This third treasury collection of "Pearls Before Swine" establishes the strip as one of the top comics of its time. Stephan Pastis has established a stable of characters that have grown more endearing and enduring to the very fickle comics audience.
The Rat, Pig, Goat, Zebra, Crocs, and Guard Duck continue to bring laugh-out-loud humor on a daily basis. The laughs in this book just keep on coming, page after page.
Pastis' commentary on the background and basis of individual strips also adds insight into his creative process and thinking. The establishing of the popular new character Danny Donkey was particularly interesting.
With Stephan Pastis at the top of his game, "The Crass Menagerie" just might be the best "Pearls Before Swine" compilation yet. |