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Little Lulu: Graphic Novels
Little Lulu, Volume 7: Lulu's Umbrella Service
Book by Stanley, John
- GenresComicsGraphic Novels
200 pages, Paperback
First published December 28, 2005
About the author
John Stanley
576 books14 followersJohn Stanley was a comic book creator, best known for his scripting of Little Lulu's comic book exploits from 1945 to approximately 1959. While mostly known for his scripting, Stanley also was an accomplished artist who drew many of his stories, including the earliest issues of Lulu. His specialty was humorous stories, both with licensed characters and those of his own creation. His writing style has been described as employing "colorful, S. J. Perelman-ish language and a decidedly bizarre, macabre wit (reminiscent of writer Roald Dahl)" with storylines that "were cohesive and tightly constructed, with nary a loose thread in the plot". Cartoonist Fred Hembeck has dubbed him "for my money, the most consistently funny cartoonist to work in the comic book medium".
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 8, 2026
Cute, but didn’t hold my interest much. Think this would have been amazing if given to a nine year old in 1960s.
February 19, 2026
A recent visit to a rather large area used book store uncovered this treasure. It's always fun to find something that you didn't even know existed. It's even better when you find it for a fantastic price and in excellent condition.
Dark Horse's compendium of the complete run of Dell/ Gold Key Little Lulu comic titles was published in the early 2000s. There are 29 volumes! And just my luck (in terms of trying to get the rest of the series), they've been out of print for quite a while. Believe me; if there were more books available for the price I paid for this one, I would have bought up the whole lot.
I just wish that these were in color. Instead, these volumes are given the Essential Marvel treatment, being published in black and white to make them more affordable. However, there are at least 3 stories in which having color is vital to being able to understand the action better. I had the same issue with Showcase Presents Green Lantern volumes 1-3 because you have a superhero whose main weakness is the color yellow but you can't tell what is that hue because there's no colors to be seen.
My enjoyment of Little Lulu is a lot like a child and their palette as they mature. As a kid, Lulu and friends just weren't my style. But now as I enter middle age, I appreciate the subtle humor of innocent Lulu Moppet. I cackle at the absurd approach to life Tubby has, especially when he assumes his role as 'the World's Greatest Detective!' Lulu's fairy tales to Alvin shows childhood naivety mixed with the brilliance of the creative mind. The children in these pages are truthfully how the children I teach and interact with every day: they hear things wrong, they think they are always right and they lack the ability to ask adults for wisdom. Any nuggets of insight are provided by their peers.
Thank goodness I don't have to teach them!
The genius behind these stories is John Stanley. Another comic creator that it took me decades to appreciate. As a young, YOUNG comic book collector, I tended to favor the artists who used more complex lines and shadows. I went for realism. Yet I find in today's troubled world, simplicity is best. If only I could find more of these editions without having to take out a small loan.
Dark Horse's compendium of the complete run of Dell/ Gold Key Little Lulu comic titles was published in the early 2000s. There are 29 volumes! And just my luck (in terms of trying to get the rest of the series), they've been out of print for quite a while. Believe me; if there were more books available for the price I paid for this one, I would have bought up the whole lot.
I just wish that these were in color. Instead, these volumes are given the Essential Marvel treatment, being published in black and white to make them more affordable. However, there are at least 3 stories in which having color is vital to being able to understand the action better. I had the same issue with Showcase Presents Green Lantern volumes 1-3 because you have a superhero whose main weakness is the color yellow but you can't tell what is that hue because there's no colors to be seen.
My enjoyment of Little Lulu is a lot like a child and their palette as they mature. As a kid, Lulu and friends just weren't my style. But now as I enter middle age, I appreciate the subtle humor of innocent Lulu Moppet. I cackle at the absurd approach to life Tubby has, especially when he assumes his role as 'the World's Greatest Detective!' Lulu's fairy tales to Alvin shows childhood naivety mixed with the brilliance of the creative mind. The children in these pages are truthfully how the children I teach and interact with every day: they hear things wrong, they think they are always right and they lack the ability to ask adults for wisdom. Any nuggets of insight are provided by their peers.
Thank goodness I don't have to teach them!
The genius behind these stories is John Stanley. Another comic creator that it took me decades to appreciate. As a young, YOUNG comic book collector, I tended to favor the artists who used more complex lines and shadows. I went for realism. Yet I find in today's troubled world, simplicity is best. If only I could find more of these editions without having to take out a small loan.
April 14, 2024
Lulu’s Umbrella Service is number seven in Dark Horse’s inexpensive series of reprints of John Stanley and Irving Tripp’s Little Lulu stories for Dell Comics.
These stories hold up well; I laughed aloud at the dynamic art, the goofy dialogue, the imaginative tales and the endless theme and variation on the war between boys and girls.
Each volume in the series is a keeper.
Highly recommended for kids and adults.
These stories hold up well; I laughed aloud at the dynamic art, the goofy dialogue, the imaginative tales and the endless theme and variation on the war between boys and girls.
Each volume in the series is a keeper.
Highly recommended for kids and adults.
September 19, 2023
Awww, sweet childhood memories. Grew up reading little lulu. It was a treat reading them as an adult in English, as I read them in a different language back then, but nevertheless little lulu’s books -all of them - are all still wonderfully amazing.
February 5, 2022
Decidedly charming, and more than intermittently amusing. Edging towards a four star...
October 1, 2014
John Stanley is one of those creators who deserve more recognition among comics fans. His simple, clean style and his pacing of gags are a constant delight. Yes, he wrote and drew kids comics, but of such quality as is rarely seen. Good stuff, highly recommended!
July 24, 2009
I love these books.
It's like a cartoon show in a book! :]
It's like a cartoon show in a book! :]
October 25, 2010
I don't remember but i don't think i enjoyed it.
April 29, 2011
very funny book
October 20, 2011
I loved this book! hpe 2 start the others.....
-pbandj23
i loved this book it was so funny cant wait to read the others...
-basketballgirl-
-pbandj23
i loved this book it was so funny cant wait to read the others...
-basketballgirl-
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews