The Backbench Collection.

Trevor S. Raymond is a teacher and librarian with the Peel Board of Education and editor of Canadian Holmes.

Some of our most memorable political cartoonists seem to dip their quill pens in acid when they approach their drawing boards to create their hilarious and biting commentary on the foibles and hypocrisies of contemporary affairs. Graham Harrop does not skewer with the sharp end of the quill; he tickles with the feathery end. For almost two decades, he has given readers of The Globe and Mail a morning smile not on the editorial page, but with the comics. His drawings frequently feature political figures, but in situations that are silly more than satiric; he frequently plays with words and uses puns that might not amuse everyone. “Stephen Harper talks in his sleep: ‘mmm … find jobs … senators … car wash … Denny’s … Mr. Lube.’” Or: “Liz and Phil at home: ‘What’s the forecast, Philip?’ ‘Reign today … reign tomorrow.’”

It might be said that his humour is an acquired taste. Perhaps that is why a large collection like this may take some readers a time to get through. One gag a day in the paper can provide a forgettable chuckle, but more than a few pages of them at one sitting can be a mite tiresome.