By Morris & Goscinny
Publisher: Cinebook
ISBN: 0-978-1-84918-007-8
There are many, many Lucky Luke books, the bulk of which are by the creative team of Morris and Goscinny. The English reprints don't follow the original published order, which isn't necessarily a problem, but does throw up the odd inconsistency now and again, such as in this book where it appears we're meeting the canine hero Rin Tin Can for the first time, despite having come across him several times before.
The Dalton gang are four miscreants forever escaping the penitentiary and going on the run, and as Lucky Luke was the brave soul that put them there, it falls to him to bring them back. The penitentiary guards are making their own efforts using the hopeless Rin Tin Can (I think they've nailed dogs with Rin Tin Can's personality. A Jack Dee sketch once told of the difference between cats and dogs by using the example of them watching their owners decorate. The cat would be indifferent and uninterested and swiftly leave while the dog would just sit and watch, to all intents saying, I don't know what you're doing but I love you. That's pretty much Rin Tin Can) but end up off-loading the hound on to Lucky Luke. The Dalton's are feared wherever they go and soon threaten a township with destruction unless they're offered some sort of protection, much to the frustration of Lucky Luke already contending with his canine companion.
As always with the Lucky Luke books there are plenty of visual gags and some clever word play, not to mention a solid story as the backbone to it all. A constant reminder at how effortless this cartooning lark seems to be to Morris and Goscinny.
And if you liked that: I'll be taking a look at book 20 soon!
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