movie?

The 2022 DreamWorks film adapts and remixes material mainly from the earlier books rather than filming any single volume directly.

What age group is The Bad Guys good for?

Roughly ages 6-10; the low text density and comic-panel art make it especially friendly to reluctant and younger readers.

Reading order last verified .