Bill Rechin (1931–2011)

64 pages of cartoons published in 1984 by Beaumont Book Company, Sydney, NSW. At the time I thought these cartoons based loosely on life in the French Foreign Legion were fantastic, but re-reading them now they're still funny, but many are dated with references to current events of the day.

Still amusing enough though as a broad parody of "Beau Geste", which is how they were described by the original publishers of the cartoons, King Freatures. The comic strip is set in the middle of a barren desert at a desolate fort, where the tyrannical Commandant Vermin P. Crock rules over a curious group of beleaguered legionnaires: the cowardly Captain Poulet, the simple-minded Maggot, Figowitz (who just wants a kind word), camp follower Grossie (who now owns Le Cesspool, a favorite, yet dilapidated hangout for the characters), Preppie, Mario the Bartender and the Lost Patrol.

The description on the title page is probably as good as any of what to expect in this particular book:

"IT'S STRICTLY FOR THE BIRDS AND THE BEES...

Humour in the Legion is as black as a raven's wing - or as Commandant Crock's soul! (Or as a crow's wing, if you wish. Which explains why, when Figowitz throws up on being crippled by Crock for the umpteenth time, he screams, "Caw, stone the crows!").
So much for the birds. As far as the bees are concerned, there are plenty of those around, with, naturally, Crock being the biggest bee of all...
That's him, over there. The one drooling. Feeding his pet birds. Vultures..."… (mehr)