Bunny vs Monkey

Bunny vs Monkey originated as a wildly popular comic strip in the British children's anthology The Phoenix, debuting in 2008. Written and illustrated by Jamie Smart, the series captures a chaotic, slapstick dynamic between a sensible forest-dwelling rabbit and a megalomaniacal monkey who crashes into the woods. The humor is rooted in a distinctly British style of manic, fast-paced absurdity that balances environmental satire with explosive visual gags.

The 2015 Scholastic publication collects these strips into a graphic novel format, a transition that introduced Smart’s work to a much wider international audience. Smart designed the characters with expressive, exaggerated features to emphasize their volatile personalities, drawing heavy inspiration from classic animation and traditional newspaper comics. The series has been widely praised for its ability to engage reluctant readers, becoming a staple in modern primary school libraries for its accessibility and consistent comedic timing.