LIONS, TIGERS, & BEARS #1 REVIEW

[Al Harahap]

Reviewer: Al Harahap, al_harahap@comixfan.cjb.net
Quick Rating: Good

Lions, tigers, and bears… oh my!

Writer: Mike Bullock
Artist: Jack Lawrence
Letters: Dave Lanphear
Editor: Ron Marz
Created by: Mike Bullock

CAST:
Joey: Imaginative young lad.
Pallo: Lion stuffed animal, "Leader of the Pack."
Ares: White tiger stuffed animal, "Warrior of the Night."
Venus: Tiger stuffed animal, "Guardian of the Pride."
Minerva: Panther stuffed animal, "Huntress of the Shadows."
The Beasties: Creatures from another dimension.

For fans of: Dexter's Laboratory, the Harry Potter series, Toy Story, Winnie the Pooh


Let me clarify right off the bat: this looks like a "kiddie book." In many respects, this IS a "kiddie book." That said, for anyone of any age who had a vivid childhood imagination - and if you read comics, you probably did - it's an easily accessible and relatable read. With mainstream comics fast becoming more and more a kid-unfriendly medium with ratings of "PG," "Mature Readers," or the conveniently obscure and undecipherable "PSR+," a void in the industry's offering is growing bigger by the month. We all know this is happening because of the rising average age of comic readers, but what happens when this loyal generation of readers age and die, and there's not much to entice a younger audience to revive it? The all-ages genre is a dangerously ignored one, or at best minimally tended to, in the comics industry. Thankfully, Lions, Tigers, & Bears serves as a great remedy.

Relative newcomer Mike Bullock throws that childhood imagination in as his main ingredient and works the story around it. The main character Joey is stock, and so far remains as such, but you should be able to tell that this isn't a book starring a deeply tormented soul. On that note, he does have his fair share of childhood traumas. Moving into a new neighbourhood, Joey can't help being lonely and afraid. Without any friends, Joey falls into a depression that only what else but colourful toys can remedy. Grandma gives Joey the Night Pride, a set of four feline stuffed animals whose instructions say to place one beneath each corner of the bed, and come alive when things that go bump in the night threaten Joey.

"Toys coming alive" isn't the most original premise, but there's certainly something different about this bunch. They're instantly iconic, especially with the distinct labels (names and slogan) each stuffed animal is given. Bullock doesn't go much into their characterisation quite yet though. Pollo the lion does show his authority and leadership, and Ares the white tiger does become Joey's favourite and develop a certain closeness with him, while the two female felines aren't yet given much screen time. And that's basically it for now, which is a good introduction nonetheless. Although, I could have done without Joey's love for the "Tiger-Man and Little Lion" superhero comics, as they only serve to dilute the uniqueness of the Night Pride in the book's overall feel.

Providing the dynamic art is Jack Lawrence, known for his Darkham Vale, which can only be described as an all-ages gothic fantasy. Sound contradictory? Well, his unique style is precisely why the book gained cult status success. Though some may pigeonhole it in the "cartoony" category, there's a darkness about it that renders his fantastical creatures frightening and definitely not things you want to meet in your closet. For the same reasons, Lawrence's style fits the bill here. I'm not sure who's doing the digital touch-ups, but the background blurring is a bit much. More and more, this method is used in comics to give the illusion of depth, but when overdone like here, it ruins the background and only makes me think it's time to go to my optometrist. A little restraint and a smaller value on the blur filter would be pleasant. Most notably, however, Lawrence does a great job in distinguishing the cutesy Night Pride as stuffed animals and their other-dimensional realistic counterparts, which is a crucial element for the book to work.

Lions, Tigers, & Bears does work better for some than others. If you're an adult who can suspend your mature view of life for a moment to return to your childhood fantasies, check out the book. And let's not fool ourselves - if you're happily reading superhero comics, you belong. Otherwise, keep your wisened and jaded view of life away from this book because there's honestly not much stimulation here for you lot. For the younger audience, this is one of the better comics of original characters and original work to have come out in a long while.


ART:


STORY:


OVERALL:



Buy this issue online now from X-World Comics and save!