- Graphic Novels
- Ages 7–10
- Comedy
Alan, King of the Universe: Today, I Will Rule All!
Book 2 of 2 in Alan, King of the UniverseView the full series
A gleefully silly two-colour graphic novel starring a megalomaniac house cat with opposable thumbs and dreams of world domination, plus his devoted, faintly clueless dog sidekick. Perfect fun for newly independent readers who like their comedy chaotic.
- Best for7–10
- FormatGraphic
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Comedic
- Conversational
Tone
- Funny
- Silly
- Absurdist
- Irreverent
- Warm
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Alan is no ordinary cat. Blessed with opposable thumbs and an unshakeable belief that he was born to rule, he spends his days hatching gloriously overcomplicated plans for universal domination - founding his own country, Alanland, or cloning himself into an unstoppable army of Alans - while his slobbery, endlessly loyal dog Fido tags happily along for the ride. Of course, world conquest has to fit around teatime. Tom McLaughlin's graphic novel series is built for newly independent readers: a clean two-colour palette, big expressive panels and joke-per-page energy make it an easy, confidence-building step up from picture books. Beneath the daftness is a warm little comedy about an unlikely double act, thwarted schemes and the gap between a very big ego and a very small cat. Fans of Dog Man, Bunny vs Monkey and Investigators will find a kindred spirit in this catnip-fuelled would-be tyrant.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
Built for 7-10s reading independently, with joke-per-page comedy that also works read aloud from about 6. Very low peril and no scary content make it an easy, confidence-building comic for younger or reluctant readers stepping up from picture books.
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- Best fit · 7–10
- Read aloud · 6–9
- Independent · 7–10
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Workable
Works well for
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
3 / 5 · Workable
Sensitive-child
5 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Reluctant readers
- Funny animals
- First graphic novel
- Laugh out loud
Avoid if
- Prefers realistic stories
- Wants gentle bedtime
Particularly good for children who are…
- Reluctant reader
- Struggling with reading
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
Alan is a cat with thumbs, a giant ego and a plan for absolutely everything - and Fido the dog will go along with any of it. The schemes are enormous, the schemes always backfire, and the two-colour panels make every ridiculous disaster easy and fast to read.
- Trickery and cleverness
- Breaking the rules safely
- Revenge on adults
- Friendship and belonging
Why parents love it
A clean, uncluttered two-colour graphic novel pitched squarely at newly independent readers - short, funny and genuinely low-peril. The cat-and-dog double act carries real warmth under the daftness, and it slots neatly alongside Dog Man for kids who devour comics.
- Shared humour
- Quick to read
In the series
Alan, King of the Universe.
2 books · open the series →
About the author & illustrator
Tom McLaughlin.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
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Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
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