Sunday, November 15, 2009

Comics Review: LITTLE LULU: THE BAWLPLAYERS AND OTHER STORIES (Dark Horse, 2009)

The 20th package of reprinted hijinks from John Stanley and Irving Tripp -- this one covering Dell's LITTLE LULU #94-#99 (1956) -- is just as enjoyable as all those that have come before, though Stanley's weariness is slowly becoming apparent. This is best seen in the "Witch Hazel" stories, which seem more and more perfunctory; surely Stanley could've found SOME other way to match Lulu against Hazel and Little Itch that didn't involve a shabbily-dressed Lulu picking beebleberries? Some of Stanley's plot hooks are getting a little "out there," as well. The collection's very first story, "Two Foots is Feet," has Lulu and Alvin driving each other into hysterics by repeating the words "foot" and "feet" over and over again. Alvin I can buy, but the level-headed Lulu going gaga over something so silly is harder for me to accept. Lulu is in much better form in a story in which she pesters a new boy in town, promising not to introduce him to any other girls. Funny stuff, as always.

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