Beast Complex Vol. 1by Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 8 Six stories in the world of Beastars, where carnivores and herbivores grapple with a variety of relationships.The back cover says seven stories, but there are only six. At the end, there are some bonus strips about the manga-ka's journey to becoming a professional manga-ka. They also cover the publishing this and Beastars, which is interesting, especially the note about the timing of it compared to the release of Zootopia. There are also a few random pages of art. I really like these stories, and I would gladly buy more volumes like this. Each story is wonderfully rich and complex, and captures this world and its struggles very well. It works nicely as a stand-alone, so even if you're not reading or watching Beastars, you can read this. It's also not as dark as Beastars, even when it deals with the Black Market and some heavy topics. It's not in-your-face here. "The Lion and the Bat" is the first story. I'm super excited to see a bat character! He's huge, but size in this series doesn't always make sense. He's also nearly always got his wings wrapped around himself, which is almost funny at times, but fits with how he's become a recluse. His eyes are what really stand out, though. The story is one of personal growth for both characters, but the bat's tragic history with lions is what makes this a unique tale compared to any other story with the same challenges and growth for characters. "The Tiger and the Beaver" is the only story where the protagonists are the same sex. It's a story of best friends trying to figure out how their friendship will continue now that they've reached an age that their school segregates herbivores and carnivores for safety reasons. They witness a group of upperclassmen carnivores bullying a herbivore, and the Tiger takes a picture to prove it, which results in a fight / chase scene that only highlights even more how brutal this world can be. There are lessons learned here for the Tiger and the Beaver, but very specific to this world. I do appreciate how pragmatic the Beaver is, and how hopeful and good-intentioned the Tiger is. "The Camel and the Wolf" is an unexpected love story, of a kind. The focus is on carnivore's instincts, their desire to devour, and how that can be a very sensual, even sexual, thing, and not just a hunger for meat. It's so intimate! It's beautiful but also disturbing, in a similar way to how Beastars is trying to tackle the same topic, but this story has more mature characters, and has even arguably been romanticized by the Camel a decade after it happened. The Camel is an unusual animal choice, especially to pair with a wolf, and I like that. "The Kangaroo and the Black Panther" is the story of a kid (the female Black Panther) getting caught up in gang / Black Market stuff. Despite how that may sound to American readers, it doesn't read like it's talking about certain groups. This story highlights some of the really tough aspects about this world, for adults and youth. It comes to a serious head, and shows that herbivores are capable of defending themselves against carnivores, but it's also a story of a second chance. The Black Panther is still enough of a kid to be distracted by the beauty of fireworks, and that speaks volumes. The kangaroo is a nice, different animal, though his tail looks more dog-like. Stories five and six were written after Beastars was underway -- something the manga-ka mentions at the end -- and there is a higher level of detail and polish on these two stories. "The Crocodile and the Gazelle" pushes some boundaries of what herbivores and carnivores are allowed to say to each other. It leans heavily on a classic prey / predator pairing. The cooking show setting for the story brings to the forefront the issue of "meat" from that dynamic. It gets a bit uncomfortable, but the show's director sees the spark of good in it, pointing it out during heated moments. The best moment is the Gazelle realizing the Crocodile's food tastes really good. My biggest issue with this story is that the Crocodile is basically one of those guys who makes sexist / racist jokes and even subtly assaults people, and then gets mad if someone calls him on it. Even though the story and relationship works out in the end, that only happens because everyone, including the female Gazelle, lets him get away with what he did and said because he has the cooking skills to back up his predators-are-superior-chefs-because-they-appreciate-meat talk. And he's HUGE. So, you want to cheer the petite Gazelle on when she holds her own and even talks back, but we see her thoughts and know she's TERRIFIED. Sadly, his behavior is rewarded, and she decides to put up with it for her job. "The Fox and the Chameleon" is a story of high-school bullying, romance, and coming to terms with being yourself versus being what people expect (based on species). The main relationship here is cute. It's an interesting pairing, and I like how both characters are secretly into each other and come to realize that. I love why the Chameleon camouflages himself around the Fox outside of class. I love that the Fox doesn't want to be like the others of her kind (the bullies), and is willing to be bullied to stick to that. The best part is the end. The Chameleon comes to her rescue in a way that's funny in two different ways! Overall, this is an enjoyable read. Fans of Beastars and anthropomorphic animals will enjoy it. I appreciate that each story is basically dealing with the same issue; it broadens the world-view, and makes the issue more real, since there's no right or wrong way of addressing it. Written: June 13, 2021
|
|
|
Home |
Features |
Columns |
Culture Vultures |
Report Card
Indicia | Contact | Archives © Sequential Tart, 1998 – 2021 |
