Image Comics' Stray Dogs Leaves Readers Begging for More Tales
- WRITER
- Tony Fleecs
- Artist
- Trish Forstner
- Letterer
- Tone Rodriguez
- Cover Artist
- Trish Forstner
- Publisher
- Image Comics
- Price
- 16.99
- Release Date
- 2021-09-15
- Colorist
- Brad Simpson
Prior to the meteoric success of their creator-owned Stray Dogs Image Comics series, which is already getting its own animated adaptation, Tony Fleecs and Trish Forstner were best known for their work on IDW's My Little Pony. While Stray Dogs also centers around anthropomorphized animals, it is a clear departure from their family-friendly work that throws its adorable stars into a dangerous home where sinister revelations lurk around every corner. The release of the trade paperback edition, which collects the entire five-issue series, gives readers an opportunity to read the compelling story in its entirety.
Stray Dogs follows an anxious young dog named Sophie whose owner takes her to the vet to get her shots. When Sophie wakes up a new human is taking her to a new home full of other dogs. As Sophie meets her new roommates and attempts to acclimate to her bizarre new surroundings, she is haunted by occasional memories of her original owner being killed by her new master. She recruits some of the other dogs to help her investigate their master, and the dogs discover a series of increasingly disturbing clues around the house that point to the fact that their loving master is far more malevolent than they could have ever imagined.
Fleecs has crafted a well-plotted anxiety-inducing thriller, made all the more accessible and impactful by the fact that all of the main characters are adorable dogs. This fun twist on the murder mystery catches the reader off guard with its high stakes but maintains a degree of whimsy that makes it easy to care for its protagonists. Fleecs gives each dog a distinct personality that allows each member of the large cast to play their own distinct role in the narrative. One of the most interesting and endearing elements of the story is the way Fleecs plays with the fickle nature of dogs' memories and loyalty. These present interesting practical and emotional challenges and help to ground the fantastical talking dogs in a harsh reality.
Trish Forstner and colorist Brad Simpson have designed a cast of charming and adorable dogs who shine brightly against the menacing landscape of the master's house. The cute, emotive style Forstner draws the dogs in is reminiscent of Disney's original Lady and the Tramp. This style underscores the innocence of the animals which makes the danger they face feel all the more sinister. But despite the inherently sweet nature of Forstner's dogs, her action scenes prove that the animals are more than capable of taking care of themselves when they need to. She depicts violence without pulling any punches or betraying the characters she's created. Tone Rodriguez's layouts help the story move at a quick, dreadful pace without sacrificing any clarity.
The trade-paperback edition of Stray Dogs collects a disarming story that charms and terrifies in equal measure. The entire creative team forces endearing dogs into horrible situations but gives them the satisfaction of clawing their way to a better life. Stray Dogs is a pulse-pounding story of suspense and dread, but at the center of all that terror is a heartfelt story about friends banding together to help each other out of a bad situation. Dog lovers, mystery fanatics, and comics fans will all find something to love in this book.