Image Comics 2014
Written by Kurt Busiek
Illustrated by Benjamin Dewey
Coloured by Jordie Bellaire
Lettered * Designed by John Roshell & Jimmy Betancourt
To be honest i’d pretty much forgotten about this series and reading it again brought back the awe, wonder and magic of it all. The animals who have the human appearance and use speech and all that cross the boundary of childhood books with modern age writing by Kurt to really make this a standout. Of course Benjamin and Jordie’s interiors go a long, long way to helping that along with such gorgeous imagery.
The opening with Learoyd seeing that woman and having it be something between a vision and reality serves only to deepen the mystery surrounding him, why he’s there and how humans fit into all this. I think back to when they summoned him and his strange appearance to them and it all just keeps me wondering still. There’s an innocence in all this that stays with you when reading this amidst the fighting that i’m enjoying immensely.
I’m a huge fan of Dusty’s he’s such a puppy and yet such a teenager and follows Learoyd around like this combo best friend/loyal pet and it’s just odd, fun and so not what he was brought up for. I mean this is the first human he’s seen and i’m sure no one on Earth has seen in quite some time, specially if his vision/experience was correct. Still as eager as he is to be his right hand dog he’s still so young and the reminder of his father is a great example of the kind of characterization Kurt brings to the series. It’s emotional, strong and extremely poignant.
As the boys travel the land they are besieged by those thinking them wizards. Not really a far cry off if you think about but they aren’t fans of wizards. That they can’t seem to catch a break and with just the two of them even with Learoyd being such a fearsome fighter they are outnumbered. Still i’m kind of impressed with Learoyd and his fighting prowess and his new look as brought to us by Benjamin and Jordie.
There’s something mystical and enthralling about them fighting in the snow with the whiteness of the fur and the colours of his armour and cape that just take you to this fairytale land. The attention to detail the way the pages flow and the action unfolds it’s just that kind of stuff you look at think there’s a happy ending somewhere there has to be. Granted no fairy tale i’ve ever read that wasn’t disneyfied had a truly happy ending but with everything here we want there to be one.
I can’t recommend enough that this be read by everyone. It’s got some stellar writing, characterization, plot advancement surrounded by this world filled with creatures that shouldn’t exist while those that should haven’t been seen in who knows how long. Creative, inventive and innovative this is a wonderful escape from reality.