Catch As Catch Can

Writer/Artist: Greg Cook

Publisher: Highwater Books, $9.95

Catch As Catch Can is fairy tale mixed with a Tarantino movie as you follow the Gingerbread Man (also the Ice Cream Man) evading the copes, endangering children, and generally being a dick. While the main chunk of the story follows the citywide search for the outlaw cookie felon, you also get a couple short stories that are a little whimsical, a little bit sad, and very very disturbing.

Cook’s heavy lines and simple storybook style do a great job of creating a deceptively sweet fairytale with the mouth of a sailor. You’ll almost be tempted to read this to your kids until the first f-bombs start rolling out, and even then you’ll start to argue with yourself about what age you can give it to them simply because it’s great in it’s own demented little way.

The total story is just 67 pages, so you might think the price point is a little high. It does read a little fast, but you will want to take the time to appreciate the art and the subtle details in Cook’s style. I think my favorite panel is when the Gingerbread Man pulls his gun out on the Wolf. All in all, a great book and definitely worth checking out.

If you like this then try: Maxx Hamm Fairy Tale Detective, Arsenic Lullaby, Laughter of the Damned