Ahoy Comics 2018
Written by Stuart Moore
Pencilled by June Brigman
Inked by Roy Richardson
Coloured by Veronica Gandini
Lettered by Richard Starkings & Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt
As hundreds of cute kittens threaten to overrun the ship, Captain Ginger and Sergeant Mittens follow a mysterious signal to a deadly deep-space outpost!
I really do enjoy this series and mainly because it isn’t really tying to be something it’s not. The premise behind it is sensational and I like that we haven’t seen humans advance the cats to sentience but are in the midst of who knows how many generations later. I like seeing the different generations with different types of names ranging from the kitty names to the descriptive names to just a mass of nameless kittens. There really no rhyme of reason and I like that about this because it’s as fun, chaotic and dangerous as pointing a laser pointer at your dads crotch. All the things we love, and hate, about our feline friends.
I will say for all their unpredictability Stuart really does manage to give our main cast some killer characterisation. We kid around all the time about our fingernails and using someone as a scratching post for them, or getting Jungle Red, so to see that kind of aspect being used is extremely well done. The relationship between Sergeant Mittens and Captain Ginger and the rivalry they display is interesting as it pushes each of them to do their best. The honest talk between them here is great to see and way past due and here’s hoping that it continues because forget that male ego and let’s just see them have that non-threatening rivalry.
Ecru now she’s an interesting one. What kind of name is Ecru? If it’s based on the colours in her coat I guess okay I get it. I also thought it was interesting the timing of when Doc finds that embedded video file and what happens next. So now along with everything else that’s going on we’ve got this mystery, intrigue and possible betrayal going on as well. I thought we’d get that from Deena but I like that that was misdirection, well okay it’s apparently misdirection, or is it? At this stage that Stuart is keeping us guessing and pulling our strings like a marionettist is something that I hope keeps permeating the series.
June lays down some really nice pencils and has an excellent team behind her. I do really like the linework that we see here and how it’s able to depict fun or lack thereof in Doc’s case. How the varying weights are utilised to bring us some great attention to detail is really great to see. I adore how we see the emotions and feeling of these characters and how they have been brought to life. The utilisation of page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective show off a very solid, nice eye for storytelling. I love the colour work and the shading and gradation in the fur. Also how the linework, inking and colouring comes together to create those unique patterns in the fur that we see. I for one greatly appreciate how backgrounds are being utilised here as they do wonders to expand the moment and bring a size and scope to the book.
There is a lot going on here that is just wonderfully done. From the concept expanding to the story & plot development, the pacing and the great characterisation alongside these stellar interiors make this one of those books you don’t realise how much you look forward to reading it until you see it. Familiar names, new company same quality we’ve come to expect from them, yeah these are the books you’re looking for!