Egmont - Tom i Jerry 2000-4 (Polish Comic)

The comic book cover with traces after the powdered fizzy drink package.

Tom i Jerry: Czyli kot i mysz nr 4/2000 was a Tom & Jerry comic book issue sold in Poland back in 2000. It was published by Egmont (Polish press) in April 2000 with ISSN 1506-5901 number. It was sold for 3,70 Zloty (roughly around 1 USD back in April 2000).

The title translates as "Tom & Jerry a.k.a. the cat and the mouse". This comic book issue originally came with a paper bag of orange-flavoured fizzy drink - a powder, which had to be removed from the package, mixed with water, and it was ready for drink.

Contents

Stories

1. Tom & Jerry - "Ładne Kwiatki" ("Pretty Flowers", also means "a pretty fine kettle of fish" in the slang) - 14 pages (pages 3-16)
2. Jerry & Tuffy - [Baseball Fence] - 3 pages (pages 20-22)
3. Tom & Jerry - "Magiczne Jajo" (Tom & Jerry: A Magical Egg) -11 pages (pages 23-33)

Reprints

• Tom & Jerry - 50th Anniversary Special #1 (3)
• Tom & Jerry - Digest Magazine #1 (3)
• Tom and Jerry - Friends Forever! - Panini 2007 (1) UK

Adverts

• Bugs Bunny issue 4/2000 advertisement (page 2)
• Tom & Jerry issue 5/2000 advertisement (page 34)

Fun for readers

• "Zgaduj z Tomem!" (Guess with Tom (the cat)!") (page 17)
• A two-page Easter-themed riddle with Tom, Jerry, Tuffy, and chickens (pages 18-19)
• Spring contest with Tom & Jerry (page 35)

Stories

Ładne Kwiatki ("Pretty Flowers"/"A Pretty Fine Kettle of Fish")

The story begins with a female mouse complimenting Jerry's garden. She has apparently received a pink flower from Jerry, as she compliments his gardening skills and friendship. The she-mouse kisses Jerry at his cheek, then she departs. Jerry offers her flowers in the future and states, that his garden is always opened for her.

Tom feels jealous about Jerry gaining popularity through the flowers. The cat predicts, that mice are about to wander around HIS garden and beg for free flowers. Of course, Tom isn't going to allow this to happen, thus he flippantly walks over Jerry's flowers while greeting him and admitting, that the spring has came to the garden. Jerry yells, that his flowers are being destroyed by stomping, which brings Tom joy. At first, the cat says he feels sorry for damaging the flowers, saying he feels distracted. Jerry yells in anger, that he senses Tom damaging his garden on purpouse - then, he gets kicked by Tom, who admits he vandalized Jerry's garden on purpose, and keeps stomping the flowers with apparently wicked pleasure. As the cat is wreaking havoc against the unwanted vegetation, he keeps repeating that he does not want to see any flowers in his garden. Hurt Jerry is watching the downfall of his flower garden with anguish. He accuses Tom of lacking a soul and feelings. The cat replies, that he does have such ones, as he could have also stomped Jerry, but he did not do so.

In the next page, Jerry has managed to restore his garden. While leaning to a small gardening shovel, he admits the process took him long, but was worth the effort as the flowers look better now. Jerry also states, that his will is stronger than Tom's jealousy, then he prepares to build a wooden fence to make sure Tom will have trouble in stomping the flowers. Having grabbed the first plank, Jerry is lifted with it by Tom, who asks if the tiny planks are supposed to protect Jerry's flowers from their doom, then he bangs his claw at the place Jerry is holding the plank. Jerry lands on the ground relatively safely, then Tom yells at him that his patience has expired, thus he does not want flowers, fences, or mice, and he demands those to disappear. In return, Tom gets hit by a plank Jerry swung at him. As the cat is jumping in pain, Jerry asks him, why is he bouncing in such a funny way and compares Tom to a ball. The characters fight with planks, as if those were swords. Tom brags about, that he used to be a mentor of the three musketeers - Jerry responds, that he is Santa Claus in such case.

Tom wins combat by striking Jerry with the plank, which renders him unconscious. While the mouse is recovering from the blow, the cat gathers planks and burns them in the garden. He states, that the story is over, when suddenly, Jerry extinguishes fire with water hose and states, that the garden issue isn't over. Tom yells at Jerry to leave the hydrant immiediately, only to have water poured at his mouth from the hose. As the water flushes from Tom's ears, Jerry is laughing on the ground and joking about Tom's head having holes. Outraged Tom chases Jerry while threatening to fill holes in hi head with Jerry, the he stops and decides to vandalize Jerry's garden again. The cat grabs a shovel ad smashes the vegetation nearby. Outraged Jerry admits, that he shall not yield and he will keep planting as many flowers as he desires, restlessly. Tom replies, that Jerry's statement is nonsense. Jerry states that he hopes to live up to the promise he has made.

The next morning, Tom sleeps on a couch and wakes up. Having risen from the couch, he states that nothing affects the slumber as pure conscience. Suddenly, Tom gazes forwards and asks, how is that possible Jerry not only did manage to restore the garden, but also to expand it, apparently planting the flowers overnight. A bee is bathing in the flower dust, while outraged Tom vandalizes the garden once again with his feet. The insect silently complains about Tom destroying "the paradise garden", which doesn't impress the feline vandal. Tom asks the bee, what does it want, then he smacks the insect with his bare hand. The bee lands on the house's wall, then it flies back to its hive, thinking that the cat is seeking for his own harm. Back in the hive, the bees are outrages by the story about Tom stomping flowers, so they carry out a swarm attack. At first, Tom doesn't recognize the buzzing, then he runs away back home in panic. The cat manages to hide inside the house and is mocking the bees through a window. The swarm finds a way to reach Tom through the chimney - Tom winds up being stung all around his body. Jerry examines the damages Tom has inflicted upon his garden. While being annoyed, the states that he has found a solution to the vandalism problem.

A longer while later, Tom has recovered from the bee swarm attack and is very angry, that the insects dared to harm him. Before Tom ends his threat aimed at Jerry, he spots a tall wooden fence built in the garden. Tom calls Jerry "naive" that Jerry thought the fence can stop Tom from stomping flowers, runs at the fence, jumps, and lands on a cactus field, screaming. In the last panel of the comics, Jerry's female friends are admiring cactus's flowers and Jerry being magnificent and nice. Flattered Jerry receives a double kiss from his girlfriends, then they leave as Jerry invites them to come back anytime they want. It turns out that Tom survived his reckless jump and would up bandaged from head to toes. The cat admits, that the fact Jerry always gets what he wants irritates him. While standing behind the window, Jerry asks Tom if he wants a flower and the story ends.

Jerry and Tuffy

The mice decide to attend a baseball match. Jerry states that he doesn't have money for a ticket (said to cost 1 dollar). Tuffy replies, that they don't need money if they have buck teeth. The mice chew through the wooden fence and get places to watch the match. Tuffy admits, that being a mouse has its good traits, until two boys push the mice away and take over their places. Jerry refuses to bite new hole again. Tuffy claims, that he has a better idea and obtains a balloon, then he tells Jerry to climb.

Once the balloon reaches desired ceiling, Jerry straps the balloon's cord to the fence. The mice have a place to watch the event. Tuffy reports that a home run is about to be struck, when a ball hits their balloon. As a result, the mice fall down. Tuffy complains about their bad luck, that they land on the wrong side of the fence. In the next panel, Jerry asks Tuffy where is he running, as Tuffy races towards a man, who caught a ball beated away the field. According to the man's words, catching a ball beaten out of the stadium shall grant him a free entry to the match. Tuffy manages to climb the man's hand and intercept the ball first. Upon Tuffy's arrival with a ball, Jerry asks how are they going to enter the stadium, as there are two mice and one ball. Jerry also states, that he thought about anything, as he removes the core from the ball, so Tuffy can be smuggled inside the stadium. The stadium guard lets Jerry in with the ball, where Tuffy concealed himself.

The stadium guard throws the ball with Tuffy inside at someone called Speed. Before the ball reaches destination, Tuffy begs through the ball not to be beaten. The batter states, that the ball has spoken to him, the catcher seconds that the ball jumped from his glove. The confused sportsmen are watching, as the ball is running away and saying that it has to bail out. None of them is aware of Tuffy hiding inside the ball. Members of both baseball teams start feeling bad - as they complain, the umpire admits that when balls behave to act like they witnessed, it is time to end the game. Jerry stops Tuffy running inside the ball, then Tuffy manages to emerge from the ball, glad and exhausted

The story ends with Jerry and Tuffy leaving the stadium, and the people follow them as the match is over. Tuffy states, that the mice were unable to enter the stadium, but they managed to interrupt the match.

Magiczne Jajo ("A Magical Egg")

Tom is reading a graphic fantasy novel while sitting in an armchair. It turns out that the plot has ended at the best moment, as it often happens amongst comic books issued monthly. The issue is worsened because Tom doesn't have money for the next issue and he desperately desires to know, what happens in the next chapter. Suddenly, he hears voices and it turns out, that Jerry and Tuffy managed to obtain the comic's final issue, before it was sold out. Tom at first refuses to believe, that the mice could buy the issue before he could, then he shows off jealousy that his adversaries will know the end of the story and he shall perish of curiosity. While sitting in anguish, Tom is ruminating about the story the fate didn't allow him to learn about - if Captain Galaxy met The Bad Guy or did he save a princess from the spaceship. The possibility of the riddles solved in the missing issue keeps bothering Tom as well. While sitting at the table, the cat recalls that Captain Galaxy had a pretty spaceship, shaped like an egg. Eggs on the table inspire Tom, how to obtain the comics issue he craves for so badly.

The cat stops by the armchair the mice are reading their comic book issue, asking them how do they enjoy the book. Jerry replies the novel is very interesting, as the mice are reading the most exciting part of it. Tom announces that he has something more interesting and presents the mice with an egg he offers to trade for the comic book. Jerry asks, what is extraordinary in the egg, while Tuffy stares at Tom with suspicion. The cat makes a claim, that the offered egg has magical properties, said to fulfil wishes. Jerry and Tuffy demand evidence about the egg's powers. Tom calls the mice "of small faith" and declares that he may fall on his back if he lies, then he stumbles as declared. The mice watch in amazement - Jerry admits, that the egg indeed has magical powers, as Tuffy pities Tom. While playing unconscious, Tom silently laughs at the mice being naive. Jerry is starting to show concern about Tom dying after the fall, the he runs for the egg Tom offered for the trade and asks the egg to have the cat revived. While hearing this, Tom rises and pretends to have lost his memory. Tuffy apologies for the lack of trust and the mice exchange the comic book for an egg. The mice believe they made a good deal and Tom laughs behind their back.

Shortly afterwards. Tom is enjoying his newly acquired comics while contemplating the way he managed to cheat the mice. Jerry and Tuffy are indeed asking the egg to grant them wishes, the latter doesn't know what to wish. Jerry states that he would like to have money for another Captain Galaxy issue. Tom hears those wishes and laughs. At the same time, not far from the house, a man is about to buy a newspaper down the street from a boy selling those. Suddenly, wind blows away a banknote with written "100" number from the man's hand and takes it directly to the house occupied by Tom and the mice. Tom is laughing inside his armchair, that the mice really wish the money would fly to them, then he spots the banknote lost by the man. The mice receive the banknote and compliment their bounty. Tom can't believe is eyes, that the mice's wish has been fulfilled, so he goes outside the house to take fresh air. He hears the mice wishing for something else, such as a large chunk of cheese. The wish is cast and the mice are wondering, why didn't they receive what they wished for. Tom is laughing behind the mice's back and states, that miracles do not happen. At the same time, a cargo aircraft loses a cheese crate from the cargo bay. Tom is walking in the garden, feeling that the money appearing to mice was just a coincidence. Then, he notices an object coming from the sky and gets struck with the crate, which fell from the plane. Tuffy spots the cheese, so does Jerry, then the mice rush happily to claim the cheese they literally got from the skies. At the place of the crate crash, Jerry asks Tom how could he swap the egg for the comics book, as the egg seems worth much more.

Tom realizes he has made a mistake, thus he demands the egg being returned. The mice decline, that it was a fair trade and it remains irreversible. The cat attempts to snatch the egg and he succeeds despite the mice resisting. While being taken over by greed, Tom crashes the egg and a chicken hatchling comes out, much to Tom's dismay, who complains about the magic fading away. The chicken asks Tom, if he is its mother and admits being hungry. At first, Tom complains about the birth, that the chicken could wait with his wishes, then the cat develops a plan, to make the chicken grow faster, so the hen will hatch more supposed-to-be-magical eggs for Tom. The cat builds a chicken coop (apparently with some trouble) and tenders the chicken in its growth - by giving it the best grain and cleaning the coop. The plan is to make sure the chicken shall grow into a hen hatching magical eggs.

A couple of weeks later, sad Tom is weeping on a brick in front of the house. Jerry asks Tom about the reason of his sorrows, if the hen is sick. It turns out the chicken was male and grew into a strong and healthy rooster, thus Tom shall not receive any magical eggs from the bird. The story ends here.

Trivia

• When bees in real life attack their opponent, they die upon stinging the foe. The "Pretty Flowers"/A Pretty Fine Kettle of Fish" is following the cartoon logic that cartoon bees attack like real-like wasps - by thrusting multiple stings without suffering damage themselves.
• The Magical Egg story and the Easter-themed riddle on pages 18 and 19 were added as seasonal add-on.
• Judging by the stadium audience and baseball teams' fashion, the Jerry and Tuffy story seems to be set between the late 1940s and early 1960s.
• It's unlikely that a mouse in real life could climb a healthy man's hand and remain undetected by the neural receptors in human skin.
• The stadium on page 22 has the exit sign in English (black letters on green background), while the announcement about the match is in Polish. It's not translator's mistake at all actually - public buildings in Poland contain exit signs in English by default.
• The fantasy novel Tom and mice read in "the Magical Egg" story looks like plain comics magazine. It's most probably one of the pulp art comics books from 1940s and 1950s about science-fiction, which have been popular in the United States since at least 1930s. The lack of actual illustrations prevents from determining the details of the comic books, only the mentions about Captain Galaxy, The Bad Guy, and the princess saved from the spaceship and Captain Galaxy's egg-shaped spaceship give hints about this.
• The grown rooster looks like a specimen of the Leghorn breed - quite popular in Northern America.
• Tom the cat tends to have poorly colored eyes on pages - it's most probably fault of the 1999 technique being imperfect.
• On the page 35, Tom's mouth is poorly colored as well - the main color is black with white esophagus.

Notes

Editors: Jola Tomala, Ewa Oszwałdowska, Witold Korczyc, Cezary Wolski

Writer: Oscar Martin

Translation: Elżbieta Gepfert

Publisher: Egmont Polska

Gallery