Tuesday 4 August 2015
Bunny vs Monkey Book 2 (The Phoenix Presents Series) by Jamie Smart (David Fickling Books)
Crazed, frenetic, loopy, hilarious, filled to the brim with animal lunacy and frequent gas emissions, it's time for Bunny vs Monkey Book Two...
How could George Orwell possibly know that one day a young upstart named Jamie Smart would take a copy of his hallowed book "Animal Farm", put it in a blender with a guava and a mango, hit the 'Frappe' button, drink the muddy contents and then turn out a manic, chaotic, mildly disturbing yet pant-wettingly funny strip known as "Bunny vs Monkey".
How could George Orwell possibly know that one day a young upstart named Jamie Smart would take a copy of his hallowed book "Animal Farm", put it in a blender with a guava and a mango, hit the 'Frappe' button, drink the muddy contents and then turn out a manic, chaotic, mildly disturbing yet pant-wettingly funny strip known as "Bunny vs Monkey".
Book 1 has already been published as part of The Phoenix Presents series, but that much chaos can't be contained in just one volume. Oh no! We need more, and here's book 2 adding even more craziness, more insane weaponry, more animal antics and of course lots of pig farts, skunk poos, monkey wees and bunny bumbles to keep things ticking along nicely.
Bunny vs Monkey is one of the most popular strips in the mighty Phoenix Comic and it's not exactly hard to see why. Reciting the tale of a peaceful woodland rent asunder by the lunatic exploits of Bunny, Monkey, Metal Steve, LeFox and Pig (amongst others), I loved one person's description of it being like watching a bunch of hyperactive kids in animal form, high on Sherbet Dib-Dabs, thinking up new ways to pass the time.
What makes the strip sing? Jamie's completely nutty creations that often fetch up in the stories thanks to a rather inventive skunk. Like an even more insane Wile E Coyote, Skunky often comes up with bizarre ways to marmalise the forest's inhabitants (or at least tick them off) with a collection of death-dealing superweapons, clanking mechs and exotic mind control devices.
We can only imagine what it must be like being Jamie Smart, storyboarding stuff like this, and he does an incredible job (Bunny Vs Monkey hasn't missed a beat throughout the entire run of The Phoenix).
Gorge yourself on this wonderful second collection like Jabba the Hutt wolfing his way through an entire crate of crispy lizard gizzards! G'wan!
Charlotte's best bit: Charlotte keeps swapping allegiance between Bunny & Monkey but I think she'd secretly like to abduct pig and sit in a paddling pool filled with fizzy cherry cola Haribos with him. Oh....kay!
Daddy's Favourite bit: It's an intense fusion of hyperactivity, weapons of mass destruction, toilet antics and blancmange, fired out of a circus cannon RIGHT INTO YOUR FACE!
Bunny vs Monkey Book 2 (The Phoenix Presents Series)
Written and Illustrated by
Jamie Smart
Published by David Fickling Books
Release Date: 6th August 2015
Release Date: 6th August 2015
(Kindly sent to us for review by David Fickling Books)
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