Den första serieboken om Lilla Spöket Laban är full av äventyr och upptåg på slottet Gomorronsol. Monstret Gruffolina kommer på besök, Spökpappan blir sjuk och tavlorna börjar prata.
Inger Sandberg (1930-2023) was a Swedish author of children's books. Together with Lasse Sandberg she created many popular characters, including The Little Ghost Godfrey (Sw: Lilla Spöket Laban) and Little Anna and the Tall Uncle.
Sarjakuva pikkukummitus Labanista on kertakaikkiaan hellyttävä, hauska, helppolukuinen ja todella kiva. Albumi koostuu useammasta tarinasta. Laban on perheensä esikoinen, mutta kertakaikkisen surkea kummittelemisessa ja pelottelemisessa onneksi Laban saa pikkusisaren, joka onkin synnynnäinen kummitteluvirtuoosi. Laban perheineen kummittelee ja seikkailee kuninkaanlinnassa ja tarinoissa on niin perinteistä ruotsalaista lastenkirja-anarkiaa kuin yllättäviä käänteitä samaan tyyliin. Sarjakuvataide mukailee täydellisesti Laban-kuvakirjoja ja on raikasta viivapiirrosta ilman krumeluureja. Tällaista lastensarjakuvaa saisi olla enemmänkin tarjolla!
Inger and Lasse Sandberg's tales of The Little Ghost Godfrey (originally Lilla Spöket Laban) are true children's book classics in Sweden, and in addition a large number of picture books since the debut in 1965, the stories have also been animated several times, most recently by Swedish master animator Per Åhlin. Now these well-known stories also exists as comics, with drawings by book debuting Anna Åhlén.
Story/content: The stories about the little ghost who is not so good at being scary are as far as I can tell, taken directly from the original books and only revised slightly to fit the comics format. The book constitutes of four short stories, of which my favorite, just like in the original books, is the story of how Father Ghost becomes ill and bedridden, aquiring a new color every day for a week, while Laban tries to take over his ghostly duties, with disappointing results.
Art: Åhlén does an excellent job as "ghost artist" and has a style that seems to blend influences from Sandberg's 60's reeking photo collages and Per Åhlin´s more commercial animation style.
Critique These comics versions works well and there is a good narrative flow in the visuals. Actually, this feels nothing like a watered down version, but as a boost to the characters, making them relevant to new generation of readers. Oh and Anna Åhlén is really an artist to keep a look out for. Expect great things from her in the future.