The Far-Out Five: Portal Loo Panic

by Olaf Falafel, Unknown Author

Paperback

About the author

Olaf Falafel is an author, illustrator and a stand-up comedian. As well as trying to make people laugh on stage, Olaf draws a lot and tries to come up with funny ideas for kids' books.

Reviews

[Theediscerning · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I'd not read the first in this series of madcap, whimsical comedy dramas, but this was still a work well worth recommending. Five disparate characters, including a talking, walking, swimming bath tub (of course) are on a mission, but everywhere they have been has been paint-dryingly dull. So they take one last chance, and then cannot stop moving, as they have to launch themselves through a parade of portal loos (think portaloos but with more dramatic consequences) on a quest to put the world to rights.

There is the kind of madcap invention I'd expect from this performer/writer/artist – full disclosure, I've worked at one of his book-based festival events. The unicorn with the Bowie styling and the rainbow vomit (didn't I mention how disparate the characters were?!) is not the only source of bodily waste here, but we get classier quips as well. And, unfortunately, we get Rick-Rolled.

I ought not really review this, as I didn't quite finish it – the third puzzle stumped me with one more difference to find! But then my copy wasn't finished, as the answers weren't included, dammit. Still, what was included was great japes, but the bonkers anything-goes nature is firmly controlled and not allowed to get carried away with itself. Bearing the kind of surreal silliness that will appeal to many, this is four and a half stars. But drat it about that last answer!