By Goscinny & Tabary
Publisher: Cinebook
ISBN: 978-1-84918-074-0
Unlike Asterix and Lucky Luke, Goscinny's writing for Iznogoud takes a slightly different approach with shorter, punchier stories that last for just a few pages. The whole idea of them is take an absurd situation and run with it, squeezing out every possible gag (sometimes more than once) and then ending the shenanigans before the idea gets tired.
Because each short tale centres around such a daft premise – and always with the goal of Iznogoud becoming Caliph instead of the Caliph – they can be hugely silly as they explore every possibility of the premise. This book opens with Iznogoud and his strongman Wa'at Alahf in a murky swamp searching for the Djinn that lives there. In return for gold they procure his services, or rather they persuade the Djinn, who only exists in the waters of his dingy pond, to be scooped into a bucket, for whoever touches the Djinn's water is evaporated. Iznogoud intends it as a gift for the Caliph. Of course, that means getting it there, and naturally that means some of the water gets spilt, is exposed to the intense heat of the sun, and meets a thirsty camel before they've even reached the city. But the real joy of the tale is Goscinny's word play, peppering it with pun after gag after pun, and how Tabary maximises the joke by the expressions and body language of the characters.
The rest of the stories, one featuring an invisible spell, one with an unlucky diamond and one with magic posters are all tightly executed tales in the same vain. Because they're so short there is no room for padding or drawn-out scenarios, just a swift introduction then headlong into the hilarity. A must read for anyone interested in cartoons and humour.
And if you liked that: I was doing a talk at a school recently and genuinely surprised at how many children hadn't heard of Asterix. If you've never picked up a copy of the plucky Gaul then it's about time you did!
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