Music soothes the wild beast ... and brings down walls! Among all the things that make Gomer such a lovable rascal, there are two that are instantly recognisable: his car, and his goofophone. His old lemon, favourite target of the constabulary and every pedestrian’s nightmare, is responsible for half the pollution in town – as well as many of the more ... exotic accidents. The rest of the latter are mostly the result of the terrible ‘musical’ instrument put together by Gomer – stiff competition for the Trumpets of Jericho!

Rigour versus fantasy, order versus chaos ... the accountant versus Mr Goof!!

When Gomer isn’t unwittingly sabotaging all work at Spirou Magazine, he naps at his desk and dreams of being a handsome, fearless action hero for Miss Jeanne – not realising that this is already how she sees him! But outside the office, out in the city streets, well, that’s Officer Longsnoot’s territory, and between him and gomer – and most importantly Gomer’s often apocalyptically tweaked car – a merciless war of nerves is waged every day!

Gomer is a genius and a walking hazard – it is known. But often overlooked is how he’s far from the only one. In his daily efforts at subverting the professional world, he’s often accompanied by his menagerie – trickster cat, temperamental gull, voracious mouse and even, on occasion, a goldfish – and his brothers in laziness and silly ideas, Jules and Bertie. Not to mention, sometimes, complete strangers instantly won over by his eagerness and imagination. Much to the chagrin of various authority figures!

Gomer Goof is a master loafer. He's also a genius, if absent-minded, inventor. His laziness, his gadgets and his sheer bad luck create havoc at Spirou Magazine and drive his colleagues crazy - but he's such a likeable guy!

This is a collection of darkly comic standalone strips by a cartoonist Herge (Tintin) idolized. Die Laughing, which is executed in stark black and white, takes aim at everyone and everything in its scathing critique of modern life, but is particularly ruthless toward animal abusers, the military industrial complex, and death penalty enthusiasts. Franquin’s loose but meticulous line work features expressionistic shadows and silhouettes that infuse his depressed, repressed, and oppressed characters with a disturbing manic energy. Die Laughing is filled with visual gags and gag-inducing visuals that will haunt you.

Nothing is ever simple with Gomer. Between his deplorable sense of timing, his absent-mindedness and his never-ending quest for new ways to avoid work, he causes a lot of fuses to blow – those of his colleagues, De Mesmaeker and poor Prunelle, of course, but also the actual ones at the office. And that is not at all to Alistair Bacus’s taste – the accountant at Spirou Publishing ...