Hark! A Vagrant

Kate Beaton
2011

Kate Beaton has a History degree and in more clever than the rest of us. She's so smart and witty that she has to explain why some of her jokes are good. I know what you're thinking, if you have to explain your jokes then you're probably not very funny. But if you're Kate Beaton then you will have to explain your jokes because you're able to make more historical and literary references in one book than most of us will in a lifetime. So instead of being all grumpy that I had to read the joke explanations, I was just able to enjoy the jokes more thoroughly.  Which means that when I got the jokes without the explanation I got to feel like Kate Beaton and I were best friends and were equally smart. I may have a complex.

To be clear, this is a comic book. No, not a graphic novel, it's a comic book that's full of different strips. There's lots of fun Canadian history strips, and fun classic literature jokes. If you like history and literature and still manage to have a sense of humour, you'll love it.


Here's a sample:

I guess what with being a comic book I should talk about the art. It's good. Not high end graphic novel good, more comic strip good. She changes it up every now and then depending on her subject matter, which makes for a nice variety when you're reading the book in one sitting because it's so funny.

I think by now you should know that this book is getting five lightning bolts, the first book of the site to cause such a big storm (heh) so go read it! If you can't get yourself to the book store/library right now get over to harkavagrant.com.

Reviewed by Meg!