Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 741
EAN: 9781563892462
ISBN: 1563892464
Label: Vertigo
Manufacturer: Vertigo
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 96
Publication Date: 1995-09-01
Publisher: Vertigo
Release Date: 1995-09-01
Studio: Vertigo

In his grandfather's seaside arcade, a young boy encounters a mysterious Punch & Judy man with a dark past and a woman who makes her living playing a mermaid. As their stories unfold, the boy must confront family secrets, strange puppets and a nightmarish world of violence and betrayal. Second printing. Graphic novel format.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Intriguing
Comment: Good graphic novel. For some reason when I bought it I thought it was going to be scary. The story is kinda intresting, it is told from a childs perspective. The boy speaks about the differences of adults and children. This reminded me of when I was a kid. And it made me aware of how "dumb" us adults are too think we are "all mature".

It was a good read. I have nothing bad to say about it. I think 3 stars does it justice though.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Neil and Dave: a perfect complement
Comment: Neil and Dave add up to be nothing but a right angle. There is nothing wrong with this story. It is full of depth and realism yet it captures the macabre memories one can only associate with childhood. When the memory of a relative can be more frightening than any boogieman. The artwork leaves you breathless. I could spend several minutes looking at a fraction of a page, and pondering the blend of photography with illustration and the ways it contributed to a child's fantasy world and that of his reality. This was the first Gaiman graphic novel I read, and I'm glad because even though the Sandman comics are genius they don't encapsulate Gaiman and Mckean's ability to create a complete work of art.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Amazing duo
Comment: These 2 have put together a wonderful movie and several wonderful graphic novels. Dark, yes, but humorous and the artwork is amazing.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully moody and oh so atmospheric
Comment: Neil Gaiman delivers yet another knockout in the realm of the graphic novel with his wonderfully dark and hallucinatory 'Mr. Punch.' A tale of dark and gloomy childhood flashbacks, 'Mr. Punch,' is a great read for those looking for something oozing with chilly atmosphere. The mixed-media (enhanced photos and pencils) artwork by Dave McKean is astounding as well and visually evokes a feeling of helplessness confronting a child when stuck in a grim and depressing environment that amplifies all of his little fears. While this book is nowhere near the epic grandeur of Gaiman's, 'Sandman,' series - as a standalone, 'Mr. Punch,' is a visual and narrative treat not to be missed.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Very dark and slightly morbid, but not his best..
Comment: Neil Gaiman has always said this is his best comic, and I find that really hard to believe. I would think that much of the 'Sandman' series is far superior in terms of plot and characterisations.

It is a shame that the script has let this work done, because the artwork is probably the best I have ever seen for a comic/graphic novel, and certainly more appealing than 'Sandman'. Divinely textured, with incredible breath and detail, McLean's (responsible for the Sandman covers) work is truly incredible. The puppet photography is an innovative idea, and the portraits of the boy are also fantastic. The photography of the grandfather's hands also resonates, and overall the work has a wonderfully finished appeal.

However, the series is too short and underdeveloped, and the characterisations are weak. I had difficulty telling several of the characters apart, while it does have that beautiful dark mystical quality I would come to expect with Gaiman.

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