Moomin: The Complete Tove Jansson Comic Strip, Vol. 1 by Tove Jansson

Moomin: The Complete Tove Jansson Comic Strip, Vol. 1 Reviews

• 
  danelle

  Your children should have these books. Then you should read them all instead of cooking or cleaning for said children.
• 
  emma

  upping my whimsy
• 
  Juan Naranjo

  Qué sorprendente es esta recopilación de viñetas clásicas de los Mumin publicadas en inglés en un periódico londinense. De esos encantadores personajes infantiles creados por la finlandesa Tove Jansson en los 50, me esperaba altas dosis de ternura y melancolía… pero me he encontrado unas tiras de lo más gamberras, llenas de humor y aventuras, que han envejecido sorprendentemente bien. Me ha gustado mucho esta diversión tan blanca, apta para toda la familia, pero que esconde bien camuflados algunos mensajes potentes y varios personajes absolutamente inolvidables. Muy recomendable.
• 
  Sebastien

  I came across Jansson's work some years back and was utterly charmed. I finally finished the first volume of her comic strip which is absolutely wonderful. The drawing style is deceptively simple and her quality of line and mark-making is magnificent. Lovely compositions, the writing is brilliant too (very hard to be good at both art and writing imo, heck it's hard enough being good at just one of those things!). There is a charming magic to it, a deep wryness enshrouded by cuteness. Truly imaginative, inventive, absurd, poetic, whimsical. It feels true, she captures the realness of life within her make-believe world. Anyhow it is rare that I love both the art and writing when it is done by only one person (Mike Mignola's Hellboy work comes to mind).
  
  I really look forward to reading the whole collection of the strips. I also want to check out her Moomin' children's books. Tove Jansson's back story is interesting as well. She wanted to do more fine art painting (she did impressive work in this area too) but generating income was incredibly difficult and that's how she ended up doing the strip (for financial reasons, still you can tell she poured her heart and soul into this). I always love learning about artist backstories, people don't work in vacuums. The constraints and currents of life channel people in different directions. Anyhow, either way you cut it she was an incredibly versatile and talented artist, that is undeniable.
• 
  Emily

  Having been a fan of Tove Jansson's winsome Moomin books for many years, I was happy and excited to learn that for a few years in the 1950s, the Finnish author published a Moomin comic strip (oddly, in a British newspaper), now collected for the first time in this handsome volume, the first of five. What an unexpected treasure-trove. Yet despite being absolutely delighted to receive this for my birthday when it first came out, I was resistant to actually reading it. This was because I immediately started the first story (there are four in this book), and was at once put off by the fact that this was not exactly the Moomin-world I had come to know and love in the original books. There was Moomintroll, but he had no parents. There was Sniff, but a different, bolder, and more assertive Sniff. There were the Hattifatteners, but instead of being silent enigmatic electrical beings, they were a host of "poor relations" who descended on Moomintroll's house and demanded cocktails (that being said, they did look pretty funny all holding cocktail glasses). Moomintroll and Sniff meet Snuffkin and the Snork Maiden in this story as if for the first time, but in completely different ways than they did in
  Comet in Moominland.
  
  So it sat on my shelf unread for a couple years. Then, in a new flush of Moomin-enthusiasm brought on by the Children's Book group's discussion of
  Finn Family Moomintroll, I decided to be brave and try again. And oh, how glad I am that I did. The first story is in fact both the weakest and the most jarringly different from the books. In the second, Moomintroll is reunited with his parents. The third, in which Moomintroll, his parents and the Snork Maiden travel to the Riviera and hobnob with movie stars and playboys and unwittingly run up a huge hotel bill (they believe they have been invited to stay in the home of a large and unusually accommodating family) is at once absolutely hilarious, and completely different from anything that would have transpired in the chapter books. By that point, I had accepted that this comic-strip world was a sort of parallel universe to the books, and that it didn't matter so much if everything in the two worlds aligned. Also, as much as I love the books, I have to admit that they themselves are not always entirely coherent, with confusing time-lines and characters appearing and disappearing without explanation, and hardly any reference to past events. Jansson clearly felt no compunction at all about taking liberties with her own creations and saw them as very fluid and changeable. This ties in with a delightful but bewildering and giddy-making sense of anarchy I get from reading all her works for children. Jansson was certainly not writing to please pedantic people like the Snork Maiden's brother and the Hemulen.
  
  I still do prefer the books. The comic strip definitely highlights the wacky and surreal aspects of Jansson's story telling, at the expense of the introspective and melancholy elements (although I am eager to see if this will change as the comic strip goes on). The characters' personality traits are more exaggerated (oh, that Snork Maiden...if I thought she was girly and superficial before...), and they seem more likely to act in ways that are not entirely likable for the sake of propelling the story along. On the plus side, I love Jansson's art with a passion, and obviously, this being a comic strip, we get lots and lots of it here. I am now so excited to read the other volumes in this series, but I'm glad in a way, that I put off reading this one, and will probably space out the others, so as to stretch out and savor the experience as much as possible.
  
• 
  Nicky

  I don't think I have any terribly specific thoughts on the Moomin comic strips. I love them, they fill me with warm fuzzies and make me laugh, and they're awfully cute. Although there's a lot of wry commentary on human nature, I think -- the silly things they do to impress or annoy each other.
  
  And, anyway, the Moomin comics are just perfect for sickbed reading. Just... don't take the copies out of my local library when I return them, they're probably covered in my germs...
• 
  Jonathon Von

  Delightful! These charming cartoons follow a cute little fantasy creature through his adventures with ungrateful relatives, misunderstood hotel vacations, fishing net beauty contests, manly pirates and questionable maidens. A quirky sense of humor and an elegant ink style are sure to bring a smile to the most hardened of curmudgeons.
• 
  Elizabeth A

  Book blurb: The Moomins are a tight-knit family–hippo-shaped creatures with easygoing and adventurous outlooks. The comic strip reached out to adults with its gentle and droll sense of humor. Whimsical but with biting undertones, Jansson’s observations of everyday life, including guests who overstay their welcome, modern art, movie stars, and high society, easily caught the attention of an international audience and still resonate today.
  
  This author, and these comic series in particular, is much loved by so many and I wanted in on all the fun too. These Nordic comics are based on children's books, but there is much here for adults to appreciate as well. The black and white pen and ink art is both simple and wonderfully captures a scene or emotion. In the barrage of upsetting national and world news, I am finding these comics quite soothing.
  
  This volume collects books 1-4, each of which is a illustrated short story.
  
  1. Moomin and the Brigands - 4 stars.
  In which Moomin's relations overstay their welcome and he has a hard time saying no. On the plus side he does meet the love of his life, Snorkmaiden. This charming introduction to Moomin and his world made me smile the entire time I was reading it.
  
  2. Moomin and Family Life - 4 stars.
  In which everyone seems to have a family except for Moomin, so imagine his delight when he stumbles across the beloved family he lost as a child. Moominmamma might well me my fave comic character ever.
  
  3. Moomin on the Riviera - 4 stars.
  In which the Moomins try on the lifestyles of the rich and famous, but things do not go as expected.
  
  4. Moomin's Desert Island - 4 stars.
  In which the family is stranded on a Desert Island without a book to read. Some people do not plan ahead!
• 
  Mathilde Paulsen

  The Moomins always get 5/5 stars. This book is a collection of Tove Jansson's Moomin comics.
  
  Some of my favorite things:
  - Moominpappa's response to finding mysterious footprints was to get a weapon
  - He actually shot at Snufkin (don't worry, he missed)
  - Moominmamma is just so used to Momminpappa's shit that she goes along with everything
  (- We stan Moominmamma)
  - Sniff is an actual thief and a scoundrel
• 
  Adam

  Tove Jansson’s Moomin books are absurd comic delights that border on the edge of surreal, melancholy, and the fantastical. Whether an adult who missed these, or as gift for a child, these rank with the Roald Dahl and Dr. Seuss books but avoid the misanthropy of the former and the occasional frivolity of the latter. A weird wonderland of laugh out loud humor.
• 
  Maricruz

  Entre la ternura y la locura, un poco en esa vena caótica-salvaje de Pippi Calzaslargas (no tan salvaje, que Pippi era de aúpa. Quizás sea algo nórdico, yo qué sé). El personaje de la señorita Stork se me atragantaba un poco por lo machista, pero es todo tan ingenuo y adorable, y tan de otros tiempos, que me siento un poco sacando los pies del tiesto al pensar en esos términos. A mi hijo le encantan estos cómics de Mumin y los lee y relee, seguro que les podría maś estrellitas que yo.
• 
  akwe

  jeju przypomina mi sie dzieciństwo
• 
  Sabina_bere

  Ti zbrani stripi so mi prinesli nostalgično obujanje spominov na otroštvo, ko sem zelo rada gledala risanke o Mumindolu in Muminih. 💖
• 
  Grace

  a childhood classic
• 
  Azul

  me gustó mucho t-t
• 
  Diz

  The characters and art are very creative. The stories, on the other hand, ramble quite a bit. However, this is because these comics were originally printed as a comic strip.
• 
  Saffron Irons

  the moomins have no right to be so cute and funny
• 
  Eddie Watkins

  This book, and the other collection of comic strips and the novels, are a real treat. They're about a good-naturedly anarchic family of hippo-like trolls who let all kinds of different creatures come live in their house and who get involved in one strange adventure after another. The family actually reminds me a little of the family in Frank Capra's movie You Can't Take it With You; an anything goes type of household where creativity is given precedence and free reign.
  
  Tove Jansson wrote a novel or two about the Moomins in Finnish, which were translated into English, and then she was invited to create these comic strips for an English paper. I'm not sure how many she did, but now they're being re-issued in book form at the rate of one a year and so far two have been put out.
  
  Treat yourself and others to these. The drawings are very good - neat line drawings whit each panel a balanced composition in itself, often filled with incident, and even when fairly dense still airy and light, like a hippo creampuff.
• 
  Miss Bookiverse

  Nur von den Mumins zu lesen oder zu hören, macht ja eh schon höllisch viel Spaß, aber dann auch noch jede Szene wunderbar bebildert zu haben, ist ein Hochgenuss der Extraklasse. Die Zeichnungen reichen von super niedlich bis drollig lustig und man kann ständig Kleinigenkeiten im Hintergrund entdecken.
  Davon abgesehen konnte ich die Mumins von einer ganz neuen, nicht immer sympathischen Seite kennen lernen. Papa Mumin ist z.B. unheimlich egoistisch und stellt seine Lust nach Abenteuer weit über seine Familie. Mama Mumin versucht es ihm ständig recht zu machen, auch wenn das bedeutet ihren geliebten Mumin Sohn zurückzulassen. Von Snorkmaiden darf ich gar nicht anfangen: eingebildet und immer nach anderen Männern aus und trotzdem kann Mumin nicht von ihr lassen.
  Nichtsdestotrotz sind die Mumins so unheimlich komisch und so knuffig gezeichnet, dass man sie nur liebhaben kann.
• 
  Melissa

  Big-bottomed hippo-trolls, they make the rockin' world go round. I must admit that I gave this book as a gift (to the esteemed Eric) after pretty much just flipping through it and reading the first story.... but I'm sure, of all people, he'll excuse me for judging a book by its cover. "Moomin on the Riviera" is my favorite story in this collection, I think, mostly because of how it uses that age-old quandary: why does an artist bother to put a bathing suit on a normally-naked cartoon character? Snorkmaiden's bikini-shopping makes me giggle just thinking about it.... when she's all blushing in the shop over the "risque" bikini and then she feels better with a sash over it. GIRLFRIEND, YOU NEVER WEAR PANTS! Tee hee.
• 
  Christine

  I have actually never read the Moomin strips, unless you count flipping though a comic that I couldn't read, though I have read the books.
  
  These strips are cool, funny, and cute. I liked the trip to the Rivera.
• 
  Nigel

  The comic strip adventures of Moomin and friends - cute and absurd and surreal and utterly charming and adorable and wise. Both the writing and the art are enchanting and lovely. Wonderful.
• 
  Jazzy Lemon

  Love the cheeky Moomins!
• 
  Morgan Podraza

  My favorite Moomin line: "I only want to live in peace and plant potatoes and dream!"
• 
  Hanneleele

  Olles lugenud, vaadanud ja igal muul kombel omandanud lastele mõeldud muumilugusid, on neid täiskasvanutele suunatud ajalehekoomikseid väga veider lugeda: selline paralleelmaailma ja reaalsusenihke tunne tekib. Mitte, et need lastele ei sobiks, aga kogu pila käib igasuguste täiskasvanuelu asjade ümber - tüütud sugulased, kunstnikuelu, rikkad inimesed, kuulsusejanu jms. Muumidel on püssid, konjak, rumm ja raha, nad kohtuvad näitlejate, miljonäride, röövlite ja vanadekodudaamidega. Käib igasugune trall ja veiderdus, mil pole muumiraamatutega peale tegelaste nimede ja visuaali suurt midagi ühist. Siit tuleb Nuuskmõmmiku kuulus lause "Be gay, do crime." (mitte sellest konkreetsest kogumikust, aga ma ootan, et tuleks mõnes järgmises) ning meemiks saanud kuvatõmmis, kuidas muumipapa ütleb, et ta on tagaotsitav röövi ja mõrva eest (ei ole, ta püüab Nuuskmõmmikule muljet avaldada, küll aga sooritab muumipere mitmesuguseid muid pettusi, kord tahtlikult kord tahtmata). Palju väärt lause "I only want to live in peace and plant potatoes!" pärineb Muumitrolli suust, kui Sniff tahab, et ta külmetavaks kunstnikuks hakkaks, samas kui Muumipapa aadlisõber leiab, et naudib väga vaene, üksildane, näljane ja külmetav kunstnik olemist, kui Muumimamma talle iga päev süüa teeb.
  
  Omaette paralleelmaailm on ka lugeda Goodreadsi-arvustusi nende inimeste sulest, kelle jaoks see on esimene kokkupuude muumidega.
• 
  M.

  Todas las historias son super caóticas y me encanta.
  Yo también solo quiero vivir en paz, plantar patatas y soñar.
• 
  Miles Madonna

  i only want to live in peace, plant potatoes, and dream!!!
• 
  Kathryn Pearson

  A joy as always, I continue to be impressed by just the range of work she produced. Like on top of everything else, it turns out she's also hilarious? Solid.
• 
  Raisa Moisescu-Vida

  my place of inspiration