At roughly 55.5 million views, “Keyboard Cat” is one of the most popular videos on YouTube. Though it’s been over a decade since that glorious clip was uploaded, Keyboard Cat speaks to an enduring trait of American culture: we love to watch cute animals do cute things.
When cats are involved, people will pay attention. Just ask Lying Cat, from Brian K. Vaughan’s critically acclaimed Saga series. There is another promising addition to the “Cats in Comics” canon with Strayed, releasing on August 14 from Dark Horse Comics.
What’s STRAYED about?
(No spoilers.)
In the world of Strayed, a military-industrial complex fuels a relentless hunt for resources across the galaxy. This campaign is helmed by the “Infinite race,” who colonize planets and upend the lives of their native population in the process.
In order to identify planets ripe for colonization, the Infinites enlist a cat named Lou for his powers of astral projection — which allows his mind to travel through space. He reports what he sees through a translation collar made by his loving owner, Dr. Kiara Rodriguez.
Both are working for the Infinites against their will, unable to leave until their mission is complete. For months, Lou and Kiara live in the confines of a top-secret military base somewhere in space as the Infinites pillage planets, kill innocents, and take what is not theirs. Unable to see each other freely, Kiara and Lou are essentially prisoners longing to be home where they can feel like family again.
The story climaxes when the Infinite leaders have found an alternate use for Kiara’s translation device. Will Lou and Kiara continue to work for the Infinites and be complicit in their crimes? Or will they risk their lives to break the chain?
The Writing in STRAYED
In issue one of Strayed, Carlos Giffoni’s writing gracefully balances violent depictions of colonialism with moving displays of love between a pet and his companion in life. There were so many tender, surprising, clever, frustrating moments that Giffoni wrote into issue one of Strayed.
Carlos Giffoni is a Venezuelan writer, musician, and video game creative director/producer currently living in LA.
Every debut comic needs to create an interesting world inhabited with compelling characters. Strayed does just that. Anyone who is passionate about their pet will attach themselves to Lou and identify with Kiara. Anyone who sees colonialism as a violent force of greed will want to rebel against the Infinites.
The Art in STRAYED
Artist and colorist Juan Doe’s unique style works perfectly in this outer space setting. (This was especially true during Lou’s vivid — and important — nightmare sequence in the middle of the book.) Lou’s face and eyes are highly emotive, expressing insight, fear, and love. The consistent palette of reds and greens make every gesture, feature, and detail pop, which enhances the reading experience.
My favorite show of artistry in Strayed is the non-traditional panel structure used throughout. Rather than favoring a traditional grid layout, Doe draws panels that use symmetry or hierarchy of size to convey the narrative. For example, the two-page spread for Lou’s nightmare shows his face in the middle, as the jarring events of his dream swarm around his head in organically-shaped panels.
Matt Krotzer’s lettering in Strayed is also worthy of praise. Always capitalized, the letters have variations in style, weight, and size. Krotzer uses a different lettering style for Lou to instantly convey that he uses a translation device to communicate, setting a pitch and tone for his dialogue.
Strayed Comic Rating
9.5/10
In STRAYED, Giffoni, Doe, and Krotzer create an emotionally and intellectually engaging world of characters, metaphors, and themes. The story is personal and political, cute and horrifying, strange and serious, all at once.
Tweet
Secret Society Comics 