Years ago – the only way I could stop my comics and graphic novel addiction from destroying my life was to stop going to comic shops altogether.

To save money for my habit – I had stopped eating all but cup of soup and could often be found twitching looking nervously around scratching my arms at the graphic novel section in Hodges Figgis.

Later when I landed up in the sort of higgledypiggledy dream second hand back issues store. I could be found behind the counter – face contorted – eyes squinting as I tried to fuzzy my peripherary and stare into a fixed point in space lest I snap and spend my pay on stock.

So when the person that leant me Sparky O’Hare Master Electrician comes calling for it back I will find it hard to part with and may well have lost it “in the books”. Just so I can hold onto it.

Sparky O’Hare Master Electrician serves as my introduction to Mawil whom the Internet tells me is one of Germany’s best loved comic book artists. He has been the recipient of the ICOM award for best independent comic four times (2007 being the last.) I am immediately a fan.

In small pocket format it is his second book published in English by Blank Slate and presented beautifully. From the cover to the pages everything about this book feels nice – demands that you hold it, keep it and show it proudly to guests.

Translated from German it originally went by the title Meister Lampe a name that apparently doesn’t translate well to English. Complete with a flip-book, puzzles and a maze it really is a treasure.

Sparky O’Hare backcover

About a master electrician rabbit whom electrical items may be adverse to. The central story is warm and engaging, silly and often funny. At first I left it on the table in my apartment so people would read it. After a time it moved to the bathoom – it says a lot that almost all guests could be found wandering from the bathroom with Sparky O’Hare in their hands to finish.

With the dread time of Santa coming close – this book would prove the perfect gift.

Buy it here – direct from the publisher