Review by Ian Keogh

John Patrick Green has slowed down from issuing two volumes a year for InvestiGATORS, but it’s still an annual summer treat, and we mustn’t forget Green also supplies an Agents of S.U.I.T. book every year, yet the quality remains high.

As seen on the cover, our investigative reptiles Mango and Brash eventually take a trip in what’s revealed as the Chimp Blimp, and their journey begins with milk replacing the city’s water supply. Before that, though, as seen on the sample art, Green needs to explain why our alligator heroes have crocodile teeth, and never being one to let a pun slip by, we’re also introduced to Mexican Agents of S.U.I.T. the InvestiGATOS, “gato” being Spanish for cat. Mango and Brash team with Manuel and Otto for a while. Young readers will even get to figure out some Spanish as Manuel speaks no English.

There seem to be an even greater selection of farcical misunderstanding jokes than usual, several milk-related. Lactose is confused with “lack toes” and there’s a mix-up of “past your eyes” and pastuerised. Throw in the Climate Primate, the Monkey Institute and knowledge of the fine line between a scientist and a mad scientist, and uncontrollable giggles should ensue. And all that’s well before halfway through. So what else do we have? A great Monkees joke wasted on kids that won’t understand it, but any grandparents reading the book will be appreciative, and so many great funny lines delivered in the deadpan manner of Leslie Nielsen in Airplane, Police Squad, The Naked Gun and many more.

Amid all the jokes there’s a message about climate change, and the damage it’s already doing to the planet, but Green isn’t serious for too long, and the gloriously bonkers plot has several twists to go, including the return of Daryl.

By the high standards the series sets last book Case Files was a slight disappointment, although still better than many other funny graphic novels for youngsters, but Weather or Not is a resounding return to form, up there with the best InvestiGATORS.