Kling Klang Klatch
by Ian MacDonald and David Lyttleton

This is a graphic novel written by McDonald and illustrated by Lyttleton. Set in an alternate world where teddy bears, pandas, Barbie dolls, etc. come to life, the story follows the exploits of Inspector McBear, one of Bear City's finest, as he tries to solve a gruesome murder: a panda has been slit open and her insides removed. The only clue to the murder are the words, "Kling Klang Klatch," (the equivalent in Bear City to the Ku Klux Klan) who are out to get all pandas (the minority population in the bear world).

Battling police cars that want to discuss socialism, exploring cyberspace and occasionally rambling with the author and artist (as an entertaining diversion), this is a remarkable graphic novel. The storyline McDonald provides gives a fascinating portrait of a world where our stuff toys come to life. The artwork is harsh with broad strokes, fitting the harsh world that the bears live it (their world is no doll house).

The detective story, unfortunately, falls into the 'keep the vital clue hidden until the last moment', therefore the reader does not have a chance to solve the murder before McBear but his exploits in the world are fascinating enough to keep me engrossed.

As in novels of this type, there are some very graphic scenes of disembowment and violence but no worse than many other modern-day comics. So, don't read this if you're expecting a story about teddy bears set in a field. Instead, read this as a story about an alternative universe where bears can become as bad (or as good) as us in a world of living toys.

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Kling Klang Klatch by Ian MacDonald and David Lyttleton

Kling Klang Klatch
by Ian MacDonald and David Lyttleton