Father and son (stories in pictures)

Short comics, or as they are also called, “drawn pantomimes” about the adventures of a pot-bellied bald dad and his mischievous shaggy son, are world-famous works by the German cartoonist Erich Oser (1903-1944), who worked under the pseudonym E. O. Plauen.

These humorous stories in pictures without text usually consist of 6 frames. In them, the heroes get into various everyday situations, from which they find an unconventional way out. Each character has his own character. Although Dad looks like a respectable man of years, inside he still remains a mischievous child, and this true boyish essence of his breaks out every now and then. The son is a prankster and a fidget, and he often gives his father a lot of trouble. But despite this, he sincerely loves his parent, sees him as a friend and a reliable protector. Dad, in turn, adores his offspring and is proud of him in his soul, although he does not always allow himself to show his tender feelings.

There is a special connection between the main characters, two people who are related by blood and spirit. And to tell about it, words were not needed at all. This is what captivates the reader and makes the stories about father and son real little masterpieces.

The very first comic strip from this series was published in 1934 in the weekly newspaper Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung (Berlin Illustrated Newspaper). From then on, a new episode was published in every issue of the newspaper until 1937, when the artist officially ended this cycle.

In the late 1930s, both characters, father and son, gained fantastic popularity in Germany. They advertised many products and services, and almost everyone knew them. At the same time, the publishing house released three book collections based on newspaper comics, which immediately became bestsellers.

The book collections continued to be published in Germany after the war. They are actively republished to this day. Over the past ninety years, more than one generation of German children has grown up on them. There is probably no home library in Germany that does not have a volume of these caricatures. They are studied at school and are enjoyed by the whole family at home. The fame of the father and son has spread far beyond Germany. These heroes have long been known and loved in all European countries, in Iran and China, in the USA, Canada, Brazil and other corners of the world.

Recommended reader age: 2+

Author: O.E. Plauen
Artist: O.E. Plauen
Translation: Marina Vinogradova
Number of pages: 144
Publisher: Melik-Pashayev
Cover type: Hardcover
Dimensions: 240 × 170 × 15 mm
ISBN: 978-5-00041-540-5