Asterix

1969 - present.

[1]  Asterix the Gaul (Brockhampton Press; 1969) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge.

r: Asterix le Gaulois, originally serialized in Pilote #01 - #38.

[6]  Asterix and Cleopatra (Brockhampton Press; 1969) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge.

r: Asterix et Cléopâtre, originally serialized in Pilote #215 - #257.

[4]  Asterix the Gladiator (Brockhampton Press; 1969) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge.

r: Astérix gladiateur, originally serialized in Pilote #126 - #168.

[8]  Asterix in Britain (Brockhampton Press; 1970) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge.

r: Astérix chez les Bretons, originally serialized in Pilote #307 - #334.

[10] Asterix the Legionary (Brockhampton Press; 1970) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Asterix Legionnaire, originally serialized in Pilote #368 - #389.

[14] Asterix in Spain (Brockhampton Press; 1971) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Asterix en Hispanie, originally serialized in Pilote #498 - #519.

[7]  Asterix and the Big Fight (Brockhampton Press; 1971) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Le Combat des chefs, originally serialized in Pilote #261 - #302.

[15] Asterix and the Roman Agent (Brockhampton Press; 1972) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: La Zizanie, originally serialized in Pilote #531 - #552.

[12] Asterix and the Olympic Games (Brockhampton Press; 1972) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Asterix aux Jeux Olympiques, originally serialized in Pilote #434 - #455.

[16] Asterix in Switzerland (Brockhampton Press; 1973) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Astérix chez les Helvètes, originally serialized in Pilote #557 - #578.

[17] The Mansion of the Gods (Brockhampton Press; 1973) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Le Domaine des Dieux, originally serialized in Pilote #591 - #612.

[18] Asterix and the Laurel Wreath (Brockhampton Press; 1974) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Les Lauriers de Cesar, originally serialized in Pilote #621 - #642.

[3]  Asterix and the Goths (Brockhampton Press; 1974) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Astérix et les Goths, originally serialized in Pilote #82 - #122.

[19] Asterix and the Soothsayer (Brockhampton Press; 1975) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Le Devin, originally serialized in Pilote #652 - #673.

[2]  Asterix and the Golden Sickle (Hodder & Stoughton; 1975) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: La serpe d'or, originally serialized in Pilote #42 - #74.

[22] Asterix and the Great Crossing (Hodder & Stoughton; 1976) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: La Grande Traversée, originally serialized in Sud Ouest

[13] Asterix and the Cauldron (Hodder & Stoughton; 1976) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Asterix et le Chaudron, originally serialized in Pilote #469 - #491

[11] Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield (Hodder & Stoughton; 1977) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Le bouclier arverne, originally serialized in Pilote #399 - #421

[21] Asterix and Ceasar's Gift (Hodder & Stoughton; 1977) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Le Cadeau de Cesar

[9]  Asterix and the Normans (Hodder & Stoughton; 1978) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Astérix et les Normands, originally serialized in Pilote #340 - #361.

[NA] The Twelve Tasks of Asterix (Hodder & Stoughton; 1978) s: Pierre Tchernia w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Les 12 Travaux d'Asterix

Note: Adaptation of animated feature film.

[23] Obelix and Co. (Hodder & Stoughton; 1979) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Obélix et Compagnie

[5]  Asterix and the Banquet (Hodder & Stoughton; 1979) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Le Tour de Gaule d'Astérix, originally serialized in Pilote #172 - #213.

[20] Asterix in Corsica (Hodder & Stoughton; 1979) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Asterix en Corse, originally serialized in Pilote #687 - #708.

[24] Asterix in Belgium (Hodder & Stoughton; 1980) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Astérix chez les Belges

[26] Asterix and the Black Gold (Hodder & Stoughton; 1982) w:/a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: L'Odyssee d'Asterix

[27] Asterix and Son (Hodder & Stoughton; 1983) w:/a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Le Fils d'Asterix

[NA] Asterix Versus Caesar (Hodder & Stoughton; 1986) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

Note: Adaptation of animated feature film.

[28] Asterix and the Magic Carpet (Hodder & Stoughton; 1988) w:/a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Astérix chez Rahàzade ou Le compte des mille et une heures

[NA] How Obelix Fell into the Magic Potion When He Was a Little Boy (Hodder & Stoughton; 1989) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Comment Obélix est tombé dans la marmite du druide quand il était petit, originally published in Pilote #291

[NA] Operation Getafix: Book of the Film (Hodder & Stoughton; 1990) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell

[29] Asterix and the Secret Weapon (Hodder & Stoughton; 1992) w:/a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: La Rose et le Glaive

[30] Asterix and Obelix All at Sea (Hodder & Stoughton; 1996) w:/a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: La Galère d'Obélix

[31] Asterix and the Actress (Orion; 2001) w:/a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Asterix et Latraviata

[32] Asterix and the Class Act (Orion; 2003) w: Rene Goscinny & Albert Uderzo; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Astérix et la rentrée gauloise, from material published in Pilote and other titles.

[33] Asterix and the Falling Sky (Orion; 1996) w:/a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Le ciel lui tombe sur la tête

Spongebob Squarepants: My Pet Sea Monster

Jul 2009; Cover price 4.99.
100 pages. Full colour.
Titan Books.

ISBN-13: 9781845764678

Cover by UNKNOWN.
r: UNKNOWN.

Contents:

.3 Spongebob Squarepants: My Pet Sea Monster title page.

.4 Credits / Indicia.

.5 My Pet Sea Monster w: Scott Roberts; p: Gregg Schigiel, i: Jeff Albrecht, lettering by Comicraft, colouring by Sno Cone Studios.

r: UNKNOWN.

15 Rip Van Sponge w:/a: Graham Annable.

r: UNKNOWN.

21 The Adventures of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

23 "Spongebob Goes Casual" w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

39 "Lose the Tie" w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

41 Krusty Karen w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

49 "That Sweater" w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

51 Western Duds w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

57 "Wading Pool" w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

67 Spongebob at the Movies w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

70 Staring Contest w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

72 Squidward w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

73 Snail Park w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

75 Nephews w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

83 Snail Groomer w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

85 "Keep Away from Krabs!" w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

87 Spongebob E.V.I.L.pants w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

95 Don't Miss in-house advertisement for Mermaid to Measure and Gone Jellyfishing.

96 More Marine Mayhem! in-house advertisement for Fool's Gold.

97 Spongebob Squarepants Comic in-house advertisement.

98 Spongebob Squarepants: Frantic Fry Cook computer game advertisement.

The pocket-size format is makes the title appear as if it is slimmer than its hundred pages, though clean printing and slick paper combine to create a bright and attractive package. I'm not particularly enamoured of the series so I can't speak to the fidelity of the strips in relation to its animated source, but as an independent entity this is a fairly amusing collection of stories. Not that I would particularly seek out such a collection...

If you love the show this is probably of more interest.

The Wizard of Id

 01  The King is a Fink! by Brant Parker & Johnny Hart.

 02  The Wondrous Wizard of Id by Brant Parker & Johnny Hart.

 03  The Peasants are Revolting! by Brant Parker & Johnny Hart.

 04  Remember the Golden Rule by Brant Parker & Johnny Hart.

 05  There's a Fly in My Swill! by Brant Parker & Johnny Hart.

 06  The Wizard's Back! by Brant Parker & Johnny Hart.

 07  Long Live the King! by Brant Parker & Johnny Hart.

 08  The Wizard of Id - Yield by Brant Parker & Johnny Hart.

 09  Frammin at the Jim-Jam Frippin in the Krotz! by Brant Parker & Johnny Hart.

 10  Every Man is Innocent Until Proven Broke by Brant Parker & Johnny Hart.

[11] I'm Off to See the Wizard by Brant Parker & Johnny Hart.

Note: Numbered 12, this is the 11th book in the series.

[12] Let There be Reign by Brant Parker & Johnny Hart.

Note: Numbered 13, this is the 12th book in the series.

[13] Help Stamp Out Grapes by Brant Parker & Johnny Hart.

Note: Numbered 14, this is the 13th book in the series.

 14  The Wizard of Id Charge by Brant Parker & Johnny Hart.

 15  We've Got to Stop Meeting Like This! by Brant Parker & Johnny Hart.

 16  Ala Ka Zot! by Brant Parker & Johnny Hart.

 17  Well This is Another Fine How Do You Do by Brant Parker & Johnny Hart.

 18  The Lone Haranguer Rides Again by Brant Parker & Johnny Hart.

 19  Abra Cadaver! by Brant Parker & Johnny Hart.

 20  My Kingdom for a Horsie! by Brant Parker & Johnny Hart.

[21] Suspended Sentence Indeed by Brant Parker & Johnny Hart.

Note: Numbered 20, this is the 21st book in the series.

[22] I Dig Freedom by Brant Parker & Johnny Hart.

Note: Numbered 21, this is the 22nd book in the series.

Jane

Collections

Jane's Journal (Thomas Publications; Mar 1942) cover price 2/6
Another Jane's Journal (Thomas Publications; 1943) cover price 3/6
Pett's Annual (Thomas Publications; 1944) cover price 3/6

Jane's Summer Idle! (Mirror Features; Jun 1946) cover price 1/

Jane's Journal (A. Rylee; Nov 1946) cover price 3/6

Jane on the "Sawdust Trail" (Mirror Features; 1947) cover price 2/

Another Journal (A. Rylee; Jun 1950) cover price 2/6
Another Journal (A. Rylee; Nov 1951) cover price 3/6
Jane Souvenir (UNKNOWN; 19##) cover price 1/6

Fosdyke Saga

1972 - 1985 (14 books)
Mirror Books

01 The Fosdyke Saga by Bill Tidy. (Wolfe Publishing Ltd.; 1972) ISBN-10: 0723404992.

02 Fosdyke Saga Two by Bill Tidy. (Wolfe Publishing Ltd.; 1973) ISBN-10: 0723405298.

03 Fosdyke Saga Three by Bill Tidy. (Wolfe Publishing Ltd.; 1974) ISBN-10: 0723405824.

04 Fosdyke Saga Four by Bill Tidy. (Wolfe Publishing Ltd.; 1975) ISBN-10: 0723406839.

05 Fosdyke Saga Five by Bill Tidy. (Wolfe Publishing Ltd.; 1976) ISBN-10: 0723406979.

06 Fosdyke Saga Six by Bill Tidy. (Mirror Group Books; 1977) ISBN-10: 0859390985.

07 Fosdyke Saga Seven by Bill Tidy. (Mirror Group Books; 1978) ISBN-10: 0859391396.

08 Fosdyke Saga Eight by Bill Tidy. (Mirror Group Books; 1979) ISBN-10: 085939171X.

09 Fosdyke Saga Nine by Bill Tidy. (Mirror Group Books; 1980) ISBN-10: 0859392171.

10 Fosdyke Saga Ten by Bill Tidy. (Mirror Group Books; 1981) ISBN-10: 0859392791.

11 Fosdyke Saga Eleven by Bill Tidy. (Mirror Group Books; 1982) ISBN-10: 0859393186.

Note: Published in magazine format.

12 Fosdyke Saga Twelve by Bill Tidy. (Methuen Publishing Ltd.; 1983) ISBN-10: 0413539806.

13 Fosdyke Saga Thirteen by Bill Tidy. (Methuen Publishing Ltd.; 1984) ISBN-10: 041356620X.

14 The Tripemasters by Bill Tidy. (Methuen Publishing Ltd.; 1985) ISBN-10: 0413599604.

External Links:

The Official Fosdyke Saga Website

Bato Loco

rebel[14 Aug 2012]. Free.
68 pages. Colour & B&W.
Rebellion.

Edited by Keith Richardson.

Cover by Simon Coleby, coloured by Chris Blythe.

Free with Judge Dredd Megazine (Rebellion) #326 (14 Aug 2012).

Contents:

 2 Credits / Indicia

 3 Bato Loco title page; illustrated by Simon Coleby.

 4 Judge Dredd Bato Loco credits page; illustrated by Simon Coleby.

 5 Judge Dredd Bato Loco w: Gordon Rennie; a: Simon Coleby, lettering by Tom Frame, colouring by Chris Blythe.

r: Judge Dredd Megazine (Rebellion) #202 (11 Feb 2003).

17 Bato Loco True Romance credits page; illustrated by Simon Coleby.

18 Bato Loco True Romance w: Gordon Rennie; a: Simon Coleby, lettering by Tom Frame.

r: Judge Dredd Megazine (Rebellion) #208 (27 Aug 2003).

26 Bato Loco Head Job credits page; illustrated by Simon Coleby.

27 Bato Loco Head Job w: Gordon Rennie; a: Simon Coleby, lettering by Tom Frame, colouring by Chris Blythe.

r: Judge Dredd Megazine (Rebellion) #229 (08 Mar 2005) - #230 (05 Apr 2005).

39 Bato Loco Kiss Me Deadly credits page; illustrated by Andrew Currie.

40 Bato Loco Kiss Me Deadly w: Gordon Rennie; a: Andrew Currie, lettering by Simon Bowland, colouring by Peter Doherty.

r: Judge Dredd Megazine (Rebellion) #290 (10 Nov 2009) - #291 (08 Dec 2009).

58 Judge Dredd Meat Patrol credits page; illustrated by Simon Coleby.

59 Judge Dredd Meat Patrol w: Gordon Rennie; a: Simon Coleby, lettering by Tom Frame, colouring by Chris Blythe.

r: Judge Dredd Megazine (Rebellion) #224 (19 Oct 2004).

67 Bagged with Megazine 327 On Sale 15 August 12 in-house advertisement for Marauder.

68 Goin' Loco!

In the Big Meg's Barrio blocks, they called Carlito Agarra the 'Bato Loco' - 'Crazy Guy'. He's just trying to make an honest cred, but if it ain't the Judges on his back it's the Mob - Madon'!

You have to love a cover where someone steals Judge Dredd's badge.

So I know what it is you are thinking.

'Carlito,' you are saying, 'why is it you are doing this strange thing with this big fat dead guy, and all those Judges and bad news scary mob guys? Is this why they are always calling you Crazy Guy?

And so then I say to you, 'Patience, my friends, for soon you will be seeing that all this is not so crazy after all...'

There have been more eccentric beginnings to Dredd's stories. Not many, but there are a few which can top the image of a man riding a giant corpse on wheels.

A week earlier. Louie the Gut, returning from making his regular smuggling route through the Black Atlantic tunnel, collapses from a heart attack and dies, the haul of uncut diamonds in his stomach. Carlito Agarra is picked up by Don Morte's men for a sit-down, despite the fact that Don Morte is a taxidermied corpse, whose wishes are 'interpreted' by his consigliore, Vito Machievelli. Asked to retrieve the diamonds from the Resyk morgue, he discovers that two of his associates also have the same idea.

There are two corpses of similar size present, though the choice of which one is their corpse is settled when Guido Guisperre - 'Grand Guignol' - bursts from a corpse's stomach wielding his chainsaw. Hearing the disturbance, Dredd orders all squads to move in on the morgue, though Carlito and Guignol burst through the morgue's doors riding Louie the Guts' corpse. Managing to escape from both Guignol and Dredd, Carlito makes a run for freedom, and fate is smiling on him as he searches for a way to square things with Machievelli.

While most of the time I would have a problem with coincidence playing a part in the resolution of a story, here it works to the advantage of characterisation and the overall mood of the strip. Yes, there is a whole series of unlikely events, but in Mega City One this is business as usual.

Okay, so here we are again, and every time we are doing this, it seems as if you are catching me in the middle of something crazy happening.

Catalonia, Carlito's girlfriend, who he met when she took the contract on his head, is angered that a year has passed since Carlito promised to marry her within a year. Catalonia promised to herself that she would kill him if he didn't keep his promise, and she gives him a week to purchase her a ring. As the days tick by, without money or a ring, things look bleak for Carlito. Hearing that the Slyrrm, aliens seeking ingredients for narcotics on their homeworld, he scams them out of enough money for his needs.

As Carlito is ready to ask Catalonia to marry him, the Slyrrm catch up with him.

With a good sense of the variety of life in the setting, Rennie manages to weave a very funny - and quite light, given prior strips - action-adventure story. Catalonia is fantastic character, and it is pleasing that she is so much more competent than Carlito.

Head Job crosses Carlito's path with that of Judge Dredd once more, as Machievelli orders him to deal with Cubans from the Wastes who are running an organ-legging racket. A bulk shipment of executed politicos turns out to be merely their heads, and Carlito doesn't want to pay for something he can't sell on. As the deal goes south, Dredd leads an assault on the exchange. Recognising Carlito from Resyk, Dredd chases after him, as the other Judges clear up the organ-leggers.

Seeing Dredd covered in body parts is amusing, though somewhat predictable now. The circumstance in which he manages to get in such a predicament, however, is rather fresh. Unlike the rotting head thrown at him.

Okay, so I know what it is you are thinking -

"Carlito", you are thinking, "is that Abadonna Morte I see you with, beloved daughter of your boss, Don Morte? Why is it you are in this situation with her, when everyone know she is crazy as hell, and liable to get you in very serious trouble indeed?"

And I say to you, "that is a good question my friend, with an answer that is maybe long and not so simple to explain..."

Called in to deal with Abadonna's latest break-up, Carlito is told to assist Billy-17 cleaning up the mess. While there, Abadonna asks him to accompany her on a date, as she has invitations to the Cocabandito, and can't turn up alone - for appearances sake. A kidnap crew hits their car before they reach the club, however, and his worries about Abadonna killing him are replaced with a worry he's going to meet his end another way. Carlito's (entirely unintentional) heroics impress Abadonna enough that she kisses him, and Machievelli informs him that he should consider Abadonna his girlfriend from now on.

Which, considering his fiancée is a contract killer, isn't the best news he's had.

Catalonia orders Carlito to meet her on a rooftop, which he agrees to, as Abadonna tells Machievelli that she fears he is cheating on her. Obviously this means he must die, but Abadonna insists she be there to witness Carlito's demise. Things soon escalate out of control.

The final story in the collection is a very sombre and low-key Dredd story in which he takes night shift on meat wagon pick-up with a Judge whom he failed. It isn't often that we get to see the less glamorous side of the judicial system's tasks, and here we see what it takes to go out every day and collect corpses for Resyk. Following a relatively normal night of pick-ups, Dredd answers a call, drawing the truck into a fight which it isn't designed for.

Not as funny as Low Life, though a fine example of the less dramatic side of Mega City One's inhabitants. Following through on the promise of an excellent introduction to the character, Gordon Rennie delivers on Bato Loco's promising premise with one unlikely event after another, increasing the stakes with each installment. Gloriously illustrated by Coleby and Currie, there isn't a dud panel in the entire collection.

Fanatic's Guide to

The Fanatic's Guide to the Bed by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Cats by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Computers by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Dads by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Diets by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to DIY by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Dogs by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Golf by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Love by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Husbands by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Money by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Sex by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Skiing by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Sports by Roland Fiddy.

Crazy World of

The Crazy World of Aerobics by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Birdwatching by Peter Rigby.
The Crazy World of Bowls by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Cats by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Cricket by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Football by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Gardening by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Golf by Mike Scott.
The Crazy World of the Greens by Barry Knowles.
The Crazy World of the Handyman by Roland Fiddy.
The Crazy World of Hospitals by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Housework by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Jogging by David Pye.
The Crazy World of Learning to Drive by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Love by Roland Fiddy.
The Crazy World of Marriage by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Music by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of the Office by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Photography by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of the Royals by Barry Knowles.
The Crazy World of Rugby by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Sailing by Peter Rigby.
The Crazy World of School by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Sex by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Sex by David Pye.
The Crazy World of Skiing by Craig Peterson & Jerry Emerson
The Crazy World of Soccer by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Tennis by Peter Rigby.

Fragments from France

1916 - 1919 (9 books)

Fragments from France (1916; 1/)
More Fragments from France (1916; 1/)
Still More Fragments from France (1917; 1/)
Fragments from France No.4 (1917; 1/)
Fragments from France No.5 (1918; 1/6)
Fragments from France No.6 (1918; 1/6)
Fragments from France No.7 (1919; 1/)
Fragments from France No.8 (1919; 1/)
Fragments from France No.9 (1919; 1/)

Victim's Guide

Exley Publications Ltd.

The Victim's Guide to the Dentist by Roland Fiddy. (Exley Publications Ltd.; 1993) ISBN-10: 9781850154044.

The Victim's Guide to the Doctor by Roland Fiddy. (Exley Publications Ltd.; 1993) ISBN-10: 9781850154297.

The Victim's Guide to Middle Age by Roland Fiddy. (Exley Publications Ltd.; Sep 1993) ISBN-10: 9781850154310.

The Victim's Guide to the Baby by Roland Fiddy. (Exley Publications Ltd.; Mar 1994) ISBN-10: 9781850155034.

The Victim's Guide to Air Travel by Roland Fiddy. (Exley Publications Ltd.; Jul 1994) ISBN-10: 9781850154303.

The Victim's Guide to Christmas by Roland Fiddy. (Exley Publications Ltd.; Jul 1994) ISBN-10: 9781850155041.

The Victim's Guide to the Boss by Roland Fiddy. (Exley Publications Ltd.; 1995) ISBN-10: 9781850156260.

Up the Falklands

Up the Falklands

Up the Falklands! Cartoons from the Royal Marines by Roy Carr, Arthur Huddart & John R. Webb. (Blandford Press)

Carry on Yomping! More Cartoons from 'Up the Falklands!' by Roy Carr, Arthur Huddart & John R. Webb. (Blandford Press; 01 Sep 1982)

Over the Top! More Service Cartoons from the Up the Falklands! Team by Roy Carr, Arthur Huddart & John R. Webb. (Blandford Press; 26 Sep 1983)

The Tom & Jerry Selection

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

ISBN-10: 1 85304 274 9.

Cover by UNKNOWN (uncredited).
r: UNKNOWN.

Contents:

 3 The Tom & Jerry Selection title page.

 5 The Tom & Jerry Selection title page.

 6 Indicia

 7 UNTITLED [Tom & Jerry With Their Towels] pin-up; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

 8 UNTITLED [Fun at the Beach] poster; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

10 The Fast Food Feud... w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: signed BD (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

18 UNTITLED [Sunglasses] poster; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

20 UNTITLED [A Bike Trip] poster; a: signed BD (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

22 Sound Effects w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

30 UNTITLED [All at Sea] poster; a: signed BD (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

32 UNTITLED [Art Attack] pin-up; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

33 UNTITLED [Like Father Like Son] pin-up; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

34 Sandcastle Kings w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

42 UNTITLED [Sun Fun] poster; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

44 Memories pin-up; a: signed BD (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

45 UNTITLED [Movie Stars] pin-up; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

46 Pests in Paradise w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

54 UNTITLED [Tuffy in a Kite] pin-up; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

55 UNTITLED [PURRR Tracksuit] pin-up; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

56 UNTITLED [Tuffy's Bop] pin-up; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

57 Mechanical Menace w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

65 The End

64 pages of hilarious cartoon strips and posters, featuring the world's favourite Cat and Mouse

Thomas is snuggled up in his basket as a snowstorm hits, and Jerry takes advantage of the napping cat's blissful sleep to help himself to some cheeseburgers. Fashioning a means of reaching the table with thread and a safety pin, he makes it to his prize and frames Tom for his crime. Thrown out into the freezing cold, Tom wonders why he is being punished, and Jerry is soon aware of the repercussions of his action - feeling guilty, and realizing that it is too cold outdoors for cats, the mouse makes himself known to Mammy in order to encourage her to bring Tom in from the cold.

Jerry gets a wooden spoon thrown at him for his troubles, though Tom is still not returned indoors. Tom has turned blue, and his tail is frozen stiff, so Jerry is forced to increase his torment of Mammy - bouncing on her remote control to change channels, and swimming in her soup. She fetches a broom to deal with the mouse on her own, though Jerry throws compact discs at her when she tracks him down. Finally relenting, Mammy brings Tom back indoors, warming him up with a hairdryer, before setting him on Jerry.

Realising what has occurred, Tom plays along - just long enough to share in Jerry's spoils.

A lively strip, without much of the usual problems in storytelling, this is a remarkably warm and non-violent outing for the pair, with a much more interesting dynamic for the characters than the more often seen antagonistic interplay. The artwork is less polished than other depictions, though it has a livelier spring to it - this is a strip with heart.

Sound Effects tells its story without the usual plethora of words - Tom catches Jerry eating by the sound of his munching, then Tuffy jumps on a cassette player's button to create the sound of a dog. Having ensured that there isn't actually a dog present, Tom settles down to watch television, whereupon the sound effects are employed once more. The trick fails a third time, as the batteries are running low, and Tom turns the tables on the mice by playing a song they dislike.

The experimentation is handled well, with a few amusing twists and turns along the way, and is pleasantly drawn, yet I can't help feeling that more variation in the often simplistic lettering could have raised the overall impression of the strip. The Kylie Minogue reference, while very funny, dates the strip badly, as does the cassette tapes.

Tom reads through a "Sunny Holidays" catalogue, and gets the notion to take a break from the mice. Hammering planks in front of their mousehole, he sets off to the beach - unaware that Jerry and Tuffy have stowed away in his bag. All is well until Tom unrolls his blanket, uncovering the mice, and he immediately sets about catching them. In the process he manages to destroy Tyke's sandcastle.

A story which seems tailor-made for a summer special, it is odd having it appear so close to a story set in winter, but odd decisions in Ravette's collections know no bounds. Once more a largely silent tale, though without an in or out-of-universe explanation as to why this should be so. The pacing is slightly off in the opening few pages, but when it gets into its stride the strip captures the beach scenes well.

On a speedboat, Tom finds Jerry helping himself to a sandwich, narrowly avoiding crashing into a rock jutting from the sea in an attempt to stop the mouse's pilfering ways. Landing on an island, they explore the sands, though when it feels as if there will be rain Tom hurries to construct a shelter. Once the tropical downpour has abated, Tom makes a raft to escape from both the island and Jerry, though the mouse has other plans...

There's sloppy printing, and there's simply not caring. Transposing two pages of the strip in this story makes following events more difficult that they ought to be. It is a nice, well-constructed story, and these errors are very detrimental to the appeal of the story - one concluding with a (in this instance) well-deserved defeat, with Tom placed firmly in his place.

The final story here, Mechanical Menace, finds Jerry and Tuffy playing with a remote control cheese van in the garden, and when Tom races out to chase them (after falling foul of a flour-based booby-trap) Tuffy uses it to trip him up. Deciding that it is time to bring mouse traps into the 90s, Tom gets to work on his computer. The next day, after much banging from the shed, Tom unveils his creation - a robot he calls the Compu-Cat.

Tom concludes that it will be an easy life for him now, with the ultimate mouse trap doing all the work. Jerry races indoors to escape its snapping claws, and - after some consideration from the mice - Jerry is seemingly caught. Tom discovers that the robot actually caught a dummy before it was destroyed by the cheese van, although gets extra supper when found with the dummy.

Some of the pin-ups are painfully 'hip' - in a manner which indicates that the images were originally intended for a younger readership during the late eighties or early nineties. As a collection this is only really appealing for the full-page illustrations which, on the whole, are the best-looking representations of the character published in a long time.

Not perfect, but a long shot, but likely an amusing read for fans of the characters.

Tom & Jerry: Sweet Temptation

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

ISBN-10: 1 85304 433 4.

Cover by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

Contents:

 3 Tom & Jerry - Sweet Temptation

 4 Indicia

 5 Cleaning Up w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

12 UNTITLED [Mousecatcher Needed - Apply Bravo's Circus] w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

25 Show Time w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

35 New Mouser! w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

50 Other Titles in This Series in-house advertisement.

52 More cat 'n' mouse tales w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: partial page from New Mouser!.

Noting that the house is a mess, Tom decides to start cleaning up. A loose floorboard soon hits him in the face while he's gathering cleaning supplies together, but he eventually manages to get things spotless - only for Jerry and Tuffy to arrive, soaked through thanks to the weather. Berating the mice for making a mess, Tom is determined to throw them out. His attempts to prevent them creating a greater mess leads to... a messier house than he had to begin with.

A clothed Tom isn't, somehow, as amusing as the original character design. This is another strip in which humour is mined from the bad behaviour of the mice, for which they receive no comeuppance, and which struggles to make them likable. It isn't a particularly original story, and the minor moments of entertainment are thanks, in large part, to the attractive artwork.

Having been on the receiving end of Jerry's tricks once more, Tom decides to run away to join the circus. Jerry and Tuffy go looking for him, after finding Tom's newspaper, which has an advert for the circus. Tom chases the mice into the big top, where they use the trapeze to get away, their antics moving through several routines in front of a crowd. Delighted with the "performance" they give, the ringmaster offers them a contract to replicate the chase three times a day.

It is odd to see a conclusion in which a truce is declared, as here, without some final action to ruin the momentary peace. While the story is, now, extremely dated, there were still a few traditional circuses touring in the time period in which this collection was published. The art is, again, very polished and professional, though there's no heart and soul to the strip, as if it has been produced to order - a disappointing read, overall.

Tom rehearses his role in Romeo and Juliet as the stage is being prepared for the play, though Jerry isn't impressed with the cat's acting. When Tom retreats to his dressing room, the mice follow, determined to spoil things for him. As a dress rehearsal is called, Tom sees Mr. Ziegfeld, the famous agent, sitting in the theatre, and gets stage fright.

Jerry nabs his script, and Tom is ushered onto the stage before he can retrieve it - Tom decides to improvise dialogue despite a prompter being available, much to the amusement of the mice. When Jerry taunts him some more, Tom loses his cool and begins concentrating on revenge rather than his lines. As he retreats back to his dressing room to prepare for the next scene, Jerry puts make-up remover in his drink. When he returns to the stage, Tom finds that his lips are stuck together.

Tom's furious reaction, and capture of the mice, greatly amuse Ziegfeld, who offers them a contract.

The main problem with strips which conclude on a chance of the status quo, as this strip does, is that the consequences of these alterations are never developed. Had a follow-up strip been included, depicting their subsequent falling out, and abandoning the life of fame which has (briefly) been obtained, then there wouldn't be so much of a disconnect with the remainder of this collection, but as a stand-alone story it changes too much in the lives of the characters to be accepted as a simple story.

What we don't get to see between the strips is probably funnier than what we are presented with.

New Mouser! is a throwback to the earlier cartoons, with Mammy Two Shoes angered at Tom's constant sleeping. He responds to her outburst by setting after the mice, though is tricked into running face-first at a door, knocking himself out. When Mammy sees Jerry and Tuffy in her shopping bag she sets out to find Tom - and assumes that the unconscious cat is asleep once more.

Kicked out of the house for his presumed narcolepsy, Jerry and Tuffy celebrate their good fortune. Until, that is, they encounter Mammy's replacement cat - who is much, much worse than Tom. After knocking the mice out with a chunk of cheese dosed with sleeping potion, the new mouser begins hiring them out to other cats in order to appear better mousers in front of their owners. Tom gets wind of the scam when he sees Jerry, rented out to another cat, and sets out to rescue his 'friends.'

By gathering together such a disparate set of strips for presentation here, with no connecting theme or stylistic continuity, any possible enjoyment is hampered by the knowledge that we are missing connective fibres tying everything together beautifully. How the cat and mice go from living alone (in the first strip) to being feted by a noted agent, to living in the home of Tom's mistress of old (in New Mouser!) isn't addressed, nor is the reason why Tom adopts and abandons human clothing so regularly.

Speaking of Mammy Two Shoes, her presence here - during a period in which a new batch of animation was being heavily promoted - is something of an anachronism for the strip, which had already seen numerous changes applied, and would continue to be tweaked through the decade. Is her depiction racist? Not here, at least, for which we can be thankful, though it certainly isn't a role in the story which could be described as a positive portrayal.

It is incredibly difficult to recommend this collection.

For characters who have such a rich tradition, on screen and page alike, there ought to be more reverence when bringing the strips to (hopefully) new audiences, though if this was someone's first impression, there is little doubt about it being a negative one. From the poor choice of reprints, through the lacklustre packaging, there is nothing here which represents the height of creativity and artistic excellence which has been represented in prior appearances.

#&35;1

Tom & Jerry (Ravette)

#3

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