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(From the fourth Moomin volume, recontextualized as Steampunk invention here.)
Drawn & Quarterly has been doing the world a great public service by reprinting the entirety of Tove Jansson's Moomin comics in oversized hardcover books. These comics haven't been available in English since their debut in the London Evening News in the 1950s. D&Q has just released book four, and it demonstrates the depth of Jansson's talent that this volume is just as entertaining and imaginative as the previous three volumes.
Jansson was Finnish, and her Moomins are benign hippo-looking troll creatures. The Moomins are a family unit, accompanied by a cast of revolving secondary characters including, erm, Snorkmaiden. The sense of family is strong in these comic strips, even when they argue. Also strong is the sense of humor, which varies from slapstick to a more subtle undercurrent of wry amusement about the world. Absurdity also plays a part, as when Moominpapa tries to reassemble two broken household appliances and winds up building a time machine instead. What makes the whole world of the Moomins work, however, is something kind of old-fashioned and yet sincere: love and affection not only for each other but for the world. Although conflict and plot complication based on conflict exist in Jansson's universe, she also manages to make the stories work because of themes like friendship and working together to solve problems. This sounds like it could be preachy or didactic, but it isn't--it's just hardwired into the subtext.
Because of these qualities, there's a pleasure in reading Moomin that's somewhat unique. We're battered all day by various types of white noise and by all kinds of blaring media, from television to video games. Moomin has a restorative, calming effect while never being maudlin, sentimental, or boring. (Indeed, Jansson's eye for satire can be sharp and unforgiving, within the context of her beloved characters.)
The specific adventures set out in book four are: Moomin Goes Wild West, Snorkelmaiden Goes Rococo, The Conscientious Moomin, Moomin and the Comet, and Moomin and the Golden Tail. From time travel to, well, Moomin growing a golden tail, these stories seem timeless and of universal interest. Kids will love them, but parents will get distinct enjoyment out of them as well.
I was particularly amused by the Wild West and Rococo stories, in part because they spoof and play with such differing styles. The Wild West adventure has hilarious set-pieces with lassoes, water pistols, camping, and saloons. I don't know the source of Janssen's inspiration here, but her kind-hearted parody is spot-on. Moomin Papa going into the saloon and saying "I'm two-gun Moomin. I want a room." only to have the bartender say "Oh yes. Shall we register you as Moomin Papa and family?" totally undercutting Moomin Papa's bravado, and forcing him to ask for "A small shot of 'coyote's death'" exemplifies the little touches that make me like this comic strip so much. In the Rococo story, the brash send-ups of Wild West toughness are replaced by raucous jabs at false romanticism, full of powdered wigs and fancy dress balls. Here, Jansson shows herself equally at home with the conventions of a totally different era. In both cases, she does play off of cliches, but to great effect. (Granted, when it comes to Native Americans in the Wild West strip, she's not quite able to cast off stereotyping...)
In her native Finland, Jansson's creation is the equivalent of Mickey Mouse here or Bugs Bunny in the United States--beloved and a national institution. It's wonderful that English-language readers can now collect the entire comic strip in such attractive editions.
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