Review by Frank Plowright

Building Blocks combines a pair of Rugrats specials, each titled after a building block letter. Nicole Andelfinger’s ‘R is for Reptar’ features five short stories about the mass merchandised dinosaur toy, while ‘C is for Chanukah’ is a single longer tale by collaborators Daniel Kibblesmith and Cullen Crawford. An assortment of artists have very different approaches, showcased by the opening two stories having the computer generated art of Edras Cristobal followed by Sarah Webb’s cute pages drawn as if simple children’s book illustrations. It features recognisable versions of the Rugrats as baby Reptars.

The theme is Reptar stories as told by different people. Andelfinger not only provides viable stories, she ensures each is tied into the personality and desires of the person doing the telling. Grandpa Lou Pickles starts with a tall tale from World War II, while Angelica has the battle of the century as Super Cynthia fends off Reptar’s rampage. That’s drawn simply by Brittney Williams, while Laura Langston takes on Susie’s adventure involving a princess in a castle. Drawing without ink outlines she evokes the look of a computer game. It’s left to Tommy to tell the story of how he and Chuckie realise Reptar’s seeming bad temper is just down to his being hungry. Ilaria Catalani’s art resonated enough that she’d take over the regular Rugrats series.

The basis of Kibblesmith and Crawford’s story is the entire Pickles family and grandparents having a Chanukah getaway. Although longer, it’s weaker, very obviously an episodic vehicle for stringing jokes together, and not helped by very stylised cartooning from Kate Sherron (sample art) with individual quirks, like Angelica always drawn with her eyes shut. Some jokes are finely crafted, but there’s just too much filler.

Overall, this isn’t going to disappoint young Rugrats fans, but could have been better.