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series Reading Order

Bad Guys Books in Order

20 Books
2015 – 2024 Published
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Reading order

How to Read The Bad Guys in Order

To fully enjoy the story, you should read The Bad Guys in publication order. Unlike many children's series where books can be read as standalone adventures, Aaron Blabey's series has a continuous, serialized storyline. Each book picks up right where the previous one left off, featuring recurring villains, running jokes, and major cliffhangers that build toward a grand finale in Book 20.

The Bad Guys Main Series Book List

Here is the complete chronological list of the 20 main books in the series:

  1. The Bad Guys (2015)
  2. The Bad Guys in Mission Unpluckable (2015)
  3. The Bad Guys in The Furball Strikes Back (2016)
  4. The Bad Guys in Attack of the Zittens (2017)
  5. The Bad Guys in Intergalactic Gas (2017)
  6. The Bad Guys in Alien vs Bad Guys (2018)
  7. The Bad Guys in Do-You-Think-He-Saurus?! (2018)
  8. The Bad Guys in Superbad (2018)
  9. The Bad Guys in The Big Bad Wolf (2019)
  10. The Bad Guys in the Baddest Day Ever (2019)
  11. The Bad Guys in Dawn of the Underlord (2020)
  12. The Bad Guys in The One?! (2020)
  13. The Bad Guys in Cut to the Chase (2021)
  14. The Bad Guys in They're Bee-Hind You! (2021)
  15. The Bad Guys in Open Wide and Say Arrrgh! (2022)
  16. The Bad Guys in the Others?! (2022)
  17. The Bad Guys in Let the Games Begin! (2023)
  18. The Bad Guys in Look Who's Talking (2023)
  19. The Bad Guys in the Serpent and the Beast (2024)
  20. The Bad Guys in One Last Thing (2024)

Spin-off: Cat on the Run

Set in the same universe, Aaron Blabey's spin-off series follows Princess Beautiful, a pampered cat internet star who gets framed for a crime and must go on the run. Read this trilogy in order:

  • Cat on the Run in Cat of Death! (2023)
  • Cat on the Run in Cucumber Madness! (2024)
  • Cat on the Run in Hidden Layers! (2025)

Movie Tie-in Books

To accompany the 2022 DreamWorks animated feature, Scholastic released The Bad Guys: The Movie Novelization, written by Kate Howard, which adapts the film's events into a prose story.

Frequently Asked

QDo you need to read The Bad Guys books in order?

Yes. The series features a continuous narrative arc with cliffhangers and character developments, meaning you should start with the first book and read them in publication order.

QWhat is the final book in The Bad Guys series?

The series concludes with the 20th book, The Bad Guys in One Last Thing, which was published in 2024.

QIs the Cat on the Run series connected to The Bad Guys?

Yes, Cat on the Run is a spin-off trilogy written by Aaron Blabey that takes place within the same universe, focusing on a character named Princess Beautiful.

QWho wrote the movie novelization for The Bad Guys?

The movie novelization was written by Kate Howard rather than Aaron Blabey, adapting the screenplay of the 2022 animated film.

QWhat is the recommended age group for these books?

The Bad Guys and Cat on the Run are graphic novels designed specifically for children aged 7 to 10 years old, perfect for reluctant readers.

QIs there a movie sequel coming out?

Yes, DreamWorks has scheduled a sequel to the first animated movie to be released in 2025.