The much-loved Kiwi comic Footrot Flats was the brainchild of the late great Murray Ball (1939 – 2017), as you probably already know, and this collection of hand-picked strips and drawings (from a trove of some 6000) is a must for devotees of its muddy humanity.
With an introduction by his wife Pam, and assistance by sons Mason and Gareth, this compiles some of the best-known adventures of New Zealand farmer Wal and his think-talking dog ‘Dog’, who has a real name that no one dares use. The supporting characters are all described with great fondness (Aunt Dolly, Pongo, Rangi, and the rest), with even the feared cat Horse being discussed with much affection, even if he’d still chew your arm off.
What always distinguished the grungy world of FF was its distinctive clash between philosophical/existential trimmings (usually as Dog goes off on melodramatic tangents) and the always rowdy, earthy, stinky life on the farm. And yet Ball never forgets that the lovely relationship between Wal and Dog is at the heart of it all, despite the cowpats.
Murray Ball and family (Hachette Australia), 185pp
RRP $39.99 (hardback); $19.99 (e-Book)
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