A year or so ago, I did a review to a 1980’s telling of “101 Dalmatians”. For those who don’t remember, or didn’t bother to read it; I’ll give you a brief reminder.
The Book had a writer who probably never seen “101 Dalmatians” before, outside of some black and white snapshots, since Pongo & Perdita had Ten Puppies, rather than Fifteen, Sgt. Tibbs was Grey, rather than brown and Cruella’s plan was to sell the Puppies to the circus, rather than to make a fur coat…also, it seems her occupation was listed as; Dog Theif (cause that’s something you really see Listed in the ‘Wanted’ page of a Newspaper).
However, In the comments, Race made a mention to another book in which Lucky finds the Crown Jewels and in 2011, I was doing some Christmas Shopping online where I happened to come across the very book…so guess what I found in my Christmas Stocking that special day.
So, let’s take a read into
“Lucky Puppy” and see if the writer actually saw the Movie between stories.
This is just a small note to begin with but the Publishers Page, before the main story, has an image of Pongo & Perdita outside the Devil House. True, the House is in story, but outside of sitting in front of the TV for Two Pages, Perdita isn’t. Something tells me they were just reusing art from the previous book, since they couldn’t think of something else to draw.
Speaking of Perdita watching Television, we begin our tale which the author, judging by the artwork, still thinks there are ten puppies. They get news on the television that ‘The Queens Jewels have been stolen’, I guess the name ‘Crown Jewels’ is copyright protected.
Although, The Royal Family must have pretty rubbish security if, not only are the jewels stolen without a trace, but you get someone dressed as Batman climbing up onto the Palace.
Pongo decides that it’s up to them to find the Jewels, so they contact the Barking Chain for help, which makes me wonder; why haven’t the Queen’s Corgi’s done this already?
“A Howl, a Growl, A Yelp! The Queen needs your help.”Okay…Recently, in some “101 Dalmatians” Books, I have read, the Barking Chain always seems to start rhyming like some sort of Dr. Suess book, I honestly don’t understand why they did this. Whatever happened to the days, when the Barking Chain was just the doggy equivalent of a Marconi Telegraph?
Lucky sends out a message took, although I think his face will needs a heck ton of wrinkle cream after it, judging how he looks.
The Message is soon sent throughout the city, passing from Dog to Dog. The City still isn’t named London, despite the fact it’s officially confirmed to be set in a country with a Monarchy and I can clearly see Big Ben & St. Paul’s Cathedral in the background.
Also, I happen to notice there’s a Dog on the roof for some reason. How’d it get up there?
The Message soon reached the Colonel & Tibbs (who is still coloured grey, rather than brown) and they decided to check out the old house, on the hill, since something suspicious seems to be going on there.
Is hiding in the Devil House just like that random tire swing you find in the local woods? Everyone has tried it out?
Surely, the house would be under watchful eye too, considering it was the hideout of Cruella in the Pupnapping (and before you ask; Yes, this does take place after the story, as hinted in Tibbs dialogue), it also makes me ask another question. Where are the other Puppies?
We see at the start of the book, the Dalmatians still live in the city; along with how there were only Ten Pups watching the Television with Pongo & Perdita. I thought the ‘Nice People’ (They still couldn’t find a name for them in this) decided to keep them? Anyway, I am going off on a tangent here…
The two spy through the window and see Horace & Jasper with some unnamed Bald Man playing the Fiddle (Judging by his appearance, I’m going to guess he’s the Baduns Father).
The two deduce to themselves that, they MUST be the ones who stole the Jewels. How do you know that? They could just easily be having a nice fiddle concert or a Father-Sons Bonding time.
The Badduns then drive off in what looks like a battered version of Cruella’s car and the Colonel & Tibbs find a way into the house, via the Cellar window. Why? Why not the front door? You were able to get a horse in there, the previous time. The Colonel is able to fit in too remarkably and the two sniff around, Tibbs in particular the Fiddle Case.
“It Smells Funny”Like…CATNIP! GIVE ME!
The Colonel finds a locked door and rather than sending for a local dog; they figure only Pongo can do this. Who complies but brings Lucky along too.
The two arrive the following morning (remember that. It took them all night) and the Colonel questions why Lucky is here thinking he’s too small. Oh geez, is this going to be one of those ‘Biggest isn’t always best’ morals? Giants can do good things too! Watch an episode of Clifford!
Pongo however states that Lucky isn’t too small to learn and the group sneak in again.
They then find the door at the bottom of the stairs and…wait, what? I thought they were already in the cellar, how can you go down even further? Isn’t a Cellar technically as far down as you can go in a house?
Pongo then decides that they should go ‘Even Lower’ (Is this a remake of ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’?) and soon digs a hole big enough for Lucky to squeeze through, where he just so happens to find the Queen’s Jewels!
Pongo tells Lucky, The Colonel & Tibbs to stay at the house whilst he activates the ‘Travel by Map’ mode, since he is able to get back to the city in less than five minutes.
He rallies all the other dogs to summon the entire Police Department of the city and after: knocking officers off their bikes and a few other things that will surely get the Pound called on them, the Massed Ensemble of the City’s Law Enforcers turn out to be…The Keystone Cops?
“Pongo Pointed in the Direction of the House”Wait! So how it’s on the Horizon now!?
This book is having a hard time keeping the House Location Consistent. In the first book, it takes them a Moving Van to get back home, then the entire night to get there, then five minutes and now it’s on the horizon?
Is it like when People move, they take their house with them too? Is the House really a Tardis, landing closer and closer to the city (hence explaining the bigger interior, with the Cellar that goes down even further)? Or simply: Plot Convenience? You make the call!
Back at the Moving House, the Badduns & Fiddler return and they hear noises down in their multi-story cellar, so Horace & Jasper investigate. The Colonel & Tibbs hear them coming too and to make sure that they don’t discover Lucky, they attack, with Tibbs thinking once again that: Horace is artist, that coloured him grey.
But help is at hand, as the Keystone Cops come in and save the day!
They find Lucky with the Jewels and judging by the way the Cheifs head compares to Lucky, the Jewels have made the Pup; Twenty Feet tall…
Is that the reason for involving the “Think he’s too small” part? Cause you planned to make Lucky huge? Now that be a Dalmatian story, I’d like the read.
The Keystones noticed that the Emerald Tiara is missing and Tibbs remembers that smell from the Fiddle Case. He races back to it, to take a look, however he gets trapped in it as the Fiddler tries to run away with it. Fortunately, the Cops are able to catch him, after Tibbs screeches from inside it, and what is it inside there?
Eeewwwwwww, A Three week old Banana sandwich!
Nah, They actually find Tibbs with the Tiara. It does make me wonder though, why did the Fiddler find it nessisary to carry it in the case? That Tiara doesn’t look too big, so he could have just carried it in his pockets or something.
Also, How come the Cops didn’t detain him, as they entered the house? Well, maybe it’s cause they couldn’t see with that mascara on their clamped open eyes, staring into our souls…
Back at home, Lucky Puppy (That is actually his surname in this. Not Ratcliff, Nor Dearly, heck doesn’t Pongo technically count as a Surname too? Nope, just give him the surname; Puppy) is declared a hero for finding the Queen’s Jewels.
In other news, The Plot to Johnny English is inspired, Sceintists are still trying to figure out how the Jewels were able to make a Dalmatian Puppy: ten or so times it’s normal size and the Keystone Cops have joined forces with Ghost Rider; to look into the Souls of Wrong Doers everywhere!
Well, Apart from my joking and nit picks throughout this, I actually do like this story.
It’s nice to see a “101 Dalmatians” Story that isn’t just another version of the Original ‘Cruella Dognaps’ story and the story it comes up with is actually pretty decent.
The writing itself is pretty good, aside from some inconsistencies and for Artwork: Whilst it is notably better than the 1981 book, does still have some iffy line art, but still pretty decent.
Overall, If you’re able to track this down, I’d recommend you give it a check.
Lucky Puppy Score
Story: 8/10
Artwork: 6/10
Overall: 7/10So, How you find the review, Pups? ;3