The double-sized first issue of Tooth & Claw does a great job of drawing the reader into its mystical, anthropomorphic-animal filled world. Though I would have liked to see more of the individual characters.
It's immediately evident that the creators have great designs for this series. This is a setting with history and many possible stories for the future. In this first issue alone we learn that gods once communicated with people, a hierarchy is in place where animals living on the ground are supposed to serve those living in the floating cities, and we are introduced to a society that reveres and studies magic like it were science. As I read I wanted to know more about all of these aspects and see more of what the Seventeen Cities had to offer.
My only gripe is that I wish we could have learned more about our main characters. Our guide to Keneil is Dunstan, a young English Bull Terrier. And while we observe that he is dutiful, kind, and a bit naive that is about it. It's similar with Gharta, The Seeker. But I understand Busiek had a lot of world building to do. And it's not like he did a poor job displaying the characters personalities. I'm sure we'll get more personal with them in forthcoming issues.
The artwork is fantastic. I really like the wardrobes of the characters as well as the animals themselves. I'm glad to see some obscure species being represented.
I came for the furry, but I'll stay for the epic, magical, mature goodness.
9 / 10
ComicBook Issue #1 - An Intriguing Introduction
The double-sized first issue of Tooth & Claw does a great job of drawing the reader into its mystical, anthropomorphic-animal filled world. Though I would have liked to see more of the individual characters.
It's immediately evident that the creators have great designs for this series. This is a setting with history and many possible stories for the future. In this first issue alone we learn that gods once communicated with people, a hierarchy is in place where animals living on the ground are supposed to serve those living in the floating cities, and we are introduced to a society that reveres and studies magic like it were science. As I read I wanted to know more about all of these aspects and see more of what the Seventeen Cities had to offer.
My only gripe is that I wish we could have learned more about our main characters. Our guide to Keneil is Dunstan, a young English Bull Terrier. And while we observe that he is dutiful, kind, and a bit naive that is about it. It's similar with Gharta, The Seeker. But I understand Busiek had a lot of world building to do. And it's not like he did a poor job displaying the characters personalities. I'm sure we'll get more personal with them in forthcoming issues.
The artwork is fantastic. I really like the wardrobes of the characters as well as the animals themselves. I'm glad to see some obscure species being represented.
I came for the furry, but I'll stay for the epic, magical, mature goodness. 9 / 10