How can you not love the Moomins?! This super-fun original comic strip was first published in the Evening News in the 1950s. The book is divided into four stories. ‘Moomin and the Brigands’ starts with Moomin trying to politely get rid of houseguests, which leads to his house being eaten, his arrest, rescue by Sniff, and a lot of moneymaking ideas which don’t work. ‘Moomin and Family Life’ sees the Moomin parents reunite with their long-lost son, with Moominmamma placidly overseeing the crazy schemes of Pappa. ‘Moomin on the Riviera’ follows the family’s trip to the south, where they pretend to be the nobility and stay in a fancy hotel, which causes a rift between Moomin, who wants the simpler things in life, and Snorkmaiden, who likes glamour and celebrities. ‘Moomin’s Desert Island’ is a survival story which includes ancestors, pirates, rescues, rock gardening and a sentient helicopter. It’s not exactly a children’s comic, but has a universal appeal so anyone can enjoy it. The first picture of every story is of Moomin’s round behind as he begins his philosophising. I really enjoyed this book and am going to read the others in the series.
Published by Drawn and Quarterly, 2006.
