Review by Frank Plowright

As in the TV show, Bean is the Princess of Dreamland, but doing her utmost to dispel the demure and compliant stereotype. She’s usually accompanied by a small elf, Elfo, and Luci, her good-natured personal demon. And she likes to drink, but only to excess.

This opening volume of Untold Tales presents two stories over several chapters, separated by a shorter outing concentrating on Luci. We first see the unintended consequences of Bean’s night of over-indulgence in the kingdom of Dankmire as seen on the TV show. The result of her antics has been Dankmire constructing a dam preventing water running into Unicorn Valley, causing the departure of the unicorns, so tourist trade has therefore also dried up. The locals aren’t happy, and if Bean can’t put things right, they may start to revolt.

With both a fantasy setting and meandering stories initially taking one path only to end up somewhere completely different, Untold Tales is very similar to Joann Sfar and Lewis Trondheim’s madcap Dungeon series. That’s really no bad thing, and there are more than enough differences to ensure it’s no mere copy. A major difference is Terry Delegeane interrupting the story with text and explanation pages, such as the rules governing etiquette for angry mobs, a categorical scale of guilt, drinking games, the guide to bowing in Dankmire, how to become a hobo and plenty more. There’s something of Mad Magazine about these, and they’re presented in quantity. They’re often funnier than the actual story as well, although standards are high on those also, so that’s not to suggest any form of disappointment.

While the cast as designed for the TV show are a gift, Delegeane packs the stories with imaginatively conceived situations, many hilariously disgusting, and well structured comedy. He remains true to the style of the show, not least with Bean occasionally having to perform proper royal duties. That’s the subject of the shortest episode, coupled with Luci fooling Elfo into thinking he’s invisible. It’s plotted as a disaster in waiting, and Delegeane fulfils the promise.

Jason Ho (sample art) and Jacob Chabot both imitate Matt Groening’s goofy designs to ensure Untold Tales resembles the TV animation, and both fill the panels and sell the comedy. Occasional other artists contribute to the text and illustration pages, but many are produced by Ho and Chabot themselves, meaning they’re first rate designers in addition to being great cartoonists.

The longest story has the king fed up with Bean’s entitled nature, so sending her out to learn about the real world by working in the plague pit. Bored with that, she heads for the land of the giants at the top of the beanstalk, and finds there are different ways of running a kingdom than absolute decree.

Karen Bates letters the entire book and also writes the final story in which the king demands Bean take her nerdy brother camping. However, it’s Derek who proves the more capable in the wild when Bean doesn’t have Elfo and Luci for company. It maintains the laugh quality found throughout.

If you’ve enjoyed the TV show you’ll love Untold Tales, and you’ve never come across the TV show the chances are good the fun will be had.