This is the third volume about the heroes of the Moomin Valley. As in the case of the previous ones, it is a solid, very nice publication in a format slightly larger than A4, with a hardcover and with yellow pages. The author of the comics included in the collection is this time Tove Jansson’s brother – Lars, who took care of his sister’s legacy and continued drawing Moomins twice as long as their author, for as long as 15 years (we are informed about this by a note at the end of the book).
A brother better than a sister?
Comparing the ideas for the Moomin adventures , I must admit that I liked the stories by Lars much more than those of Tove in the second volume (the level of engagement with the reader is comparable to those from the first collection). Of course, the Moomins have always been slightly abstract and funny, but this time their behavior, travels and people they meet, additionally arouse a lot of strong emotions and are simply very interesting. Here, I have never been able to predict which way the action will unfold or whether the ending will be positive for the Moomins.
Artists can be terribly tiring
The third volume consists of ten independent stories, in which the entire Moomin family appears as standard, and from time to time the famous Ryjek, Filifionka and Bobek also return.
In the first adventure ( Moomin Lamp ), a genie enters the stage, fulfilling his wishes in such a perverse way that Snorky and Moomin have to run away from the law enforcement officers. The Moomin and the Railway , as the title suggests, tells the story of a potential modernization in the Moomin Valley. A short return to the youth of Daddy Moomin and an action straight from a spy movie is sponsored by the third comic ( Daddy Moomin and the spies ), and the fourth, although it has a circus in the title ( Moomin and the circus ), focuses rather on how treacherous club membership can be and societies of all kinds. Trolls in the history of settlements have a great adventure on a new continent ( Moomin settlers), and a new infatuation falls on Moomin with the meeting of the girl scout Tusia ( Moomin and scouts ). If you’ve ever dreamed of receiving a huge inheritance from a mysterious family member, the comic Moomin Heir will show you that it is not always such a clearly positive situation. The next two stories are based on well-known and popular themes: searching for gold ( Moomin and the vein of gold ) and being shipwrecked like Robinson Crusoe ( Moomin Robinsons ). The artists in the Moomin Valley , in turn, will prove that artists can be tiring, and following the opinions and styles of other people may disturb the view on our own skills (this adventure is definitely my favorite).
They never get bored
Moomin in the comic version is a publication ideal for both teenage and adult recipients, because everyone can find something for themselves and appreciate a different aspect of this publication. The third volume is more interesting in terms of plot than its predecessor, and also fits perfectly with the previously released parts, so it will present itself nicely in the home collection. I recommend it both as an independent purchase and as a follow-up for fans.
