SCRUM BUMS

A Get Fuzzy Collection

review by

Tony Nappa

SCRUM BUMS: A GET FUZZY COLLECTION

by Darby Conley

(Andrews McMeel Publishers)

Reader Appeal: All Ages

Genre: Humor / Cartoons

As expected, Scrum Bums was another wonderful collection of daily comic strips by Darby Conley, which can be enjoyed by almost anyone.

This book is about a most peculiar family, one that consists of a human named Rob, a cat named Bucky, and a dog named Satchel. In this book, all of the animals can talk and be understood by the people. The mixing of several different attitudes is what makes this strip a funny one. Bucky is one tough, troublemaking kitty who always seems irritated about something or another, and he usually takes his anger out on Rob and Satchel. Satchel is just a nice, gentle-hearted pooch who likes to make others happy and can be content doing nothing all day long. Rob is usually the peacekeeper in this little trio, and (much to Bucky’s chagrin) often takes Satchel’s side. So with Satchel and Bucky being like the kids, and Rob being like the parent, this family always seems to have something to laugh about, or be laughed at for!

Scrum Bums is chock full of silly stories and amusing anecdotes, but here were some of my favorites.

I always like the strips when Satchel and Bucky have to go stay with Rob’s dad for a few days. I like these because Rob’s dad never seems to know how exactly to handle the drama that Rob has long since gotten used to. I also just like the dad because he is almost always dressed like a slob who just hangs out at home and is a big couch potato.

I got a kick out of the series in this book where Rob, Bucky, and Satchel went to Canada to see where Satchel was born and to meet his parents. This was a good run of comic strips because it starts off as just being a vacation for Rob to get away because the Red Sox had done so horribly that baseball season, but it ends in several funny jokes about Canadians and Americans alike.

One more thing I like about all Get Fuzzy strips is the relationship that Bucky and Satchel have. This is an unchanging relationship in which Bucky torments Satchel and gets him into all sorts of trouble. But in the end, Satchel and Bucky always seem to sincerely care about each other and to make up through some hilarious situations.

There are almost no drawbacks to Scrum Bums at all. I would have to say that the main one for me is that sometimes I don’t get the jokes. Usually that is because I don’t follow politics and some of the jokes are politically based. Some of them are things that I just don’t know yet though. In most situations like that, I just ask my parents and they explain to me why it is funny. That does take away from it some, but at least then I get it. I guess that one more downer is that some of the same jokes or situations can be somewhat repetitive and not as funny the second time around.

Still, my advice is that you need to go buy this book because it will make you and your family members laugh – something that should be a part of your everyday life! Scrum Bums is just a great, relaxing book to be able to read anywhere and anytime.

FAMILYFANS RATING:  A

If members of your family like this book, then you may also want to try…

• The Get Fuzzy Experience: Are You Bucksperienced? by Darby Conley (Humor)

• Get Fuzzy: “Say Cheesy”  by Darby Conley (Humor)

• Get Fuzzy: Bucky Katt’s Big Book of Fun, by Darby Conley (Humor)

• Get Fuzzy: Groovitude, by Darby Conley (Humor)

 --TN