‘Black Walrus’ Brims with Flatulence Gags, Not Politics

He is the hair-plastered Jolly Rancher that clogs the vacuum of crime,  the Labrador that scoots its behind across the carpet of villainy.

Meet the Black Walrus, costumed crime-fighter, champion of Cremini City and the best thing to happen to spandex since the jazzercise craze. And I just released his latest adventure, “The Black Walrus: Beachmaster.”

The Black Walrus is an adventure comedy book series for 7-14 year-old boys. The series stars Alex Portobello, a kid with superhuman intelligence and not-so-stellar social skills.

The Black Walrus: Beachmaster is an international bestseller! Check out this wacky adventure/comedy for Middle Grade boys here: https://t.co/sV2wO8HlA4#blackwalrus#blackwalrusbeachmaster#josephcaldara#middlegrade#middlegradeseries pic.twitter.com/kDoKrQNeYF

— Joseph Caldara (@Joseph_Caldara) June 12, 2026

He’s less of a normal kid trapped in a superhero’s body and more of a superhero trapped in a normal kid’s body. Think Adam West’s Batman as a 13-year-old boy living in 2026.

To combat the crime that infests his city, Alex dons a spandex costume, develops his own martial art, builds an arsenal of crime-fighting gadgets, recruits an army of walruses and hits the streets to battle evildoers as the Black Walrus.

Like most authors, I’ve loved writing and telling stories ever since I was a kid. Hollywood in Toto interviewed me about the Black Walrus series a few years ago. My writing philosophy hasn’t changed: I’m a kid at heart who writes goofy adventures for a new generation of readers.

I also love comic books and superheroes. And walruses.

I created the series because kids need to read and have fun at the same time. The best way to get kids to build good reading skills is to write books those kids can really sink their teeth into and enjoy.

When I was a child, I gobbled up book series like Captain Underpants and never lost my sense of humor.

“The Black Walrus” series is for older kids, but it hits that same sweet spot. It’s jam-packed with quips and goofy sayings, off-the-wall action, fart jokes, high-tech gadgetry and all things eleven-year-old boys.

The series isn’t just a great time for kids. Parents love it, too. Because they know their kids can read the series without being exposed to inappropriate agendas or ideas.

The series is intentionally apolitical.

Since I published the first book, I’ve been all over the place promoting the series. And so has the series’ hero, Alex Portobello.

Throughout the first two books, “The Black Walrus” and “The Black Walrus and Kevin,” Alex has built up a network of allies like his little cousin and sidekick, Kevin. He’s become a more efficient crime-fighter and has saved Cremini City from utter disaster twice.

But book three shatters Alex’s world like an egg under an elephant’s backside.

There’s a saying among authors: “Torture your babies.” It means that, if you want your audience to appreciate and root for your main character, you can’t coddle him. You have to put him through the wringer.

And that’s exactly I did to Alex in “Beachmaster.”

The latest adventure features a destructive new supervillain who wages an all-out war on Cremini City with high-tech laser weaponry. While battling his new foe, Alex finds that a mysterious adversary has hired a diaper-themed assassin to destroy his enemies.

And the Black Walrus is number one on his hit list.

But the real challenge comes when the Black Walrus meets Beachmaster, a new costumed super-being who’s determined to help defend Cremini City. Alex is grateful for the help at first, but there’s something … strange about Beachmaster.

Something that could turn Alex’s new ally into the greatest threat he’s ever faced.

So if you’re into crime-fighting, superheroes, wacky humor and walruses, check out “The Black Walrus: Beachmaster” and the other books in the series. Book 4 is on the way!

Joseph Caldara has been writing the “Black Walrus” series since 2023. His books are available on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble and various other bookstores. You can connect with Joseph and sign up for the newsletter by visiting josephcaldara.com. Please follow him on X @Joseph_Caldara and Instagram @Joseph_caldara.

You can also pick up the first book in the international Amazon bestselling series at bit.ly/blackwalrus.

The post ‘Black Walrus’ Brims with Flatulence Gags, Not Politics appeared first on Hollywood in Toto.