Reviews 

Busiek and Dewey Create a Class Menagerie in “Tooth and Claw” #1 [Review]

By | November 7th, 2014
Posted in Reviews | 4 Comments

This book is truly and completely outstanding. Here are some things you can expect in the first issue of “Tooth and Claw”: a completely new mythology, a menagerie of animal-people, sumptuous environments, high stakes, plot twists, endearing characters and magnificent visuals. Nothing about this book is predictable; it positively sparkles with novelty. Showcasing the unique and revering the unexpected, each of the forty-four pages of “Tooth and Claw” #1 are all filled to the brim with creativity.

Written by Kurt Busiek
Illustrated by Benjamin Dewey

MARVELS and ASTRO CITY writer KURT BUSIEK returns to Image Comics with rising-star artist BEN DEWEY for an all-new ONGOING SERIES! Conan meets Game of Thrones meets Kamandi in an original high-fantasy epic for mature readers, as a secret conclave of wizards brings a legendary champion back through time to save the world, with disastrous consequences. The action begins in a spectacular DOUBLE-SIZED FIRST ISSUE, with forty-four pages of story with no ads for the regular price of just $2.99!

Busiek and Dewey introduce us to a world that is unlike anything familiar, yet, is not so dissimilar from our own. The animal people of “Tooth and Claw” have created a society that is highly civilized and rigorously organized. However, from the first page on, we are aware that we are seeing the way things were in this world, not the way things are. This story is about a moment of significant change. The introduction of that idea early on adds a dramatic tension to the narrative. Readers know that something is going to go wrong, but the suspense created by not knowing what it is, or when it will happen propels the story forward. We know from the outset that we are being shown a snapshot of the way things were, so that we will be able to appreciate the impact of how different things have become.

Populating this new world are beautifully rendered animal people. The manifest for Noah’s ark could not have had more variety than the exquisite anthropomorphic cast of “Tooth and Claw.” Each panel presents a veritable kingdom of animals, ranging from the domestic to the exotic and everywhere in between. Dewey embraces the opportunity to dazzle the audience with new and exciting creatures throughout the first issue.

The sheer force of imagination required to combine human and animal anatomy, as Dewey has here, is mind boggling. How do you turn a hoof into a hand? How do you convey that a frog is impressed? What would a dog’s shoulders look like? What would a giraffe wear when he or she wanted to look their best? These are just a few of the questions that had to be addressed in the creation of this cast of characters. The artist finds assets in these unexpected combinations utilizing both animal expressions, such as a dog character laying his ears back in fear; with human gestures and body language. This gives these characters an ability to emote that is positively unrivaled. Each species has their own unique gait and physicality. These distinct mannerisms reflect personality traits people commonly project on different animals. The squirrel is, well, squirrely; the warthog is boorish; the eagle is proud, etc. In playing on the common associations, Dewey and Busiek find another level of characterization that requires no dialogue or motion to be perceived. The characters of “Tooth and Claw” are an achievement in and of themselves.

The natural order of this world is altered thoroughly. Aquatic life and insects seem to function as livestock. In several panels, characters wear insects wings in the same fashion that one might wear ornamental feathers. Flying squid are ridden like horses, as are giant insects. This makes sense because the highly refined and sophisticated animal people of the Seventeen Cities would never be your beasts of burden. (They’ve walked for miles, their feet are hurtin’ – you are welcome – stuck in your head all day now, I know.) There is an attention to detail in the conceptual structure of this world that is incredibly impressive.

While the creative team behind “Tooth and Claw” re-imagines the natural order of the world, they maintain a relatable social order. The problems facing the characters in this series are all too recognizable. Income inequality, depletion of resources and the search for alternative fuel sources are just a few of the very modern quandaries facing the fantastical creatures in this imagined setting. The division of power among the deities of this world sound like a list of cabinet level positions. There are gods of homeland security, housing and urban development, health, education, welfare, and wildlife and fisheries. The governing body here is theocratic, integrating religion and politics completely. They are concerned with tradition to a much greater extent than progress.

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The political environment makes the biggest problem facing this society much more difficult to deal with. In a world where magic is both the currency and fuel source necessary for maintaining their way of life, the looming threat of exhausting that resource presents a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Rejecting both the idea of conservation and searching for a new fuel source the debate on the subject of magic’s failing has come to a standstill. This dilemma sparks the inciting incident that will frame the rest of the series.

In an attempt to circumvent the problem, those in positions of power try a new and extreme approach. This decision results in the literal fall of civilization. This moment is both the narrative highpoint of the book. Drenched in magical auras, this act of desperation spans several pages. Jordie Bellaire’s colors soar in this section of the story. Full of energy and the sense of danger, this sequence changes everything for this entire society.

To read “Tooth and Claw” is to discover something new. Nothing here is predictable. Each artistic flourish, new character, plot device and narrative twist come naturally out of nowhere. This creates a sensation of joy and reminds the audience how much fun it can be to imagine the unimaginable.

This is the beauty of creativity and collaborative storytelling. This entire world started as idea. Maybe it was scribbled on a napkin, saved on a smartphone, jotted down in a margin or whispered to a friend. A quick and fleeting thing that could have been easily lost, this idea grew instead. It grew legs and gained voices. It found people to make it stronger, to make itself real. Then it was born climbing from one mind, like Athena, to the minds of many. This idea will spark more ideas, an entire generation of creative thought might come from this one ephemeral notion. This is the reason people write and draw and read and watch and try. We dream so that every once in a while we can catch one of those dreams and give it back to the world. I’m so thankful that there are those among us with the passion and the talent required to bring things like this to life. This is the beauty of creativity.

Final Verdict: 9.3 – Trust your animal instincts and get on board now.


Sam LeBas

Sam resides in Louisiana, and has a twang in her voice, even when her words are in print. Her first crush was Burt Ward. She reviews comics, writes features, and co-host podcasts at imageaddiction.net. She also blogs about comic books from a feminist, literary perspective at comicsonice.com You can find her on twitter @comicsonice where she makes inappropriate jokes and shamelessly promotes her work. Other than comic books, her greatest passions are applied linguistics and classic country music. She enjoys quality writing implements, squirrels, and strong coffee.

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