juushika 's review for:

Moomin Book One: The Complete Tove Jansson Comic Strip by Tove Jansson

3.0

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This feels significantly different from the novels. The panel format paces the narrative into a string of small adventures--the tone is smaller, with less (sometimes physical) space for the awesome and atmospheric; the characters come across as more-than-usually foolish and slow to grow, in part because there's no continuity with the book series so some aspects are literally rehashed. Yet the the comic format is itself a joy. The art is charming and beautifully detailed, with clever touches like creative panel frames; the characters almost feel more real for being illustrated--present and emotive in a way that almost balances aforementioned issues with characterization. I just wish I liked the stories more!