{"id":30657,"date":"2024-10-06T08:00:30","date_gmt":"2024-10-06T08:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/?p=30657"},"modified":"2024-10-04T18:01:10","modified_gmt":"2024-10-04T18:01:10","slug":"everythings-coming-up-beatrix-a-breaking-cat-news-adventure-volume-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/2024\/10\/06\/everythings-coming-up-beatrix-a-breaking-cat-news-adventure-volume-6\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything\u2019s Coming Up Beatrix – A Breaking Cat News Adventure (volume 6)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\" \"\"
\nBy Georgia Dunn<\/strong> (Andrews McMeel)
\nISBN: 978-1-52487-974-7 (PB) eISBN: 978-1-5248-9062-6<\/p>\n

Win\u2019s Christmas Gift Recommendation: Categorically Unmissable\u2026 9\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n

There\u2019s a burgeoning trend amongst certain men – mostly loitering on the internet – to think their threat of replacing women they can\u2019t \u201cget\u201d with sex-bots that don\u2019t exist is in some way a deterrent to being turned down by people they don\u2019t have the ability to ask nicely in the first place. These uncouth, mis-evolved oafs also warn that if the \u201cfemales\u201d don\u2019t wise up and lower their standards they will be stuck with living with cats\u2026<\/p>\n

Guys – and I\u2019m using the term in the least pejorative manner I can muster – wise up, yourselves. Neither of those propositions are unwelcome outcomes. Cats already rule the world and you just can\u2019t compete.<\/p>\n

On any level.<\/p>\n

In 2016, illustrator and cartoonist Georgia Dunn found a way to make her hairy housemates (the ones with more than two feet) earn their keep after watching them converge on a domestic accident and inquisitively, interminably poke their whiskery little snouts into the mess. That incident led to Breaking Cat News<\/strong>: a hilariously beguiling webcomic detailing how her forthright felines operate their own on-the-spot news-team, with studio anchor Lupin<\/em>, and field reporters Elvis<\/em> (investigative) and Puck<\/em> (commentary) delivering around-the-clock reports on the events that really resonate with cats – because, after all, who else matters?<\/p>\n

On March 27th<\/sup> 2017, a suitably modified (for which read fully redrawn and recoloured) version began newspaper syndication, alternating with new material designed expressly for print consumption. As the strip and cast grew, print publication led to books like these – also a far more enticing prospect than any night out with the boys\u2026<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a returning customer or already follow the strip, you\u2019re au fait with a constantly expanding cast and ceaselessly surreal absurdity, but this stuff is so welcoming, even the merest neophyte can jump right in with no confusion… other than that which is intentional\u2026<\/p>\n

Be warned though, Dunn is a master of emotional manipulation and never afraid to tug heartstrings. Always keep hankies close. You too, lads\u2026<\/p>\n

In this volume, the strip\u2019s spookier whimsy-corners are revisited, and the year\u2019s seasonal markers (a mainstay of most newspaper comic strips for more than a century) are gleefully addressed as the news-mews crew and other occupants of the ancient (by US standards!) house pop up in short gags and extended serial dramas, beginning with a passionate yet hilarious cartoon polemic encouraging everyone to defend libraries, librarians and reading itself in today\u2019s dangerously post-literate America.<\/p>\n

Returning to episodic riffs in celebration of \u2018Fuzzy Blanket Season\u2019<\/em>, we see the Dunn\u2019s toddler – under the guidance of the scoop-starved kitties – cope with the loss of plushy pal Pengo<\/em>. His return from the washing machine leads to learning all about the dangers of peanut butter before the felines face another crunchy leaf crisis and anticipate impending Halloween treats through the eyes of the new baby.<\/p>\n

The jaded kitties clue in viewers to the best comestibles, carry on the search for legendary cryptid \u201cThe mailman\u201d and celebrate the joyous resurrection of \u2018The Space Heater\u2019<\/em>, with a \u201ccamp in\u201d and some scary tales…<\/p>\n

An extended frightening yarn – which does end happily, my nervous darlings – finds three-legged Puck indulge his passion for climbing and get lost in the house\u2019s superstructure. When he is in danger of suffocating, ghosts of previous pets and the old lady who originally owned the place augment the frantic, still-breathing searchers…<\/p>\n

The story of the were-floof<\/em> segues into more spectral surprises – such as the advent of Count Puckula<\/em> – before order of a catly kind is ultimately restored, leading to riffs on feline trophy-taking, coiffure gaffes and monsters under beds. When\u00a0 Christmas and New Year\u2019s come, the cats are ready even if The People aren\u2019t, and no decoration or fancy edible is safe. At least wrapping paper is a gift that keeps on giving and giving and giving and…
\n\"\"
\nJanuary sees a big expose on \u2018Shelves, the Silent Killer\u2019<\/em>, more \u201cfacts\u201d about snow – and groundhogs – as well as sweaters, colds, why the People bathe, and contagious cat clumsiness. Food items are always newsworthy, and a protracted debate on the point of lettuce leads to fun with temporary foster kitten and agent of chaos Beatrix<\/em>…<\/p>\n

Time marches on to St. Patrick\u2019s Day, which is co-opted by adherents of feline patron saint St. Gertude to launch new holiday \u2018St. Catty\u2019s Day\u2019<\/em>, complete with a bundle of new traditions. Eating corned beef might not make the final cut, though…<\/p>\n

Another high point comes with the launch of affiliate BCW, but is the world ready for Best Cat Wrestling and glam-costumed kitty luchadores? If not there\u2019s always cake and reading. That\u2019s what new cat Sophie<\/em> prefers, much to outside cat Tommy<\/em>\u2019s disappointment. It almost makes up for The Woman running out of coffee and English period detective dramas.<\/p>\n

By the time Peep Toad season starts, Beatrix is moving on to her forever home – a book shop – and social media goes into\u00a0 underdrive. At least old pals like the \u201cgypsy\u201d cats are happy to provide entertainment to the news-starved, and there is always cat yoga, home-tanning, sock-hunting, new toys to review and the start of baseball season…<\/p>\n

As always Rolling News episodes revisit favourite themes like things that don\u2019t need to be on shelves, climbing into bags, kibble, packaging helping The People eat, sleep and exercise\u2026<\/p>\n

Closing festivities is another selection of activity pages considered as Breaking Cat News: More to Explore<\/em> providing full painted and fully-detailed tips and plans on how to \u2018Make your own Bookmarks!\u2019<\/em>, \u2018Make a Little Book!\u2019<\/em> and \u2018Build a Reading Fort!\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

Outrageous, alarming, extra-especially courageous and always charming – and certainly often far too autobiographical for comfort – the romps, riffs and occasional sad bits about a fully integrated multi-species family is a growing necessity of life for many folk – just like most men simply Are Not. Smart, witty, imaginative and deliciously whimsical, Breaking Cat News<\/strong> is fabulously funny, infinitely re-readable feel-good fun rendered with artistic elan and a light and breezy touch to delight not just us irredeemable cat-addicts but also anyone in dire need of a good laugh.
\nEverything\u2019s Coming Up Beatrix \u00a9 2023 Georgia Dunn. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Georgia Dunn (Andrews McMeel) ISBN: 978-1-52487-974-7 (PB) eISBN: 978-1-5248-9062-6 Win\u2019s Christmas Gift Recommendation: Categorically Unmissable\u2026 9\/10 There\u2019s a burgeoning trend amongst certain men – mostly loitering on the internet – to think their threat of replacing women they can\u2019t \u201cget\u201d with sex-bots that don\u2019t exist is in some way a deterrent to being turned … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Everything\u2019s Coming Up Beatrix – A Breaking Cat News Adventure (volume 6)”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[280,90,113,102,125,97],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30657","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-animal-antics","category-cartooning-classics","category-comedy","category-fantasy","category-humour","category-kids-all-ages"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4AFj-7Yt","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30657","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30657"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30657\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30661,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30657\/revisions\/30661"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30657"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30657"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30657"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}