Bloom County 4.... or 5.... depends on....: Okay - Bloom County Babylon, the 4th Bloom County book was really a compilation of material contained in the first 3 books. So.... depending on if you want a chronological collection of the BC Strips, or to complete ALL of the BC Books, this is either the 4th or 5th volume of Bloom County, and Berkeley Breathed is still in high-gear producing the funniest 'toon strip I've ever read. And by "funny" I mean laugh-out-loud, roll on the floor, tears streaming down my face, people coming into the room to see "WHAT are you laughing at?!!!?" kind of laugh.In "Billy and the Boingers" Steve Dallas, the sleazy womanizing ambulance-chasing lawyer, finally decides that even HE has had it with defending murderers and child abusers. Bill the cat inspires him to hold auditions for a "New high-profit heavy-metal rock band". Requirements are only "Need to know 3 chords and be able to grimace musically". Along the way Opus the Penguin gets engaged to sweetie Lola Granola, and the new Heavy Metal Group "Death-Tongue" makes their pitch in Los Angeles to recording companies, ending with a memorable visit backstage at an Ozzy Osbourne concert - back when Ozzy was the "Elvis of Heavy Metal". Back in Bloom County Steve discovers that he must give up cigarette smoking or his life expectancy is 6 months. He has Opus tie him to a chair where he is the model of self-control for 38 whole minutes before he breaks down and tells Opus "Get me a (...) cigarette before I stick you in a blender". Things get worse from there.As in the previous volumes Breathed does a fantastic job of creating a surreal universe full of people and critters that we care about, but who are most importantly..... funny.

Although some of the cartoons are dated due mostly to political and entertainment themes, much of the humor from Opus, Steve Dallas, Michael Binkley, Cutter John, Milo Bloom, Bill The Cat, Hodge-Podge, Portnoy and many other characters is timeless and holds up well today. ( )

Another fine "Bloom County" collection, replete with hilarity and absurdity. Opus gets engaged to Lola Granola in one of the more improbable matchups I've seen. Includes a 45 RPM of "Billy and the Boingers". ( )

What do to when your lawyer career has gone stale? The answer: Manage a heavy metal band. Bloom County and its assorted inhabitants are as hilarious as usual. ( )