Graphic Novels Reviews

 Title: Animal Castle Vol 1

Author: Xavier Dorison

Artist: Felix Delep

Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley

 

               The introduction tot his graphic novel notes that Orwell’s classic Animal Fiction is the point of departure. 

               But it isn’t really Orwell.  It seems to use Orwell’s point to make the same classic points about government and how to resist government (and how such resistance can fail or be subverted), but it does so to heighten the violence, and there is so much violence.

               Additionally, the animal divisions don’t quite make sense -  predator animals are enforcers except for our heroine which is a cat, so her exclusion from the power structure doesn’t quite make sense.  She is the voice of reason. 

               While the book does try to make comments about certain political climates or movements – Silvo for instance could be several different political leaders -  the whole thing feels empty without any real depth or point, outside of violence.  The lesson or moral if you prefer of Orwell’s book is absent here (as the lesson in the second half of Watership Down even).  If anything, this graphic novel just makes you want to read Animal Farm again.

               Also this is nothing really like Beasts of Burden or Stray Dogs – unless you count the violence, and this is far more graphic then those.

Title: Love: The Mastiff (Love #5)

Author/Illustrator: Frederic Brremaud, Federico Bertolucci

I love this series.  The artwork is so glorious. 

 

This installment follows a mastiff on his way after the death of his owner.  If you want to know the dog's fate: the dog does not die.

 

The journey that the animal takes does not make sense from a logical stand point, it does allow the team to illustrate a whole slew of Australian animals, including the platypus.  I love a good platypus story.

 

Being a Love book, there are side stories in addition to the mastiff, including that of a platypus and a wombat.

 

There are platypus babies.   

 

As a dog owner whose dogs are not friendly to prey animals, I did raise an eyebrow as the mastiff saves kangaroos and platypus.  Not that I blame him, and in terms of a human motivation for why the dog does what he does, the plot of the story does prove one (and let's be honest, cats can plot revenge so why not dogs.  I know dogs can carry grudges).

 

But the Love series isn't really about natural accuracy  - look at the earlier books, though that has change over the course of the series, becoming more accurate, more environmentally aware.  The idea of animals feeling love - be it for each other or for an owner - will annoy some people, but if you believe that a mother animal can feel love, be it a passing love for a current baby, then you will enjoy this story.