3 Review(s)

Since the first Moomin comic strip appeared in the London Evening News, Tove Jansson s creations have become an international sensation, inspiring TV shows, cafes, a museum, an opera, and even an amusement park. And now in this new deluxe anniversary edition are hundreds of pages of Moomin comics, starring Moominmamma, Snorkmaiden, Sniff, Mrs. Fillyjonk, and many more familiar faces. Collected in this volume are the comics created by Lars Jansson, when his sister, Tove, grew tired of drawing a daily strip after half a decade. Her brother Lars had long been involved in the creation of the Moomin strips he translated them into English for publication. Though he had little knowledge of drawing, Lars took over the daily comic strip. Tove taught him, and after two years of sibling collaboration, Lars authored the strips independently for fourteen years. By the mid-1970s, when the strip was at its height of popularity, the tales of Moominvalley were being syndicated in forty papers worldwide, just as absorbing to adult readers as they were to children. Even today, the stories remain uniquely resonant with readers for more than just their quirky, outlandish appearances. With silly humour, the Moominvalley characters emphasize the importance of community and respecting one s environment to readers young and old. Moomin: The Deluxe Anniversary Edition collects Lars Jansson s contributions to the series alongside rare ephemera and tributes by cartoonists and writers. Sumptuously designed, it is a must for any fan of Moominvalley.