The Last Basselope : One Ferocious Story

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Breathed's ( A Wish for Wings That Work ) instantly recognizable characters--among them the pusillanimous Opus and the sputtering Bill the Cat--star in this color-saturated, characteristically silly wilderness adventure. Donning his pith helmet, ``Great but Not Particularly Brave Discoverer'' Opus instigates a hunt for the savage Basselope, a creature said to have inspired terror since prehistoric times. Deep in the forest, the cowardly search party locates that odious beast--a gentle basset hound with the antlers of an antelope whose allergy to puffy dandelions lends a perpetual pre-sneeze snarl to his flabby face. Breathed's phosphorescent hues and otherworldly settings seem inspired by a lava lamp's glowing interior; he offsets his lush, airbrushed creations with pencil sketches of the bumbling ``Great Basselope Expeditionary Force.'' This book's humor and phraseology, however, seem more sophisticated than that of Breathed's A Wish for Wings That Work , and the pace occasionally slackens. Still, this rambunctious episode in several now-familiar cartoon lives provides comedy and drama for the author's devotees. All ages. Children's BOMC selection. (Oct.)

Children's Literature

This picture storybook features Opus and his friends from the popular Bloom County cartoon strip previously found in national newspapers. Opus is a penguin who decides to form an expedition to discover the whereabouts of the Last Basselope. Legend has it that the creature is a ferocious, slobbery-fanged beast. The expedition volunteers, Bill the Housecat, Milquetoast the Housebug and Ronald-Ann the Housekid, are dragged away from televisions and assigned duties. When they reach the forest gloom, they see evidence of the basselope and camp uneasily that night. The next morning they encounter their prey and discover that it is prevented from being ferocious because of dandelion allergies. Ronald-Ann offers the basselope "Tidy-Nose Allergy Spray." When the media rushes in, the former expedition members who are now the new friends of the basselope, manage to mislead the camera-carrying forces. The Last Basselope takes his leave because everyone agrees that it is best to keep him undiscovered. Multiple text and illustration vignettes reveal the sophisticated humor intended for older elementary through adult readers. The characters' traits, their images and expressions, and the small details in the scenes result in a whirlwind tour through the hilarious world of a clever cartoonist. The imagination of Berkely Breathed cannot be denied. 2001 (orig. 1992), Little Brown, $5.95. Ages 9 to 14. Reviewer: Jacki Vawter

School Library Journal

Gr 2-5-- This modern fable will primarily appeal to fans of Breathed's comic strips. Glowingly surreal illustrations decorate the slight story and enhance the comedy of the fairly simple plot. Otis the penguin, along with his friends Ronald-Ann, Bill the Cat, and Milquetoast the Housebug, sets out in search of a prehistoric beast known as the Last Basselope. Once found, the beast turns out to be friendly rather than ferocious, and the intrepid adventurers decide to protect rather than exploit it. Breathed's sense of humor is delightfully sarcastic and sophisticated, but it may be missed by some younger readers. They may, however, find the sheer silliness of the tale appealing and enjoy the chance to see in book form some of the familiar characters from Bloom County and Outland. Older children and adults are more likely to appreciate the satiric view of television, print media, and contemporary society's materialistic values. Clearly, though, the usefulness of this title will depend upon the popularity of the author and the likelihood of patron interest and demand, for it is an extension of Breathed's work rather than a truly independent effort. --Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

From Barnes & Noble

The ripsnorting adventure of Opus & the Great Basselope Expeditionary Force, who set out in pursuit of the last descendant of an ancient & ferocious race. From the creator of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Bloom County. 12" x 9". Color & b&w illus.