Publisher's Weekly Review
This lavishly illustrated riff on Orwell's Animal Farm transports readers to a crumbling castle where an experiment in animal collectivism has long ago collapsed into an authoritarian regime. President Silvio, an enormous bull, rules with an iron hoof, flanked by his rooster propagandist and pack of dog enforcers. Workers are kept in line through violence and the threat of literal hounds at the gate, and the cooperative motto "Everyone makes an effort," which is undermined by Silvio's proclamation that "it is power and power alone that will save us all!" Miss Bensalore, a cat trying to support her two kittens, becomes the leader of an underground rebellion, encouraging nonviolent resistance through art, anti-authoritarian pranking, and a boycott. Opening with the gruesome execution of a hen for hoarding her own egg, this is a grim fable, decidedly not for children despite Delep's charming, expressive storybook art. Glowing watercolors over detailed inks lends realism to the castle and a visceral edge to scenes of violence, suffering, and desperation. The pages are sometimes cramped and wordy, but the action moves smoothly through the triumphs and brutal setbacks of the growing revolution. Blending animal fantasy with tense political thriller, this series is likely to draw fans of both. (July)
Library Journal Review
Dorison (Human Stock Exchange) and illustrator Delep put a medieval spin on George Orwell's classic 1945 novel Animal Farm in their comic series about a society of animals living in an abandoned castle. After her husband dies, a cat named Miss B. takes a job lugging bricks in order to provide for her kittens. It's brutally difficult work, but brutality is a fact of life in the Animal Republic, where anything less than absolute obedience to President Silvio--a hulking bull--is regarded as treason and is punishable by death. When a rat called Azelard visits the castle to perform an allegorical play questioning President Silvio's claim that he's all that stands between the castle's denizens and utter destruction by outside forces, Miss B. is inspired to create subversive artwork of her own. She enlists an amorous rabbit to assist her in painting flowers on the castle's walls, setting in motion a chain of events that soon shakes the foundation of their society. VERDICT Dorison's briskly paced script skillfully balances a large cast of memorable characters, all brought to life by Delep's vibrantly painted illustrations. This edition collects the first five issues of the ongoing series.
