Tom & Jerry: Copycats

1992. Cover price £2.99.
52 pages. Full colour.
Ravette Books Limited.

Cover by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

ISBN-10: 1 85304 409 1.

Contents:

 3 Tom & Jerry - Copy Cat

 4 Indicia

 5 Gangsters w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

11 Cookies w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: Oscar Martin.

r: UNKNOWN.

12 Robin Mouse w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: Oscar Martin.

r: UNKNOWN.

27 The Picnic w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

37 Stop Thief! w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

48 Picture Hanging w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: Oscar Martin.

r: UNKNOWN.

50 Other Titles in This Series in-house advertisement.

52 The Chase is On Again w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: partial page from The Picnic.

The first of a Ravette series, identified by the number 1 on the spine. Sloppily, although (sadly) predictably, this is the only place aside from the "other titles" page where there is any indication that this is part of a series of comic albums. It is also free of credits or sources for the strips, which are proving incredibly irritating to track down.

I' not a fan of the "ransom note" logo for the series, which looks more appropriate for a Vertigo title rather than Tom & Jerry, nor the image in a circle which forms the cover design. The cover art isn't as refined as the interior art, which is another niggle to deal with - it is almost as if Ravette were trying their hardest to discourage impulse purchases of the collections. That they are so slender is another concern, though the appropriate pricing - on a sticker, rather than printed on the book itself - reflects this.

Tom is dreaming about being a police officer. After swatting Tuffy aside, Jerry decides to get revenge on the cat, fixing up an old toy car with spare parts and embarking on a crime spree, the mice are about to throw a bomb at Tom when... Jerry smashes a bottle while stealing cheese, waking Tom from his dream, convinced that he is about to have a bomb thrown at him. As Jerry and Tuffy enjoy their spoils, Tom sits in the garden reminding himself of who he truly is.

A fine story, with an amusing conceit, spoiled by the first page being printed smaller than the rest of the story, a very bright red border highlighting the page. It is something which will crop up again in the collection, though not for every story. Inconsistency in presentation of the material becomes jarring, and it is difficult to tell at a glance (in at least two instances) where one story ends and another begins.

Cookies, a single-page gag strip, isn't particularly funny, nor does it really make sense. Although beautifully drawn, it simply doesn't work for me.

Again with a highlighted first page, this time in blue, Robin Mouse finds Tom reading a Robin Hood novel. Learning that Tom is so engrossed in reading that he will ignore them, Jerry decides that this is the perfect time to annoy the cat. He is an unpleasant little vermin, after all... As Tom daydreams about Sherwood Forest, the mice help themselves to a feast. Upon finishing the book, Tom is surprised to see what the mice have been up to.

A second story with a basis in an altered reality for the characters, and, once more, ending with the mice triumphant over the put-upon cat. A few awkward page layouts, and the rather predictable ending, mark this out as an inferior installment, yet the lively art (and especially the final panel) keep things moving along. The first three stories in a collection can inform the reader of editorial intent, though I'm not sure what to make of these.

The Picnic, whose first page has a green border, begins with Tuffy and Jerry helping themselves to Tom's picnic basket. This is, perhaps, the most trial and tribulation heaped upon a character within ten pages, the torturous saga featuring Tom's paw being caught in a mouse trap, being slammed in the face with a plank of wood, kicked by a horse, attacked by a swarm of bees, head-butted by a bull, beaten by a dog, getting covered in ants, and plunging to the bottom of a lake.

Throughout all this Jerry chuckles and haws with amusement. The predominant perception of Jerry somehow being the hero in this franchise is misguided at best. The sociopathic little monster displays not a shred of concern for the cats welfare throughout.

Finally displaying complete outrage, Stop Thief! opens with Tom declaring that this time he's going to eat Jerry and Tuffy. About time. He chases them into the street, though another cat bumps into him, and he finds himself framed for the theft of a fish. Running from a police officer, Jerry sees this case of mistaken identity... and decides to assist the police in Tom's capture.

The final story, a two-page short, with Tom wearing clothes, for reasons not explained, and attempting to hang a painting on the wall. Hitting the nail through a finger, he bandages the wound and tries again - putting the nail through another finger. Fed up, and running out of bandage, he decides to tape the painting to the wall instead.

Not a great ending to conclude on, with the dramatic change in design and setting being extremely noticeable. This seems to be a collection without purpose or concern regarding the stories. There's no theme linking the stories selected, nor an overriding sense of occuring in the same place and time. It is difficult to imaging this being warmly received by anyone outside of the characters' fans.

A missed opportunity to provide the characters with a defining collection.

Tom & Jerry (Ravette)

#2