The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr. Punch

Infobox graphic novel
title=The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr. Punch
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publisher=Gollancz
Vertigo
Bloomsbury Publishing
date=1994
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origisbn=0575053186
writers=Neil Gaiman
artists=Dave McKean
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transdate=
transisbn=
pages=96
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"The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr. Punch" or simply "Mr. Punch" is a graphic novel written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated and designed by Dave McKean. It was published in 1994.

Synopsis

The book follows the memories of the narrator, illustrating various experiences in his childhood: fishing on the beach; the grandparents; the hunchback great-uncle; betrayal; fear; a possible murder.

Alongside the general story follows the story of the Mr. Punch play. The narrator is first introduced to Mr. Punch when fishing with his grandfather, but encounters it during various other activities. The story of Mr. Punch, is that he kills his baby, then his wife, and the police officer who comes to arrest him. He convinces the hangman to be hanged in his place, and at the play's end, he kills the devil.

Like many of Gaiman's works, a major theme in this graphic novel is memory.

In the end it is revealed that the whole Mr. Punch story may have ended up being a substitute memory serving in place of the repressed memory of the narrator's uncle killing someone.

Publications

It has been published a number of times:

*1994, Gollancz, paperback, ISBN 0575053186, hardback, ISBN 0575051418
*1995, Vertigo, paperback, ISBN 1563892464
*2006, Bloomsbury Publishing, paperback, ISBN 0747588449

Adaptations

Future Bible Heroes wrote and performed a song about the character, called "Mr. Punch." It was released on the compilation album "Where's Neil When You Need Him?" which also featured Tori Amos, Voltaire, and Rasputina.

In 2005, the BBC broadcast a one hour radio adaptation of the graphic novel, adapted by Gaiman with music by McKean and Ashley Slater.

The Rogue Artists also have mounted Mr. Punch as a stage play. [ [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17851 Gaiman & McKean's "Mr. Punch" on Stage] , Comic Book Resources, August 26, 2008]

Notes

References

*comicbookdb|type=title|id=15236|title="Mr. Punch"