Al Capp's Complete Shmoo Volume 1: The Comic Books
Originally published 1949–50 to capitalize on Shmoo mania, these colorful, simple-minded comics were created by staff, not Capp, and show none of his pointed subtext on human foibles. Older boomers and their elders will recall that Capp's Shmoo resembles a large, bulb-shaped marshmallow on legs and loves to make humans happy. Shmoos reproduce extravagantly; require no food themselves; lay eggs, butter, and other foodstuffs; and when cooked taste like chicken or steak depending on the cooking method. Naturally, Shmoos spell doom for the work ethic—and society as we know it—as Capp savagely drove home in his stripLi'l Abner. In these spin-off stories, youngster Washable Jones leads the Shmoos in a variety of amusing escapades like fighting off turnip termites and putting out a fire threatening Dogpatch. The comics also introduce Super Shmoo. But while this less-subtle fare is adults' loss, the endless puns and far-fetched plots will certainly entertain the 8–12 age group. There's a nice introduction, plus a rant from Capp, and an appendix explicating the period references. Caveat: the brief appearance of black-colored cannibal Shmoos living in the "Souse Seas" may offend some. See also the more sophisticatedThe Short Life and Happy Times of the Shmoo(Overlook, 2003), which collects theLi'l Abnerstrips.—M.C.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.