The Gremlins: The Lost Walt Disney Production

by Roald Dahl

Presents the story of Gus, a British WW-II fighter pilot, who during the Battle of Britain turned to look out on the wing of his plane only to see an amazing sight: a little man, no more than six... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1593074964
• ISBN13: 9781593074968
• Release Date: September 2006
• Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
• Length: 56 Pages
• Weight: 1.03 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.7" x 11.1"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Fantastic Classic

Over 60 years ago, the talented Roald Dahl was not the author we know him to be today. Instead of finding him at his typewriter creating stories for children of all ages, he was a RAF pilot. As any airman knows, strange unexplained things can happen to aircraft. Taking this as an inspiration, Mr Dahl made use of the word 'gremlin' and soon, the RAF had a new enemy that took a place beside the Germans. Gremlins....In the original story, these gremlins could be seen on wings and fusealges of aircraft mid air. Un-noticed pings were caused by these tiny, mischevious beings with drills, hammers, and tools designed to undo the manufacturers best. Where did they come from? According to the 'myth', the gremlins lived peaceably in a forest glenn until an aircraft factory replaced their familiar home. Not a race to take their eviction sitting down, the gremlins fight back by attacking the very planes that leave the factory. During the Battle of Britain, Gus is downed during a dog fight with a Messerchmitt squadron. Landing in the hospital, he realizes that the Gremlins can be used for good, and trains them to repair rather than destroy. The war ends, and Gus purchases the land near the factory, preserving a solitary stand of forest for the gremlins. Fast forward to 2008. Gus' grandson, Gus, crosses the ocean from America to sell the house and return home. Good plan, but he does not know about the clever inhabitants of the house who will do anything to preserve their native forest. Exactly what they will do is yet to be seen. Like any Roald Dahl story, Gremlins (as re-released by Dark Horse in 2006), is a wonderful, innocent story with simple truths. Mike Richardson has re-captured the feel of the original with his continuation that brings the mighty mites into our century. His Gus, is a man of integrity. Old Gus, was a man of integrity. Old Gus worked with the gremlins. So far, young Gus has been captured by them, but he has already discovered that the quick sale was not all it seemed, and that the little folk have minds of their own. The odds are that we will soon find a cross generational team that will take on all comers. The art by Dean Yeagle is perfect for the book, and reminiscient of Richard Sparky Moore during his Disney tenure from the 50's to the 80's. Yeagle illustrates the book with clean lines and simple panel structure. Viewed as a continuity, it could even serve as a rough story board too! As a special bonus, the original story is presented in the back of the book. But, why settle for a 4 page version when you can buy the fulll, original 1943 book by Dahl and Justice. This is one book that all ages can enjoy. You might want to wait for all three issues to be available, these guys are too much fun for just one issue! [...] Tim Lasiuta

Roald Dahl's hidden masterpiece

This book is a real looker - beautifully designed and written. It's very informative - and it can be read in one sitting. The book arrived in tip-top shape, with not a fingerpring on the cover.

WONDERFUL as EVER!

I have both the "Dark Horse" edition and the original and both are outstanding books. I got my first "Gremlins" in probably 1950 or so and find the new copy to be as good as the original. The price on this edition sure beats the going rate for an original and the artwork is fine, at least to me. Probably a child of today won't appreciate the art and the story line but the "Gremlins" themselves are fantastic! I highly recommend this book to anyone who remembers the original and also "the days of old."

original

I have an original signed 1943 edition of this picture book, which my parents read to me as a child, and I now own as a family treasure. A treasure it certainly is...one of the most poignant children's books ever written.

At last, Disney & Dahl's lost treasure.

I'm a Disneyphile and I've been coveting this book ever since I first heard about it. I've scoured Australian secondhand bookstores for years, hoping, by some miracle, that I might find an original copy tucked away in a dusty corner somewhere with a $2 sticker on it, but to no avail. [...]. But recently I went to Abebooks just to check if there were any reasonably-priced copies available, and I nearly fell off my chair when I saw a copy for less than $10! Then I saw another one, and another one, and another one, and I immediately thought with great joy: "It's been reproduced!" And sure enough, Dark Horse Comics have lovingly restored and reissued this lost treasure, a fascinating collaboration between two of the greatest creative minds of the 20th century: Walt Disney and Roald Dahl. Previously only available to collectors with deep pockets, this whimsical tome is now available for everyone to enjoy, the young and the young at heart alike. Bravo, Dark Horse! My only regret is that the film version never got off the ground, but this book is the next best thing ... until maybe one day John Lasseter decides to do what Peter Jackson did with the "lost spider pit sequence" from the original King Kong and actually remake it from scratch as a labour of love.