Euro Preview: ‘Rin Tin Can: The Mascot’ — The Brilliance Of Morris, Master Of Comedic Comics

The first Rin Tin Can volume from Cinebook and the genius that was Lucky Luke‘s Morris came out in July and it’s classic stuff…

Created by Morris and Rene Goscinny as part of their Lucky Luke series, Rin Tin Can (Ran-Tan-Plan in French) is hardly a wonder dog, like his namesake the movie and TV star Rin-Tin-Tin. But what he lacks in brains, speed, and general usefulness he more than makes up for in comedy.

Rin Tin Can finally graduated from Lucky Luke’s supporting cast to star of his own albums in 1987, 10 years after Goscinny’s death, requiring Morris to bring in writers and art assistants, such as Leturgie & Fauche, and Janvier & Garcia.

But make no mistake, Morris’ work still shines and both writers and art assistants make sure it does. This is wonderfully, uproariously funny stuff, packed with gags, and a great showcase of Morris’ comedic talent – a perfect example of this comes on the back of this Cinebook volume, truly a dog dumber than his own shadow…

The plot is as simple as can be, we’re in the Wild West and the 7th Cavalry’s prized mascot, brave, smart, noble Fido VI, has gone missing days before a visit from the President.

Now, can you see where this is going? Of course you can. But suspense and intrigue isn’t the point here, it’s all about the gags.

So when Rin Tin Can is borrowed by the 7th Cavalry, the inevitable, and brilliantly funny, perfectly timed comedic chaos ensues.

I’ll do more on this in a review soon, because you really do deserve to see just how brilliant Morris et al’s work on The Mascot is, but for now, below the credits, enjoy the opening seven pages of brilliant comedy…

Rin Tin Can Volume 1: The Mascot.

Artwork by Morris, with the assistance of M. Janvier and F. Garcia. Script by X. Fauche and J. Leturgie. Colours by Studio Leonardo. Translation by Jerome Saincantin.

Rin Tin Can character imagined by Morris and brought to life by Rene Goscinny.

Published in July by Cinebook.

Originally published as La Mascotte in 1987 by Dargaud.