Scurry, a graphic novel from Image Comics/Skybound Comet is brimming with danger. Animal and rodent danger.
It starts with a small mouse named Wix. And Wix must help his fellow mice to find food and safety in a post-apocalyptic world. Wix and his mice must deal with environmental dangers, weather challenges, political subterfuge, and loads of wild animals prowling all around.
Mac Smith is the writer and illustrator of Scurry, the 295-page continued story. Smith gives voices to the animals and talks with the animals. And draws the animals. The “modern-day Dr. Doolittle” accomplishes the nearly impossible: animating mice, foxes, rats, cats, ravens, and other animals into plausible existence. It’s fight or flight.
Scurry is wonderfully illustrated; the animal gestures are both realistic and cartoony; the backgrounds and lighting effects striking. And Smith paces the story well. He introduces the situation, makes us care about the main characters, and puts forth a time-sensitive quest for Wix to conquer. Or else he and the others will surely die.
Scurry is a big read. It’s complex, with complex character motivations. This middle-grade-rated book takes effort and concentration to navigate. There is a lot of plot to cover in reading it, but every page leads us forward, with nary a misstep. It’s solid, engaging, and enveloping.
In addition to the main story, Smith has included an eight-page list of characters, a thirteen-page prologue short story, and a Creators Assemble Inc reading guide that shows his rough pencil drawings. This is truly a bargain at $14.99. Recommended.
Image Comics / Skybound Comet, Scurry, $14.99 for 330 pages of content.
Newsdesk