- Graphic Novels
- Ages 7–10
- Comedy
Boss of the Underworld: Shirley vs Seven Deadly Dangers
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Book 3 in Boss of the UnderworldView the full series
Shirley - accidental chosen one of a bonkers underworld - and her giant cockroach pal George are back for a third full-colour comic romp, braving a gauntlet of ridiculous perils to save their strange subterranean realm. Fast, funny and gross in all the right ways for readers moving into longer comics.
- Best for7–10
- FormatGraphic
- Length160 pp
- Read aloud~1 hr15 min
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The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Comedic
- Onomatopoeic
Tone
- Funny
- Silly
- Adventurous
- Exciting
- Whimsical
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Shirley never asked to be the chosen one, but that's what the creatures of the Underworld insist she is - the girl foretold to save their weird, wonderful, slightly disgusting world. In this third full-colour comic adventure, Shirley and her child-sized cockroach best friend George must face down seven deadly dangers on a quest through the Underworld's oddest corners. Expect perilous forests, gross temptations, monstrous foes and plenty of near-disasters, all rendered in Tor Freeman's bold, hilarious cartooning. Like the earlier books, it packs genuine adventure and jeopardy into a relentlessly funny package, with a heroine who is brave without being fearless and a friendship at its heart. At around 160 pages of full colour, it's a satisfyingly meaty comic that reluctant and confident readers alike will tear through. A brilliant pick for fans of Bunny vs Monkey and Barb the Brave who want laugh-out-loud chaos with a quest to follow. Best enjoyed after the earlier books but works happily on its own.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- 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
2 / 5 · Better outside bedtime
Sensitive-child
4 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Reluctant readers
- Funny comics
- Quest adventure
- Graphic novel fans
Avoid if
No common reasons to avoid this one — a rare clean sweep on the sensitivity flags.
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
- Being special or chosen
- Going on a quest
- Secret world
- The underdog winning
- Surviving danger
Why parents love it
- Shared humour
- Quick to read
In the series
Boss of the Underworld.
3 books · open the series →
About the author & illustrator
Tor Freeman.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
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