Fungus the Bogeyman (1977) was an instant cult classic with innumerable inventive details and clever social commentary on British society. Although many of his books are seen as children's books, Briggs himself said, “Books are not missiles, you don’t aim them at anybody”, and indeed his work cuts through many bookshop and readership categories. Fungus is a perfect example. It follows a day in what is actually a very ordinary life, but one subverted by slime, mould, and 'gloomy nihilism'; it is brilliant, funny, daring, guaranteed to shock some, and to put many off their breakfast.