Adventures in Advent: Advent 2024, Day 12

Advent doesn't have to just be for lovers of Christmas. In fact, it doesn't even have to be for people. There's dozens of Advent calendars out there for people's pets! Obviously, the joy and excitement is for the owner. However, there's something to be said about catering to our four legged friends. According to a 2023 report, the pet industry generates over $137 billion in the United States alone. It's expected to triple in less than a decade!

To be fair to both the cat lovers and dog devotees, I'm looking at 2 pet Advents. 

First is for the pups. Smartbones is a smaller scale pet treat company that specializes in 'healthy alternatives to rawhide.' In their calendar, doggies will receive products made from chicken and pork, including chews made of bacon and cheese and vegetables. 

Have a pup over 50lbs? Don't worry! Smartbones has a calendar filled with appropriate size treats for all sizes of canines. 

Felines can also enjoy treats with their Advent calendars. But I didn't want to be repetitive. Instead, let's look at enrichment. Having owned a cat my entire life, I know that they get bored really easily. Ever had a kitty knock something over for no good reason? It's because they are craving excitement and interaction. Many companies know this and offer a variety of Advents that feature 24 different cat toys that focus on different textures and assorted activation of the senses. There's toys with feathers, bells, crinkly materials and scratcher material like sisal and hemp rope. 

However, with each cat toy Advent, there seems to be one 'toy' that's solely for the benefit of the cat parents: the bow-tie with adjustable strap. I don't know about you but most of my cats would rather been dunked in Alpo and have to spend the night with a pack of Chihuahuas than have to wear clothes. Much less a necktie. But Lord knows, my wife and I just swoon over the sight of our cat babies in human style clothing.

Affordable, fun and festive. Next year, think about including your favorite pet in the Advent adventure.

Stray

There's been more than a fair share of great comic book titles being unceremoniously cancelled, scraped or plain up never getting past the planning stage. This 2001 deluxe format comic by Scott Lobdell and Jimmy Palmiotti might just rank among those titles.

Stray is the story of an aspiring actress whose life turns upside down the day she gets fired from her waitressing gig. We all know that adopting a stray dog on the day you get canned isn't exactly the wisest financial decision to make. But that's exactly what Catherine 'Cat' Denton does. Call her a softie.

Unknown to Cat is at that exact moment an alien life-form named Acturex is hurtling to planet Earth to stop a hidden menace seeking to conquer our planet. Acturex's plain is to merge into the body of Garrick, Cat's downstairs neighbor who's a prime specimen of strength, endurance and good looks. However, a slight miscalculation causes Acturex to merge into the body of the stray living with Cat. And there's no way for the alien to find a new host until his mission is complete.

Using her acting skills and various costume changes, Cat Denton now goes on casting calls by day and secretly saves the Earth from alien invasion at night with the help of Rex, her super-powered and psychically linked pooch!

I couldn't tell you where I got this book. I've had it for awhile. Probably came from a grab bag. Having an adorable animal as a main character, I still didn't take any chances before I read this book. Having been burnt before by the shocking and gruesome death of the dog in issue #1 of The Weather Man, I made sure that no animals were harmed or killed in the completion of this comic. Once I broke one of LaVar Burton's cardinal rules of book consumption from Reading Rainbow, I dug into the book and was pleasantly surprised. 

The art looked a little bit off. I at first thought it was computer generated. Once I realized that Dustin Nguyen was behind the inking of Adam Polina's artwork, I knew that this wasn't funky CGI material; this was year 3000 illustrations! My puny human brain just wasn't able to comprehend the evolution of the artistic talent behind Stray.

I don't think the advanced penciling for this story was what has prevented there from ever being another story about Cat and Rex. Its been 23 years with bupkis. Though Stray was a joint DC/Wild storm production, the book itself was published by Homage Comics. I don't know about you, but I've never heard of this venture before(I think). A quick Google search reveals that they were the driving force behind Astro City and Leave It To Chance before Wildstorm quickly absorbed these Indy classics. 

You go to the Homage Comics page on the DC Wiki and Stray isn't even listed as one of their publications. So I think this book might be all we get. Barring some miracle revival. Until then, if you ever come across this book in a bargain bin at your favorite LCS or a Con, you really should consider picking it up. It's a quirky, quick read that oozes heart and creativity. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Scooby-Doo Team-Up #18

Sholly Fisch and Dario Brizuela pay tribute to just about every dog and cat character to ever grace a DC comic in this issue of Scooby-Doo Team-Up! 

Krypto, Ace, the Bat Hound, the Super Friends' Wonder Dog, and Green Lantern G'Nort, along with Scooby, travel to an alien planet inhabited entirely by felines and canines. That planet's version of the Justice League, The SCPA (Space Canine Patrol Agents) are plagued by the ghosts of some of their original members. Taking a page (actually several pages) from the history of many JSA and JLA crossovers, these heroic pooches make contact with the original team only to be faced with a quartet of bewitched missing protagonists. 

Once Scooby and pals get to the bottom of this mystery, it will become a multi-species battle royale that must be seen to believed!

Even though this is a 7 year old comic, I don't want to spoil it too much. But if you ever wanted to see Scooby-Doo pairing up with Yankee Poodle from the Zoo Crew, you will get your wish. If you've ever wanted a Scooby-Doo story without those meddling kids, you will get your wish. This was a story that I never really thought in a million years that would ever transpire. 

Honestly, I feel like maybe some of these characters are made up. I know all characters are made up. I mean from the mind of Sholly Fisch just for this issue. But a quick Google search shows that a bunch of these characters are from the Krypto The Superdog TV show that aired on Cartoon Network in the early 2000s. Thus, I rescind any complaint about that. But really has G'Nort ever before been portrayed as a wise leader? That's got to be from Fisch's imagination for sure!

A Scooby-Doo story unlike any other I've ever read. Thank you SCTU creators for keeping this fantastic series fresh!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Christmas is Good!: Trixie's Guide to a Happy Holiday by Trixie Koontz

An adorable look at the wonders of Christmas through the eyes of a dog!

Trixie Koontz, the golden retriever princess of writer Dean Koontz, crafted a guide to everything good about the holidays. Though I once owned a dog, I am a cat person. Yet, I was able to enjoy this amazing book that brought me quite a few laughs.

Trixie, who passed away in 2007, loved treats. Especially sausages! And that devotion shows. Her book was written as a way to raise funds for Canine Companions for Independence, an organization that trained assistance dogs for people with special needs. Before an elbow injury, Trixie was an employee of CCI. After having surgery to repair the damage, Trixie went to live with the Koontz family and continued on as a spokes-canine for the organization. 

Christmas is Good! was Trixie's second book. She also wrote Life is Good! about how fun it is to live life as a pampered pooch. If I ever find that book, I will definitely pick it up.

I'm not sure how I got this book. I very recently found it in my book cabinet beside my side of the bed. Since it was a short read and I had some time, I gave it a quick read. And I fell in love. This one is definitely a keeper and it might just become an annual read addition to my holiday traditions. 

Lots of fun even if Trixie isn't a fan of cats.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Four-Fisted Tales

I'm a real big fan of the classic EC Comics from the 1950s. The long-defunct publisher was known for its horror and crime titles. Yes, one series that really stole my heart was Two-Fisted Tales. The creation of the great Harvey Kurtzman, the series showed the guts and no glory side of combat with a message of 'War is Hell'. Equally legendary artists Jack Davis, John Severin, Wally Wood, Alex Toth and DC's King of War Comics, Joe Kubert contributed to the series which lasted 24 issues. Though that might be a small run compared to G.I. Combat or Sgt. Rock, the legacy of Two-Fisted Tales has endured for decades.

So imagine my excitement last year when I read about this really cool graphic novel from Ben Towle (Amelia Earhart: The Broad Ocean.) Even though Four-Fisted Tales isn't related to those beloved EC Comics, the influence is clearly there. The cover, which shows an array of animals trudging behind a soldier reminds me of the Severin covers when the series shifted focus more on swashbuckling tales of action and adventure. There's that signature colored bar the runs vertically on the left-hand side. And the title with the hyphenated words larger than life. Believe me, when I saw this book being advertised in the trades, I thought I had been transported back to a newsstand in 1953!

Four-Fisted Tales explores the impact animals of various species and sizes have made on warfare- both ancient and modern. There's Hannibal's use of elephants to transverse the Alps. The long-standing tradition of cats being made crew members on naval ships. The importance of carrier pigeons on the western front of World War I to coordinate attacks, retreats and rescues. Towle's collection also features loyal dogs, the game-changing horse, even a bear as important tools in assisting in the war effort. Though not every animal is on the side of the good guys, their importance and assistance in never in doubt. 

There's even a little bit of that Harvey Kurtzman anti-war message in this book. Which if keeping with the spirit of the original series, I completely understand. But it also makes for the epilogue to have this fun and educational graphic novel to end on a low note. I acknowledge; war isn't pretty. But with some of the more light-hearted and heart-warming stories that fill this book, I didn't expect it to end on such a bummer.

I'm hoping there will be a volume 2. I feel like there are so many more stories out there to be told of how the animal kingdom has been used to expand and conquer the kingdoms of human history. 

Worth Consuming

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Bear (Family Comic Friday)

There's an exciting new graphic novel coming this summer from Archaia! Check out this preview of Bear in this week's Family Comic Friday!

Bear (Hardcover)
Writer: Ben Queen
Artist: Joe Todd-Stanton
Published by Archaia
Pages: 160
Retail: $24.99

Bear is a guide dog. From a family of police dogs, all Bear has ever wanted to do is serve. Overlooked by the police academy, it seems that Bear will never achieve his dream to helps others. The puppy finally gets his chance when Bear is paired with his blind master, Patrick. Unfortunately, Bear's mission is seriously compromised when he suddenly one day loses his sight.

Afraid to not be able to be a guide dog any more, a panicked Bear runs away from home. Hearing of a miracle lying in the woods beyond his home, Bear wanders alone seeking a way to regain his sight and runs into another bear. The grizzly kind!

Now the unlikely pairing of Bear and bear run amok seeking to save the guide dog's sight while hopefully being reunited with owner Patrick. It's a comedy of errors that evolves into the self-discovery that being blind means that one can see just as well with their other senses!

Bear was one of the most beautiful books I have read. The way Joe Todd-Stanton paints these ethereal displays of how the blind pup sees the world with his hearing, touch, taste and smell was so magnificent.

For instance, there's a scene in which Bear hears a choirs in a nearby cathedral. The imagery of what Bear imagines this setting to look like filled my mind with bellows of organ pipes and voices of angelic singers. Todd-Stanton doesn't use any sound effects for this scene. But I could hear volumes thanks to his wondrous art!

Ben Queen's story is just as superb as Joe Todd-Stanton's art. I must confess however that when my editor asked me to review this book I balked. I've been burned by promising projects starring animals that end up having some tragic death of a beloved furry character. 

SPOILER- I can attest that no animals were seriously harmed in the making of this book.
Bear is an original graphic novel that the whole family will fall in love with. It's got humor, drama, and above all else- heart! The message of perseverance and overcoming personal challenges is a story that will resonate with any and all!  There's even a little bit of romance between a couple of characters. Nothing mushy. But it does help make for the perfect ending.

It's a real shame that this book isn't available in a format for the visually impaired. This would be such an inspiring story for a child dealing with blindness. However, if a young reader with sight has a family member or friend that is experiencing the effects of vision loss, Bear is the perfect introduction into that person's day-to-day life with the disability. I feel you really get a chance to experience life as a person with blindness thanks to the artwork especially.

This is one of those rare stories that you want to know more with a sequel. But I think if you added more to Bear and Patrick's story, you'd ruin how perfect it is. I think we definitely have another nominee for all ages graphic novel of the year!

Bear will debut in August, 2020. It's currently available for pre-order now! Help a struggling comic shop recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and order a copy today!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars

Dogs of War

I must admit, I broke one of my most cardinal reading rules with this book! I looked ahead! Spoilers! (And with that, be warned as my spoiling will probably spoil this book if you wanted to read it!)

But I did it with a very good reason. In this book there are heroic tales about 3 dogs used by the Brits and US Armies to aid for the war effort. The first story takes place in the trenches of the Western Front (WWI) where a young medic and his rescue dog wind up with an Irish unit after a massive shelling attack. I just knew the dog was going to die in the end and there was no way I was going to read this book if I got attached to a 4-legged friend only for him or her to buy it Old Yeller Style.

But, I finished the book, so obviously the dogs all lived, right? Well, with two of these dogs, their fate is left up in the air, but all 3 remained alive and well by stories end. So if they died tragically in combat, it’s a story for another time to be told in their future.

The other two stories involve American dog handlers. The first of those tales involves an Artic rescue team in Greenland as they provide safety and rescue for planes using the island nation as a way station before heading to Europe. I did not know that we secretly set up air strips in Greenland a good 6 months before Pearl Harbor and if the Nazis found out, it would’ve been an act of war on our parts. I also did not know that we fought Nazis on North American soil, although some consider Greenland to be part of Europe (See: A Risk board game)

The final story is told in flashbacks with a GI trying to adjust to life back home after a stint in Vietnam. PTSD, racism, and a touching story between the wounded vet and a young neighbor who’s struggling to train his new puppy makes this perhaps the most powerful of the 3 tales. But I enjoyed all three stories.

The afterword in this book gives a small history lesson on dogs and their roles in times of conflict. Events in Korea, the Gulf War, and the current war on terror in Afghanistan and Iraq are briefly mentioned along with the three wars covered in this book. I would be pleasantly surprised if another volume covering the wars I mentioned early was published as a companion piece to this book. I’d very much have to read it.

The art and coloring varies. There’s a Paul Pope quality to the works with splashes of Darwyn Cooke. I really love Cooke’s art but Pope’s is hit and miss. However, it was very detailed and I enjoyed the use of color schemes as well as varying art-styles during flashbacks and scenes from a soldier’s private sketches.

Lastly, I want to talk about the rating for this book. The book itself has no rating on the front or back cover.  But I found this in the Children and Youth graphic novel shelf in New Arrivals at my local library. Amazon considers Dogs of War to be for ages 8-12. I just think 8 is too young for kids to be reading and seeing (this is a graphic novel) war and death. There isn’t any swears but at least one Nazi buys it Rambo style (Knife slit to the throat from behind) and several soldiers are gunned down violently. Yes- red ink flows from the colorist’s marker in these stories. So, I would at least advise parents and schools to possibly let only ages 10 and up read this book and with anything war/ violence/ and adult themes related, use discretion when letting youngsters read this book.

   And for adult readers like me, this book isn’t dumbed down. It’s the same quality of work I would expect from DC or Marvel’s voluminous war titles that were geared to teens and adults from the 60s onward. You too can enjoy this book and not feel like you’re reading a Disney novel!

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars