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'''Fungus the Bogeyman''' (1977) is a critically acclaimed children's graphic novel by British artist Raymond Briggs. It follows one day in the life of the titular character, a working class Bogeyman with the mundane job of scaring human beings.

Contents

Plot

Television film

Editions

External links

Plot

Fungus is a young bogeyman whose life is portrayed throughout the novel. He is a member of the Bogey society, which is very similar to British society, but Bogeymen enjoy the inverse of that which humans (called ''Drycleaners'' because of their perverse environmental preferences) appreciate: Dirt instead of cleanliness, stink instead of perfume, slimy and spoiled food etc. The book depicts the mundane details of Bogey life in loving detail, with almost every panel equipped with peripheral notes about such things as Bogey habits, myths, pets, hobbies, literature, clothing and, perhaps least appetising of all, food. Much of the humour derives from wordplay; for instance, Bogeymen enjoy eating flies much as human beings enjoy cigarettes, and one brand of fly is the "strong French Gallwasp", a pun on ''Gauloises''. Similarly, what Bogeymen call a bugbear is a sort of teddy bear with rancid, bug-ridden fur.

Television film

Over a period of decades, a number of attempts were contemplated to make a film from the book. In 2002 the BBC began work on a three-part TV series, which ultimately aired in November 2004 and is available as a DVD, starring Clare Thomas as Jessica White and Mak Wilson as 'Fungus'. This Gala Films production with screenplay by author Mark Haddon, featuring live-action humans and animated Bogeys, was nominated for five awards.

Editions

★ ISBN 0-14-054235-3

External links

★ IMDb Page for Fungus the Bogeyman

★ Toonhound: book (1977), 3D book (1982), TV/DVD (2004)