THE SMURFS ANTHOLOGY Vol. 2

THE SMURFS ANTHOLOGY Vol. 2

Writers: Peyo (Pierre Culliford), Yvan Delporte

Artist: Peyo

$19.99, Papercutz, 192 pgs.

ISBN 978-1597074452

The internationally revered Smurfs are little blue creatures (three apples high) who live in mushroom houses deep in an enchanted forest. Created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo in the late 1950s, the Smurfs emerged from the pages of the French-language comic Johan et Pirlouit and quickly transcended their status as supporting characters (in an ironic twist, Johann and Peewit, the stars of Johan et Pirlouit, later appeared as supporting characters in the Smurfs' wildly successful television series). The Smurfs appeared in sixteen volumes between 1959 and 1992, ultimately outliving their creator: since Peyo's death, there've been another 14 volumes written and drawn by other hands but always published under Peyo's byline. The Smurfs' many adventures—often due to the machinations of their adversary, the evil wizard Gargamel—have entertained millions upon millions of children worldwide.

Oops! Those who know me, or who've attended any of my classes or presentations on comics and graphic novels, know my fondness for Franco-Belgian comics (bande dessinée). The rest of you just got far more information than you bargained for. Je suis désolé.

This second hardcover collection of the newly translated and re-mastered Smurfs comic albums is a delightful collection of six full-length Smurfs adventures that readers of all ages will appreciate. The stories are exuberant, the cartooning is flawless, the hardcover presentation and slick paper stock are quite impressive for the price-point, and the strips are reprinted with astonishing clarity and vibrancy. This is a superb edition of an international classic.

TIPS FOR LIBRARIANS: Is this book worth your collection development dollar? It's an all-ages graphic novel in a shelf-worthy hardcover format; it will appeal to both kids and nostalgic adults. Do the math.

READERS' ADVISORY TIPS: Kids will love it. Adults who grew up on the cartoons will love it. Folks who appreciate the kind of comic art typified by classic Disney cartoons will love it. It might even serve as your patrons' gateway to the wider world of European comics!

CONTENT ADVISORY: It feels strange, writing a content advisory for a Smurfs book, but the lead story in this volume, "The Smurfette," is—let's be blunt—pretty sexist. The original comic was published in 1967, and Smurfette's characterization is very much a product of its time. While Papercutz did some strategic re-coloring when they reprinted "The Black Smurfs" (even going so far as to re-title the story "The Purple Smurfs;" see THE SMURFS ANTHOLOGY Vol. 1) just to make sure nobody would misconstrue the story's original intent, this story's awkward gaffes are on full display.

Review©2014, C. Michael Hall.