Review by Frank Plowright

A Hard Day’s life contains ten stories originally presented in the Japanese weekly comic Morning, and shows Makoto Kobayashi might have been supplying standalone shorts for serialisation, but was also planning his collections. It’s not as if there’s a defined formula for a collection, but with this sixth there are certainly expectations of what the mixture will contain.

We want to see Michael facing off against fat cat Catzilla, a story where cats behave as if humans before it all falls apart and they revert to type, one with either of the Yakuza gangsters, and one with the chaotic single woman owner. Kobayashi duly delivers, with the latter seen on the sample art of the opening story where she so loves her cat she has difficulty leaving for work. It’s the type of strip cat lovers will instantly identify with, while under other circumstances those not captivated by cats would retch, but Kobayashi’s polished art considerably diminishes that effect. The clear drawing is very attractive, there’s life and personality, and the storytelling is a lesson in itself. Later there’s a strip called ‘The Ribbon’, a flight of fantasy where Kobayashi delivers six pages of visual magic with no more than Michael and a stretch of ribbon.

There’s a continuation of the final strip from Michael’s Favorite Spot featuring dull guests overstaying their welcome and Michael’s antics proving a welcome talking point, and this time the cats behaving as humans strip is a night on the town. As a sales manager Michael has just closed a big deal and is suckered into a club. Catzilla’s appearance, though, is brief, but memorable. There’s also a return for fugitive vet Richard Kimbly in one of the collection’s highlights, advising Michael’s owner on good practice.

A new introduction this time is the Kobayashi family, owners not only of Michael, but a dog named Bear. There’s an obvious element of self-parody here, as it’s contrasted how Michael’s behaviour as a cat is indulged, but the same tricks from a dog result in beating. Still, a cleverly plotted strip shows the ultimate result, and a follow-up expands the strip’s premise by focusing almost exclusively on Bear.

On a couple of strips the drawing can’t disguise feeble endings, such as an owner calling for Michael, but actually watching Michael Jackson on television. They’re uncharacteristic, though, and A Hard Day’s Life otherwise maintains the quality and the series continues with Fat Cat in the City. This selection is also the closing content of the first Fatcat Collection.