Pet Force

"Pet Force" is a series of books for young readers. It is a spin-off of Garfield, in which the main animal characters of the comic series are portrayed as comic book superheroes. The action takes place on planet Polyester.

20th Century Fox has been announced that, after releasing Garfield's Fun Fest on DVD, they have plans on releasing a computer-animated direct-to-video film and several video games based on the series. According to a flyer that was in the "Garfield's Fun Fest" dvd, it will be released on DVD in the spring of 2009.

Story

In a universe alternate to Garfield's own, a superhero team of five heroes called "Pet Force" serve Emperor Jon as protectors of his throne. Ruling the galaxy from the planet Polyester, Jon's reign is constantly opposed by the evil Vetvix. When Vetvix successfully destroys Pet Force, Jon is forced to have his right-hand man, Sorcerer Binky, use a dimensional portal to find five alternate versions of the heroes to take their place. In Garfield's universe, Pet Force is a best-selling comic book, and when Nermal buys the limited-edition 100th issue, it becomes a portal through which they are pulled into the alternate universe, becoming the new Pet Force and returning to fight Vetvix and other evils when needed.

Books

*Book #1: The Outrageous Origin
*Book #2: Pie-Rat's Revenge
*Book #3: K-Niner: Dog of Doom
*Book #4: Menace of the Mutanator
*Book #5: Attack of the Lethal Lizards

Characters

The characters in Pet Force include both characters from the original Garfield universe, as well as some entirely new characters.

Heroes

Garzooka

Garzooka is the superhero version of Garfield and the leader of Pet Force. Garzooka's abilities are gamma-powered radioactive hairballs, superhuman strength and a razor-sharp right claw. While the original Garzooka was heroic and a born leader, the Garzooka created from Garfield is lazy and gluttonous.

Odious

Odious is the superhero version of Odie and the dumbest of the Pet Force. Odious, like his normal comic counterpart Odie, does not talk. He drools, licks, and barks, which is how he acts in the original Garfield comics. Odious's abilities are superhuman strength, super-slippery saliva, and a "super-stretchy stun tongue" that causes a total mental meltdown in anybody he uses it against.

Abnermal

Abnermal is the superhero version of Nermal. Unlike the rest of the team, Abnermal quickly takes to his superpowers and is overjoyed to be a hero. Abnermal's abilities are force fields and the ability to freeze objects, the latter of which derived from his body temperature of absolute zero. His "pester power" also makes him extremely annoying.

tarlena

Starlena is the superhero version of Arlene. Starlena's ability is to sing a siren-like song that can put anyone except Garzooka (and Odious, since he's "in his own trance") into a trance, in addition to being able to fly. It isn't very probable that Compooky is affected either, but who knows?

Compooky

Compooky, is a half teddy bear, half robot, and is a superhero version of Garfield's teddy bear, Pooky. Despite being an inanimate teddy bear in Garfield's universe, in the alternate universe Compooky can speak and is furthermore highly intelligent.

Emperor Jon

The ruler of the alternate universe and the alternate version of Jon Arbuckle, Emperor Jon is naive and foolish and possesses the same horrible fashion sense as his counterpart, frequently wearing plaid and polyester under his royal robes.

orcerer Binky

Emperor Jon's right-hand man and a powerful sorcerer, Binky is the creator of the portal between the worlds and the one who calls on Garfield and his friends when Pet Force is needed. He is the alternate of Binky the Clown.

Villains

Vetvix

Vetvix is the main villain of Pet Force, and is an evil veterinarian. The source of her evil is a power crystal on her headband. Vetvix's main source of minions is an animal-splicing machine that allows her to mix and match parts from other animals and create new creatures. She is also highly skilled with magic and genetics. She is the opposite of Dr. Liz.

K-Niner

K-Niner is a Doberman with an enhanced intelligence. Vetvix created a brain-booster that he then used to increase the intelligence of various other dogs, and gave those dogs mind-controlling collars to place on their owners and make them think they were dogs.

pace Pie-Rat

A large rat with a monstrous appetite, he is Vetvix's main minion until he rebels against her and is defeated. He steals food from any planet he visits and wears a fake peg-leg and an eyepatch, despite having both eyes.

Mutanator

A monster created by Vetvix from the pieces of Pet Force minus Garzooka, the Mutanator possessed all the power of the original four members, including Compooky's high intelligence, Starlena's siren song, Odius' strength and Abnermal's force fields. Because of Garzooka's reluctance to injure his friends, the Mutanator was able to defeat him, but was later split apart and restored to the original members of Pet Force.

The Lethal Lizards

A trio of lizards mutated from a stray energy blast from Vetvix's lab, they acquire super powers and roam the universe causing destruction and chaos. Their leader, Dragon, a komodo dragon, is noted by Garzooka as possessing powers similar to his own, including sharp talons, great strength and fire breath. The other lizards are a boa constrictor with deadly poison called Snake, and a shape-shifting chameleon with a powerful tongue called Chameleon.

Resources

* [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0816772061/ Amazon listing]
* [http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/games/pid/7519690/a/Garfield's+Pet+Force.htm/ Listing for upcoming Nintendo DS game]

References

1. Citation
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title = Pet Force 1: The Outrageous Origin
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publisher = Scholastic
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