Literary Graffiti

    (Kami Shibai, 2002)
™ and © Kami Shibai

The main story of this comic book is titled “The Deadly Persimmon” and is loosely based on an old folk tale about a tiger and a hare that explains once and for all why rabbits don’t have long tails. Jeff Alexander’s adaptation is good for a few laughs, especially at the tiger’s expense, when he discovers just how harmless the feared persimmon can be. The story’s humor and flow is stunted, though, by lengthy exposition that seems to be present solely to fill the story’s allotted (excessive) length of 21 pages.

Alexander’s art is competent for the story, but his manner is plain and non-descriptive. Although drawn in a cartoony style, there are few animated staples like exaggerated facial expressions and caricatures that would have greatly lightened up and enhanced the story during its stagnant sequences.

There is also a fairly amusing backup drawn by Alexander and written by Ian Sattler. While readers might find both stories somewhat amusing, this is a comic book that might be better enjoyed by younger kids, if parents can forgive a mild expletive in the first story.

— Jim Johnson
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#1

December, 2001
Cover Price: $3.50
1 copy available for $9.99 		Jeff Alexander, Ian SattlerJeff Alexander