Illustrated by Graham Thompson (Armada)
ISBN: 0-00-0691247-8
Here’s a contender for “oddest album†from 1976 that’s not impossible to find or too expensive to own should I pique your curiosity enough. I don’t know an awful lot about artist Graham Thompson, except that he’s also worked on the Muppets and Monty Python properties, although if pushed I’d wager he’s an advertising artist first and foremost. His work here is a blend of Jack Davis and Mort Drucker with wash and marker colour, and most importantly it’s brilliantly effective and very good indeed.
There’s not a lot you can say about a gangster musical performed entirely by children that doesn’t verge on the unsettling, not to say downright creepy, these days, but this early graphic novel adaptation which accompanied the film release (sans music, naturally) makes for a really entertaining read, exuberant, charmingly silly and visually magical.
I wish we could see more of Thompson’s work, though. Anyone out there know anymore about him?
© 1976 National Film Trustee Company Ltd.