[...] enjoyed the previous two volumes of Knights of the Lunch Table, so I was pleased to see this new volume out. Quick warning to those [...]

[...] my favorite kid’s artists, Frank Cammuso. At his table was a very pleasant surprise, the newest Knights of the Lunch Table book, The Battling Bands. I wasn’t aware the new book was out, and I quickly snatched a copy. I [...]

There is no third book, yet. Most likely, we won’t see one until next year.

If there are any virtuous women in the Arthurian legends, they are all hidden off stage. So I believe you’re correct that this series is inheriting a particular gender bias from the source material. I believe that Cammuso is attempting to mitigate that in the characters of Gwen, the Lunch Ladies of Macbeth, and Artie’s mother.

There are times when we find ourselves in trouble not of our own making. For example, your boss has fallen behind on a project and then dumps the workload on you to get the project done on time. Principal Dagger’s windshield getting broken is an honest accident and no one but the insurance company should have to pay for the replacement. In circumstances like these, breaking even seems the best you can hope for. In a perfect world, your boss would reward you for your extra effort to cover his butt, however that doesn’t always happen. So the status quo ending shows Artie and the Knights that the world isn’t always fair and doesn’t always reward making the right choices. However, as the cliché goes, virtue is its own reward. (I hope that clarifies my position better.)

Do you mind elaborating on how returning to the status quo is realistic?

Johanna,I confessed I missed the gender politics. Sorry. I would also add that Artie’s older sister is another example of a prominent women who is evil.

I don’t mind the status quo ending, because I think it adds to the realism of the book.

I wonder if a feminist reading of this would conclude it enforces patriarchal attitudes, given that Gwen is marginalized.