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Comix Roundup 12/29
13 years ago
It's been a while since I've done one of these. I had a few minor obligations these past few weeks (holidays, visits, my apartment almost catching fire) that distracted me from rambling about comic books on a furry website. The anthro comics train keeps chugging along, though, with nary a holiday feast or barely-averted disaster to slow it.
My sister came to visit me this week, and insisted on spending a day out in the frigid Manhattan wind, sipping coffee and sucking cigarettes just to make sure our throats didn't freeze shut. We ducked into a Barnes & Noble to warm ourselves, and I wasted no time dropping nearly a hundred bucks on comics. Addiction is a powerful thing.
Several anthro-related titles caught my eye. I snapped them up and read them all in one night to ensure that you, the Furries, can avoid the crap and check out the best.
Iron, or The War After is a hardbound graphic novel by NYC-based artist S.M. Vidaurri that tells the tale of a group of post-war rebels, a terroristic plot, and their shifting faiths and alliances. A rabbit, Hardin, steals sensitive documents to put a bombing plan into action, setting off a series of events that affect everyone from high-ranking Regime officials to orphaned children. It's a tale of alliances, determination, and the effects of political belief on those involved. The story is set in a bleak, wintry countryside, reflected beautifully in the muted, limited-palette watercolors that comprise the comic's style. The characters are animal people drawn with realistic, inexpressive features that force the reader to get into the characters' heads to determine their emotions. All in all, this is one of the best works of anthropomorphic literature that I've encountered in a while. Anyone with an interest in historical fiction and watercolor comics should check it out.
Ralph Azham Vol. 1: Why Would You Lie to Someone You Love? by Lewis Trondheim is a very unique and distinctly French comic about a sarcastic young man who finds himself the unwilling center of a fantasy epic. The titular character's sarcasm and tendency to find himself in trouble spectacularly deconstruct the fantasy trope of the Reluctant Hero while providing a humorous, engaging story. The art style is cartoonish, but the themes presented certainly speak to an older audience. Definitely fun, definitely worth a look.
Ratfist by Earthworm Jim creator Doug TenNapel recounts the adventures of the vigilante Ratfist as he finds himself turning into a literal rat man after being bitten. A conspiracy involving beastman security guards, ancient Tiki magic, government testing, and a cast of wacky, referential characters drives the silly-yet-intense plot. However, the use of the main character as an author stand-in to espouse TenNapel's conservative views and occasionally smash the fourth wall hampers the otherwise interesting plot, breaking the suspension of disbelief and sometimes becoming just plain annoying. The scene where the main character, an actual anthropomorph, punches a bad fursuit-wearing furry in the face redeems it, though. All in all, the comic would be wonderful if not for the author's insistence on transparently pushing his opinions through it. Still good fun, though.
Enjoy and read, my friends. The realm of anthro comics is growing by the day and pushing the boundaries of the medium with each new publication. If you know of any I should check out, let me know.
My sister came to visit me this week, and insisted on spending a day out in the frigid Manhattan wind, sipping coffee and sucking cigarettes just to make sure our throats didn't freeze shut. We ducked into a Barnes & Noble to warm ourselves, and I wasted no time dropping nearly a hundred bucks on comics. Addiction is a powerful thing.
Several anthro-related titles caught my eye. I snapped them up and read them all in one night to ensure that you, the Furries, can avoid the crap and check out the best.
Iron, or The War After is a hardbound graphic novel by NYC-based artist S.M. Vidaurri that tells the tale of a group of post-war rebels, a terroristic plot, and their shifting faiths and alliances. A rabbit, Hardin, steals sensitive documents to put a bombing plan into action, setting off a series of events that affect everyone from high-ranking Regime officials to orphaned children. It's a tale of alliances, determination, and the effects of political belief on those involved. The story is set in a bleak, wintry countryside, reflected beautifully in the muted, limited-palette watercolors that comprise the comic's style. The characters are animal people drawn with realistic, inexpressive features that force the reader to get into the characters' heads to determine their emotions. All in all, this is one of the best works of anthropomorphic literature that I've encountered in a while. Anyone with an interest in historical fiction and watercolor comics should check it out.
Ralph Azham Vol. 1: Why Would You Lie to Someone You Love? by Lewis Trondheim is a very unique and distinctly French comic about a sarcastic young man who finds himself the unwilling center of a fantasy epic. The titular character's sarcasm and tendency to find himself in trouble spectacularly deconstruct the fantasy trope of the Reluctant Hero while providing a humorous, engaging story. The art style is cartoonish, but the themes presented certainly speak to an older audience. Definitely fun, definitely worth a look.
Ratfist by Earthworm Jim creator Doug TenNapel recounts the adventures of the vigilante Ratfist as he finds himself turning into a literal rat man after being bitten. A conspiracy involving beastman security guards, ancient Tiki magic, government testing, and a cast of wacky, referential characters drives the silly-yet-intense plot. However, the use of the main character as an author stand-in to espouse TenNapel's conservative views and occasionally smash the fourth wall hampers the otherwise interesting plot, breaking the suspension of disbelief and sometimes becoming just plain annoying. The scene where the main character, an actual anthropomorph, punches a bad fursuit-wearing furry in the face redeems it, though. All in all, the comic would be wonderful if not for the author's insistence on transparently pushing his opinions through it. Still good fun, though.
Enjoy and read, my friends. The realm of anthro comics is growing by the day and pushing the boundaries of the medium with each new publication. If you know of any I should check out, let me know.
