Benson's Cuckoos

Anouk Ricard

Drawn & Quarterly

Workplace stresses may be killer in this off-the-rails office satire


Richard thinks he's in luck when he snags a job at the cuckoo-clock factory, but things start to go wrong right off the bat. First of all there's his boss, who doesn't seem to have the strongest grip on reality and has an odd penchant for silly hats. Then there are his coworkers, who are alternately evasive and idiotic when asked about anything pertaining to actually getting work done. Finally there's George, the employee Richard's replacing, who supposedly quit but whose family has just appeared on national TV pleading for his safe return. It's all adding up to a very strange workplace, and when the company goes on a retreat, everything spools quickly out of control.

From the author of Anna and Froga comes a wry, offbeat whodunnit that centers on office life. Anouk Ricard's subtle, sardonic humor undermines the characters' desperate attempts to be taken seriously, as they bungle kidnappings, misunderstand social cues, and let petty disagreements become feuds. Ricard's dim-witted characters aspire to deviousness but miss their mark, remaining firmly in the domain of slapstick. With cleverly observed dialogue, charming artwork, and brilliantly over-the-top plotting, Benson's Cuckooswill delight the adult fans of Ricard's comics for kids.

Translated by Helge Dascher.