The Comical Tragedy of Punch and Judy [Paperback]

Christopher P. Reilly (Author), Darron Laessig (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 23, 2002

For the first time in comics, the centuries-old tale of Punch and Judy is told in this adaptation of the classic children's puppet show. Follow the tail of mayhem left by Mr. Punch, as he brandishes his "slap-stick" upon every foe who tries to hurt his precious and infamous nose, from the dog Mr.Toby, to Mr. Scaramouche, to the Hangman, and finally to the Devil himself.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A comic that's at once timely and surreal . . . This hilarious farce reresents the Cosmic Trickster in fine form." -- Paul Di Filippo, author of The Steampunk Trilogy and Ribofunk

"A perfect example of comics at the pinnacle of greatness . . . The writing is devilish and the artwork is absolutely stunning." -- Josh Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: SLG Publishing (January 23, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0943151481
• ISBN-13: 978-0943151489
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,004,251 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the Old is new, again!, April 14, 2002

By 

Rebecca Davis (London) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Comical Tragedy of Punch and Judy (Paperback)

For those of you on the Western side of the Atlantic, where Punch and Judy
shows were not a major mind-warp of your childhood, this book's going to give
you a good insight into why the British grow up the way they do. This
It is a fairly straight adaptation of the story of Mr Punch, if indeed
it's possible to define the story from its many sources and variations. It's
written and researched by Christopher P Reilly, so what's been produced is a
decent, authoritative version with occasional (and forgivable) flights into
scripting whimsy. If it had footnotes or a reading list it would be even better.
Darron Laessig's art is perfect - it looks, as
it should do, like a particularly warped cartoon. This comic looks lovely,
and it's educational. You'll thank yourself for picking it up.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why did it take hundreds of years?, June 28, 2002

By 

Alice (CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Comical Tragedy of Punch and Judy (Paperback)

Forget the statical drone of Neil Gaimen's torturous Mr. Punch. This is the best insight into the Punch and Judy mythos ever!
Why did it take hundreds of years for someone to figure out that there was an audience for this story?
If you have ever wanted to read the story of Mr. Punch in its entirety, this is probably as close as you can get.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE COMICAL TRAGEDY IS IF YOU DON'T READ IT, July 19, 2003

By 

Stefan L. Blitz (Providence, RI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Comical Tragedy of Punch and Judy (Paperback)

As a fan of Mr. Reilly's comic book "Rogue Satellite", I anxiously awaited his take on the Punch and Judy mythos, and was far from disappointed. Thoroughly researched, charmingly written and stylishly illustrated, "The Comical Tragedy of Punch and Judy" is a far more evocative tale than the more often mentioned "Mr. Punch" by Gaiman and McKean. Don't let this hidden gem pass you by, this one is a must have and a valuable addition to your collection.