This volume reprints the original Little Lulu issues #13 - 17.  Like the first, it is a solidly produced 200 page 6" x 9" volume printed on nice flat white paper stock.  We understand that one of the stories in this volume has two or four pages printed out of order, but we feel that this is a but a quibble next to the enjoyment to be found in these classics of comics innocence.  To learn more, check out our comments on the first volume in the series.

All we have to say is, "It's about time!"  Well, that's not all, really.  First off we'd like to thank the folks at Dark Horse Comics for dedicating their resources to this important project.  John Stanley's Little Lulu is one of the great runs in the history of comics:  145 consecutive issues of simple yet elegant, straightforward yet disarming stories about Lulu and Tubby, their pals and their parents.  Like Carl Barks, his contemporary at Dell Comics (Lulu's original publisher) John Stanley -- with the indispensable assistance of inker/finisher Irving Tripp -- had that rare ability to produce work capable of simultaneously engrossing the sensibility of a child and charming that of an adult.  In this inaugural volume we are presented with the entire contests of issues #6 - 12 of Marge's Little Lulu (the full title, as the character of Little Lulu was created by Marjorie "Marge" Henderson Buell in 1935 for The Saturday Evening Post; despite the fact that she had nothing to do with the comic book series, it nevertheless kept her name), originally published by Dell in 1949.  The covers are absent, however.  Presumably this is a rights issue of some sort, but Dark Horse was mute on this  topic, being regrettably brief in their introduction to this series, with no explanation as to this lack, nor for their reasons for initiating the series with the sixth issue.  Not only are the first five issues of the numerical series skipped over, but the ten four color one-shots that preceded them.  Will these be issued at a later date?  Let's hope they let us know.  But this is a minor quibble.  Dark Horse did a fine job:  the reproduction is uniformly excellent and it is printed on a decent quality, flat, bright white, 6" x 9" stock; 218 pages in all.  John Stanley's Little Lulu, while long enjoying the ardent support of a core group of readers, is still under appreciated given the quality of his work.  If you are unfamiliar with his work, do yourself a favor and check this book out.  It may not be your cup of tea, but if it is, you'll have a lot to look forward to.  In addition, this volume offers an ideal way to introduce a young reader -- or a reader of any age, for that matter -- to the joys of comics. 

This hefty 650+ page book brings back into print the first three volumes of Dark Horse's collected Little Lulu in one big book.  Here we have the entirety of the Dell Four Color, Little Lulu one-shots along with the first five issues of the stand alone title.  If you (or anyone you know) missed out the first time around, now's your chance to get started with one of the most lauded kids comic book series around.