Tom Thumb (Part 01)

Publication Date: February 12, 2013

Chapter: Children's Literature

Over the weekend, I decided that Lit Brick really needed to be it's own "thing," so we're going back to the basics; it's Lit Brick Classic, as it were. Today begins what will no doubt be an increasingly silly adventure into the Norton Anthology of CHILDREN'S Literature. Because why not. I love this stuff.

"Tom Thumb" is a traditional folk tale that existed long before Richard Johnson wrote it down in 1621. The version in the Norton is actually an anonymous adaption dating from around 1790, published as a "chapbook," which was a popular format roughly the size of a modern comic book. While I'd rather not spoil Tom's ridiculous adventures (insomuch as one can spoil a centuries-old story), suffice it to say that Tom's dad was shooting blanks in the sack. As such, he sought out Merlin (yes, THAT Merlin) to give him a child. The father's request for said child (that the kid be no taller than his thumb) was rather oddly specific.

Author: Richard Johnson • Year: 1621 • Info: Wikipedia

Table of Contents

There are a ludicrous number of Lit Brick strips. Click here to browse through them.

About The Comic

Lit Brick is a comic started by Jodie Troutman in an effort to read the entire Norton Anthology of English Literature. Having eventually succeeded in that goal, it now features comics about all manner of random literature. For more of Jodie's work, visit longtalljodie.com!