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Akissi: Tales of Mischief: 03/05/20
Akissi: Tales of Mischief by Marguerite Abouet collects issues 1-3. This English translation of the comic was sent to me in error last year with some Cybils books. Akissi is a child living in an unnamed West African village. The typical gag in these comics show Akissi being given a task by an adult, or deciding she's going to do something, running into trouble, trying to fix the problem, reporting back home having completely failed or completely gotten into trouble. The blurb promises adventure, mischief, and silliness. Maybe that's the case for the original audience, but for me as a reader in California the humor doesn't translate. The initial fish being eaten by cats gag was vaguely humorous. The pet monkey gag — first trying to keep it as a pet and failing terribly at it — to the neighbors wanting to eat it, fell completely flat for me. After the monkey comic I skipped around to read other comics in the book. None of them managed to make me crack a smile. The gags become formulaic. If it didn't work on me the first time, it isn't going to work the second or seventh time. Two stars Comments (0)
1997-2023 Sarah Sammis |
