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A review by kristennd
Beasts of Burden: Animal Rites by Evan Dorkin
4.0
It's very rare that I buy the collected version of a comic that I've already purchased and read in single issues, especially when it's collected in the more expensive hardcover format. I made an exception for this case primarily because it will be popular with my friends and a collected format is much easier both for loaning out and for reading. Also, it's good to demonstrate a market for stories other than typical superhero cape fare.
This is basically a horror story. It has elements of fantasy and mystery but what horror stories don't? There's some humor and hey -- it's cute animals talking. But it's not for small children. One chapter in particular was too dark for even some animal-loving adults I know. (Worse than We3, even.) Characters die violently and not just the bad guys.
Thompson's watercolor art is amazing, as usual. She does a really good job of making the animals expressive but still canine/feline. And some of the creepier panels will not leave your memory any time soon.
Dorkin is a popular humor writer than I haven't tried before and he was a weaker link. The humor is sitcom-y and can distract from the larger themes. The irascible pug that's clearly set up as a favorite is particularly irritating. But when the scenes become serious, the dialog smooths out.
This collection is intended as a first volume. Each of the eight stories stand on their own but later ones also hint at a larger threat.
This is basically a horror story. It has elements of fantasy and mystery but what horror stories don't? There's some humor and hey -- it's cute animals talking. But it's not for small children. One chapter in particular was too dark for even some animal-loving adults I know. (Worse than We3, even.) Characters die violently and not just the bad guys.
Thompson's watercolor art is amazing, as usual. She does a really good job of making the animals expressive but still canine/feline. And some of the creepier panels will not leave your memory any time soon.
Dorkin is a popular humor writer than I haven't tried before and he was a weaker link. The humor is sitcom-y and can distract from the larger themes. The irascible pug that's clearly set up as a favorite is particularly irritating. But when the scenes become serious, the dialog smooths out.
This collection is intended as a first volume. Each of the eight stories stand on their own but later ones also hint at a larger threat.