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in: Spoilers, Dog Man Books, 2024

Dog Man: Big Jim Begins

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SPOILER ALERT!!!
This article or section contains spoilers. Read at your own risk!

“ Every story has a beginning... ”

–The book's blurb

Dog Man: Big Jim Begins is the 13th consecutive book in the Dog Man series written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey. It was released on December 3, 2024. This book focuses mostly on Big Jim and the origins of Dog Man characters.

The book was announced on May 30, 2024, along with its first sneak peek at People Magazine's website[1], and the cover revealed on July 31, 2024. A follow-up to this book, Dog Man: Big Jim Believes will be released on Fall 2025.

Synopsis[]

In DOG MAN: BIG JIM BEGINS, discover the origin of our beloved characters from the Dog Man series as they join forces to stop the Space Cuties from destroying the city. Will the past predict the future for Dog Man and his friends? Will goodness and bravery prevail? Can anything happen if you truly believe?

Characters[]

Main Characters[]

  • Dog Man/Greg the Puppy - He's a dog/policeman hybrid who works at the Cop Station. His red stain is gone due to being affected by a stinky smell and washed with tomato juice in Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder. He also has a superhero alter ego as The Scarlet Shedder and teams up and joins with Commander Cupcake and Sprinkles. As a puppy, he's a part of the Junior Detective Club and dreams to become a police dog and to eat cake.
  • Big Jim/Little Jim - He's an inmate from Cat Jail. He also has a superhero alter ego named Commander Cupcake and teams up with Grampa and Dog Man.
  • Little Jim's Parents - Momma and Daddy are Little Jim's deceased parents.
  • Grampa/Disco Grampa - He's Big Jim's cellmate in Cat Jail. He also has a son, Petey, a former inmate who lives with his grandson Li'l Petey. He also got his superhero alter ego as Sprinkles and joins with Commander Cupcake and The Scarlet Shedder.
  • Sarah Hatoff - An Australian Journalist who is also the "world's greatest reporter". She's one of them who gets "cutie-fied" by the Space Cuties.
  • Zuzu - Sarah's "world's greatest poodle" and is always with her. She's also affected by the cuteness from the Space Cuties.
  • Clarence Bailey - He is the chief of the cop station and is married to Nurse Lady. In the past, he's the founder of the Junior Detective Club. He tries to help Little Jim find the Ring of Destiny of Stuff along with Greg the Puppy.
  • Mrs. Pierce - Manager of the Happy Home Shelter in Bedford Falls.
  • Genie S. Lady-Bailey - A nurse who is married to Chief. During her childhood, she's known as "The Helper" and is the "key to saving the universe". She was the Chosen One before a mix-up happened and Little Jim became the Chosen One.

Other Characters[]

Past[]

  • Eye Alien - They're an alien who met young Grampa and gives him the letter and The Ring of Destiny and Stuff.
  • Grace - She appears in Grampa's flashback when Grampa proposed to her.
  • Dippy - She appears as a young child in flashbacks.
  • Booger Breath - A baby whose his mother owns Glazed & Confused, a doughnut shop.
  • Booger Breath's Mother - A muscular baker at Glazed & Confused.
  • Judge - He appears as the judge in the court Little Jim goes in the imaginary flashback.
  • Dr. Scum - He appears as a baby in the imaginary flashback.
  • Tiny Tippy, Baby Fluffy and Wittle Whiskers - Little Jim's friends at Baby Jail.
  • Baby Jail Warden - The Warden who calls Little Jim to reunite with his parents.
  • The Hospital Nurse - A nurse who works at a hospital Little Jim went. She told Little Jim that his parents died after suffering a car crash injury.

Present[]

Summary[]

Chapter 1: Wakey Wakey[]

The morning sun rises at Cat Jail at six in the morning, where two inmates were sleeping and shined at them. Big Jim woke up and sang "Wakey Wakey" loudly, interrupting Grampa. Grampa is grumpy at Big Jim, then Big Jim hugs at him saying that the early bird gets the hugs. Grampa took him and Big Jim apologized him, didn't knew he's happy. The two were stuck inside the jail, having no freedom, friends and autonomy, while Big Jim is free, has many friends, and has an autotummy. Grampa said he never see things clearly - but he's right - Big Jim gets his glasses in his drawer and wore it since a long time and reminds of his memories.  Grampa asks if Big Jim has to tell his story, making him annoyed.

Chapter 2: The Chosen One[]

Big Jim tells a story of his childhood life as Little Jim. He lives with his Momma and Daddy in a bungalow house. Their lives are ordinary until one night, a beam of light shined at their house. Daddy went outside to search and looks up it's a UFO. He told the UFO to go away and it left. The crumbled paper fell in his face. He crinkled the paper, went back inside the house and told them they got the message from an UFO. It says their child will fulfill ancient prophecies and can save the universe. He gives the letter to Momma and they read. She asked why the ring is missing, and he replied they don't know where it is. So they went outside, but they never found it. Now it is Grampa's turn to tell his story, saying that it is better than Big Jim's.

Chapter 3: Grampa's UFO Story That's Way Better Than the One From Chapter 2[]

A few years ago, Grampa was a groovy disco king. He walked out on a fateful light, and then he went to Little Jim's house and saw a UFO landing there. A door opens, and suddenly, the Eye Alien appears giving the Ring of Destiny and Stuff to Grampa. They also give Grampa the note and tells him to give the note and the ring to young Genie S. Lady. Grampa lies that he would do that and he knows where she lives. As soon as the UFO went away Grampa crumpled the letter up and threw it away and the letter landed on Little Jim's dad's head. Grampa told that he had other plans with that ring and Big Jim asked what plans, then in Grampa's flashback. He proposes to Grace with the ring and told Big Jim that he doesn't want to talk about the plan with the ring.

Chapter 4: The Quest For the Return of the Ring of Destiny and Stuff[]

Big Jim sings a song while making Grampa's superhero costume which makes Grampa mad. While he's making the costume, Grampa goes into the Cupcake room then he grabbed the torch and he finds the Cupcake Exit then tries to press it. But before he did it, he was thinking about what happened when he tried the Cupcake Exit and he got punched. Since Grampa got punched by a boxing hand last time, he grabbed a hammer and some nails and he nailed the danger sign which was above the button. When he pressed the button, this time he got stomped by a foot. Big Jim came down shouting "Grampa" and asked Grampa if he was okay. Grampa said that he needs to get The Ring of Destiny and Stuff back. Big Jim told Grampa that "For it is written, only the pure of heart may use the cupcake exit". Grampa angrily said that he has a pure of heart as a flipping snowflake. Big Jim said that Grampa had to prove himself though and gave him a costume and named it "Sprinkles". Grampa shouted that he's never gonna wear the preposterous costume.

Chapter 5: Commander Cupcake and Sprinkles[]

Grampa couldn't believe that he had to wear the humiliating costume that Big Jim made. He wore it anyway. He thought that he looked ridiculous, but Big Jim adds that it is ridiculously awesome. Grampa asked for weapons like knife claws, so Big Jim agreed to give him knife claws, instead he wore crayons. Big Jim told him to use his imagination. Grampa moved Big Jim to the Cupcake Exit and told Big Jim to press the button. Big Jim pressed the button and the door squished Grampa. Big Jim found Grampa under the door and took him out of there and ran outside. Grampa only agreed to wear the costume Big Jim made for him to escape from jail and rudely said that he doesn't want to be a superhero anymore so he took off a few of his costume parts. Big Jim calls his friend Dog Man and told him that Grampa's being rude to him. Dog Man chased Grampa until he climbed up the Stop sign. Dog Man tried to chomp Grampa's tail, but he told him that he's not Grampa. He said that he's a good superhero named "Sparkles", but Big Jim corrected him by saying "Sprinkles". Grampa told Dog Man to leave after telling that he's a superhero, while Big Jim told Dog Man that he can handle things. Grampa didn't know that Big Jim and Dog Man were friends from their childhood as he continues to tell his past.

Chapter 6: The Junior Detective Club[]

Little Jim's parents are still looking for The Ring of Destiny and Stuff, but it was never seen around. Little Jim sets out to find the Ring of Destiny and Stuff, but Grampa said to Big Jim he's still a baby and debating if he's a chosen one. Little Jim continues to search for the ring, so he hired the professionals of the Junior Detective Club, consisting of young Clarence Bailey and his puppy Greg. Clarence has to help Little Jim to find the ring, so they had to imagine with the use of his helicopter cap, flying to look for clues. In reality, instead of using a helicopter, Big Jim uses his imagination as he uses the Cupcake emblem on his shirt to climb on buildings. Back to the flashback, the 3 question a young Dippy about where she was on the night that Little Jim can't remember. Greg picks up a scent that takes him to a donut shop, confused for the ring. The donut chef tells Little Jim that he's going to Baby Jail, thus beginning his journey toward "enlightenment." Grampa asks him if he's making up the story, and Big Jim replies with "maybe."

Chapter 7: Meanwhile, in Outer Space[]

While Doctor Dimples was flying the spaceship, Captain Cuddles asked Captain's Log some questions then finally, Captain Cuddles was ready to conquer the planet. He and his other members of the Space Cuties are about to spread cuteness all around the world.

Chapter 8: Three Kazillion Gloopsnocks Later[]

Little Jim was arrested and tried by a jury of his peers; human babies. Baby Jail was a rough place for Little Jim, but he made some friends who defended him from a baby Dr. Scum. Little Jim's parents visit him and Momma tells him that whenever something bad happens, he should ask himself "How can I turn this bad thing into something good?" She gives him her glasses, and he suddenly he could see clearly now, and he discovered his purpose; no matter how dark things got, it was his job to find the light. It turns out that Big Jim's story was made-up, but he claims that it's "imagination." The UFO speeds across the sky and spawns a circus tent. Big Jim ties him and Grampa's capes together and he jumps, holding his arm. The capes act like a parachute and they land safely onto the ground. Big Jim tells Grampa to continue the adventure, "for the night is young, and my cupcake sense is tingling."

Chapter 9: Hero Party[]

It starts to rain, and Grampa complains while Big Jim dances. He says that jails aren't only made of concrete and steel, but they're also in their minds. He continues by saying that he isn't good enough, he isn't smart, and he's made too many mistakes, but freedom in in our minds, too. Grampa says that that's easy for Big Jim to say because he believes that he's never suffered; but he actually has because his parents were injured in a car crash. When Big Jim was little, and scary things would happen, his mom would tell him to look for the helpers, and that he will always find people who are helping. Molly interrupts his story by asking him if he is Commander Cupcake, but she continues by telling Grampa (Sprinkles) that he doesn't know who he is. Li'l Petey is with her and tells the two that they're going to a "hero party" and free cake is being given away. Big Jim, however, rejects Molly's invitation because he only eats cupcakes, and that he and Grampa should stay behind and be the helpers while the other heroes go inside the tent.

Chapter 10: Free Cake[]

Grampa wanted to eat free cake at the Hero Party, but Big Jim said that "Thou shalt not eat normal cakes. Only cup-sized cakes shalt thou eatest.". Grampa got angry and complained about being a superhero and he wanted to quit. Big Jim tried to call Dog Man when Grampa was about to take his mask off, but Dog Man didn't answer. Big Jim and Grampa had to investigate inside the Tent where the Hero Party is held. Big Jim and Grampa had to be quiet and they tip-toed and Big Jim tried to open the door by pulling the door but, it didn't work. Grampa tapped Big Jim and showed him what the sign says and he opens the door. When they got inside, they saw that all of the heroes in town were asleep but Dog Man woke up. He tried to explain in his mind that the other heroes in town fell asleep after eating a cake full of sleeping potion. Big Jim says that himself along with Grampa and Dog Man are the only heroes left to save the planet.

Chapter 11: A Buncha Stuff That Happened Next[]

Before the Space Cuties can begin their invasion, they notice that Grampa, Dog Man, and Big Jim are awake and aren't a threat. When they leave to begin their attack, Dog Man becomes The Scarlet Shedder and the UFO on top of the circus tent flies off.

Chapter 12: The World's Cutest Invasion[]

Sarah Hatoff interrupts the book with breaking news, saying that the UFO is zapping everything around it, turning things from normal to "supa cute." Sarah and Zuzu get zapped and are transformed into cute versions of themselves. They try calling help from the new, improved Supa Buddies and the Friendly Friends to no avail, but Roscoe and his camera are also affected. However, Dog Man as the Scarlet Shedder along with Grampa as Sprinkles and Big Jim as Commander Cupcake fly to the UFO to stop the Space Cuties.

Chapter 13: Attack of the Space Cuties from Space[]

Our heroes enter the UFO through the exhaust port and the Space Cuties grab silly swords to attack the 3. Big Jim uses his patented "Frosting-Shooter™" and shoots Doctor Dimples and the rest of the Space Cuties. Big Jim quotes that "With great power comes great frosting in your gloves." while Dog Man licks the frosting off the walls. Big Jim tells Grampa to be positive, since the 3 are doomed, and then Captain Cuddles clicks the Trap Door button and sends the 3 to "Space Jail."

Chapter 14: Space Jail[]

The heroes (excluding Grampa) land on pillows and are now in Space Jail. Big Jim remembers a childhood experience where he finds out that Momma and Daddy passed away due to the car crash and says "New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings. Yet, in these dark places, when we think that maybe we have been buried, actually, we have been planted" and Mrs. Pierce takes Little Jim to the Happy Home Shelter, where she has set up a special room for him in her office. Little Jim asks her if she is a helper, and she says that she is, and that anyone can be a helper. On that day, Little Jim became a helper, because "sometimes, the thing we need the most is the thing we must give." Big Jim gets a new idea; to give the Space Cuties hugs.

Chapter 15: Free Hugs[]

Commander Cupcake eventually calls for Doctor Dimples, and promises to give him the "most valuable thing in the universe". Captain's Log accuses the Commander of lying, but the lie detector is used and it turns out he's telling the truth. Blinded by greed, Dimples doesn't hesitate to dive down into the jail to claim his gift. Eventually, Commander Cupcake reveals his gift: a hug. Shocked at the truth, Doctor Dimples runs, but is quickly cornered. He is hugged, and "dies." Dog Man and Big Jim are crying but this gives Grandpa an idea. He reaches for Dog Man's bone glider, and goes up and declares that he's going to "Hug Town."

Chapter 16: Night of the Loving Hugs[]

Grandpa realized that the Space Cuties are "allergic" to hugs and hugs all of them. Then they crash into the water and fly up. Grampa realizes that he saved the world, and says that he finally understands the true meaning of kindness, but Big Jim says that he killed everyone, and that's not how kindness works. The 3 make it back to the circus tent where everyone is still asleep. Big Jim decides to sing Wakey Wakey again to wake them up.

Chapter 17: Wakey Wakey (Reprise)[]

Big Jim sings a reprise of the song he sang in the start of the book (with Dog Man dancing to it), waking everyone up who was affected by Sleepy Cake. Big Jim says that their work here is done, but Grampa says that there are still some things that need fixing; the buildings are still cute, the Ring of Destiny and Stuff has yet to be found, and Sarah, Zuzu, and Roscoe are still cute as well. Big Jim tells him that they're going to have a sequel, much to Grampa's dismay.

The book ends with a teaser for Dog Man: Big Jim Believes, a brand-new series "with the same old characters."

Gallery[]

Covers[]

Others[]

Trivia[]

Notes and Fun Facts:[]

  • The story is based from the Placebo Effect, where a person's beliefs inspires positive changes and occurs if it's incorrect or not having facts.
  • The foot that stomped Grampa on page 49 is a tribute to Monty Python, a British comedic troupe.
  • Big Jim's saying, "For we are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams" is based from "Ode", a poem written by Arthur O'Shaughnessy in 1873.
  • Big Jim's dialogue on page 113-115 is inspired by the song "Yellow Bird" by Halie Loren.
  • Big Jim's quote on page 117-119 is also based from a quote from Fred Rogers, the creator and host of Mister Roger's Neighborhood:
    • "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people that are helping.’" -Fred Rogers
  • Dog Man's thoughts on pages 135-139 are drawn using dichromatic colors - yellow and blue-violet with shades of grey, in which dogs can only see. It is because the dogs' retinas can see two colors. Human eyes have three types of color receptors or cones while dogs have two which uses mentioned colors to see and cannot distinguish between red and green.
  • In page 138, Chief warns Dog Man that chocolate is bad for dogs. It has theobromine, causing toxic effects to canines.
  • In page 158, the small thermal exhaust port of the Space Cuties' UFO is a reference to the Death Star's critical vulnerability in Star Wars: A New Hope.
  • Big Jim's dialogue in page 168, "With great power comes great frosting in your gloves" is a misinterpretation of the famous Spider-Man quote "With great power comes great responsibility", used in Amazing Fantasy #15 written by Stan Lee. It is based from the writings by Voltaire.
  • The quote from page 178 where Little Jim knew his parents are deceased is attributed by Lao Tzu, a Chinese philosopher.
  • The following pages on page 179-180 is a reworked quote from Australian activist and evangelist Christine Caine:
    • "Sometimes when you’re in a dark place you think you’ve been buried, but you’ve actually been planted." - Christine Caine
  • Big Jim's characteristic is inspired by the following bible verse:
    • "Truly I will tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." -Matthew 18:3 NIV

General[]

  • Dog Man's bio in Meet the Cast is based from Barf's quote "I'm a mawg: half man, half dog. I'm my own best friend!" from the 1987 movie Spaceballs.
  • This is the only book in the Dog Man series where Petey doesn't appear nor is mentioned.
  • In the bonus fun fact promoting Power Up! Magazine in Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder, it said that Little Jim would be in the How to Draw section, however it is replaced with The Scarlet Shedder and Ninja Shark. Little Jim's How to Draw moved to Big Jim Begins.

Others[]

  • Unlike other Dog Man books, the title of this book doesn't follow a spoof of a literature title, along with Dog Man, Dog Man Unleashed and Dog Man and Cat Kid.
  • This book is very different from the other books, as it is a prequel instead of a sequel. However, the actual book is a story set in the present with several flashbacks.
  • Dog Man The Movie: Official Sticker Book was also supposed to be release on the same day with Big Jim Begins. However, it got pushed to December 24, 2024 in North America and January 2, 2025 in the United Kingdom.
  • As shown on the book's cover, Dog Man's costume is red, the same as it was in Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder. However, he seems to have normal colored fur and skin now as the red stain is gone, but it remains on his tuxedo he wore at Chief and Nurse Lady's wedding, turning into his Scarlet Shedder costume.

References[]

  1. ↑ https://people.com/new-dog-man-book-to-publish-this-winter-see-inside-exclusive-8655516
Dog Man Books
Dog Man (2016) | Dog Man: Unleashed (2016) | Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties (2017) | Dog Man and Cat Kid (2017) | Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas (2018) | Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild (2018) | Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls (2019) | Dog Man: Fetch-22 (2019) | Dog Man: Grime and Punishment (2020) | Dog Man: Mothering Heights (2021) | Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea (2023) | Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder (2024) | Dog Man: Big Jim Begins (2024) | Dog Man: Big Jim Believes (2025)
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