The Bad Guys books in order are fun, entertaining reads with uplifting messages of redemption, second chances, and also friendship. Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Shark, and Mr. Piranha are all trying to turn over a new leaf, but it is proving harder than expected.
About Aaron Blabey
The mastermind behind The Bad Guys books in order is Aaron Blabey, an Australian author and illustrator of many humorous children’s books and graphic novels. He says his favorite character is Mr. Snake from The Bad Guys because of his internal struggle with life, which is more than all of Blabey’s other characters.
The group of Bad Guys are Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Shark, and Mr. Piranha, but they are intent on leaving their reputation as bad guys behind. However, their good intentions do not make the transition to the straight and narrow path smooth.
This blend of humor, sincerity, and redemption has proven to be a bestseller around the world. Collectively, Blabey has approximately 30 million books in print, and The Bad Guys series alone has more than 16 million books in print.
It has also been adapted into a movie. However, the movie adaptation is almost a prequel of sorts to the book series. That’s because rather than beginning as The Bad Guys are already on their path of redemption, the director Pierre Perifel wanted the film to be an origin story explaining how the group came to that choice.
Perifel blended together his childhood inspirations for a family-friendly animated heist movie: The Bad Guys.
The Bad Guys Books in Order
Each of The Bad Guys books in order follows a new adventure, or misadventure, as The Bad Guys try to do good. So, while you can read these books as standalones, it is almost always best to read a series in order of publication if you can. This is especially true for a series following former bad guys turning over a new leaf.
Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Shark, and Mr. Piranha are all trying their hardest to leave their bad ways in the past and forge a new path. That means the character development for this motley crew is a large part of the overall series, so reading The Bad Guys books in order is the best way to experience these books.
- The Bad Guys (2016)
- The Bad Guys in Mission Unpluckable (2016)
- The Bad Guys in the Furball Strikes Back (2017)
- The Bad Guys in Attack of the Zittens (2017)
- The Bad Guys in Intergalactic Gas (2017)
- The Bad Guys in Alien vs Bad Guys (2018)
- The Bad Guys in Do-You-Think-He-Saurus?! (2018)
- The Bad Guys in Superbad (2018)
- The Bad Guys in the Big Bad Wolf (2019)
- The Bad Guys in the Baddest Day Ever (2019)
- The Bad Guys in Dawn of the Underlord (2020)
- The Bad Guys in The One?! (2020)
- The Bad Guys in Cut to the Chase (2021)
- The Bad Guys in They’re Bee-Hind You! (2021)
- The Bad Guys in Open Wide and Say Arrrgh! (2022)
- The Bad Guys in the Others?! (2022)
- The Bad Guys in Let the Games Begin! (July 2023)
- The Bad Guys in Look Who’s Talking (November 2023)
- The Bad Guys in the Serpent and the Beast (Expected: July 2, 2024)
A Summary of Bad Guys Books in Order
Since the best way to read The Bad Guys books in order is following the publication and chronological order, the below summaries explain the first ten books in the series in more detail. This will show how Aaron Blabey blends together hilarity with lessons of friendship and redemption.
1. The Bad Guys
They sound like the Bad Guys, they look like the Bad Guys…and they even smell like the Bad Guys.
But Mr. Wolf, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Snake, and Mr. Shark are about to change all of that. Mr. Wolf has a daring plan for the Bad Guys’ first good mission. That’s because the gang are going to break 200 dogs out of the Maximum Security City Dog Pound.
Will Operation Dog Pound go smoothly? Will the Bad Guys become the Good Guys? And will Mr. Snake please spit out Mr. Piranha?
2. The Bad Guys in Mission Unpluckable
The Bad Guys are back with a daring plan to rescue 10,000 chickens from a high-security cage farm.
But how do you rescue chickens when one of you is known as The Chicken Swallower? Join the Bad Guys as they return for more dodgy good deeds with a new member of the team. And watch out for the super villain who might just be the end of them.
Good deeds. Whether you like it or not.
3. The Bad Guys in the Furball Strikes Back
The Bad Guys are about to have a very bad day.
That’s because Mr. Wolf and his bad, bad buddies have messed with the wrong guinea pig. And this nasty little furball wants revenge.
Will they survive? Will they be heroes? And will they just stop trying to eat each other?
4. The Bad Guys in Attack of the Zittens
It’s a zombie kitten apocalypse. Should you panic? Should you cry?
No — just sit back and watch the fur fly as the world’s baddest good guys take on Mad Marmalade’s meowing monsters.
5. The Bad Guys in Intergalactic Gas
The bad news? The world is ending. But the good news? The Bad Guys are back to save it.
Sure, they might have to “borrow” a rocket… And there might be something nasty in one of the spacesuits… And Mr. Piranha might have also eaten too many bean burritos… But seriously, how bad can it be?
It’s one small step for the Sort-Of-International-League-Of-Good-Guys-Guys. It’s one giant leap for The Bad Guys.
6. The Bad Guys in Alien vs Bad Guys
One by one, the Bad Guys are vanishing. Taken by a creature with way too many teeth and far too many bottoms.
Is this the end? Maybe. But will it be funny? You bet your butts it will.
7. The Bad Guys in Do-You-Think-He-Saurus?!
Nothing on Earth could rival the terrifying power of the dinosaurs. Except maybe that Wolf over there… Yeah, the one standing next to the Snake and the Shark and that other sardine-looking thing.
Wait… This is all wrong. This is all bad. But this is all awesome. It’s time to get your Jurassic on, baby.
8. The Bad Guys in Superbad
The Bad Guys have strangely acquired superpowers. But their powers might be, well, defective. They can only do things like blow their pants off in public. Not exactly what you’d call hero-caliber skills.
Defective or not, the Bad Guys have a job to do. With Marmalade ready to destroy the world, Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Piranha, and Mr. Shark finally have their chance to be (super)heroes. And this time, they may just get some help…
9. The Bad Guys in the Big Bad Wolf
The sky goes dark. The city trembles. The screams begin…and everyone’s favorite Wolf has a lot of explaining to do.
Big? Yep. Bad? You betcha. Unmissable? YES.
But seriously, will someone tell those whiny Three Little Pig dudes to stop saying, “We told you so”?
10. The Bad Guys in the Baddest Day Ever
All hail Crown Prince Marmalade! Surrender to his evil magnificence. Kneel before his butt-handed glory. Or…like…don’t!
The Bad Guys and even Badder Girls might have been knocked down, but does that mean they’ll stay down? No way, chicos. Whip out your war cry and pull on your party pants. It’s the ultimate battle between bad and baaaaad.
Final thoughts
The Bad Guys books in order are fun, entertaining reads. In addition to the eye-catching illustrations and hilarious jokes throughout the series, there is also an uplifting message of redemption, second chances, and friendship.