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Good Anthro Comics

gomidoggomidog
edited February 2010 in Everything Else
You know, I have been becoming more frustrated with people on the internet hating on anthropomorphic animals as comic book characters, because of the tie in with furry fetishists. I keep recommending things but people ignore them if they have animals on the cover for just this reason. What I am trying to do is put together a list of great comic books or graphic novels that feature animal characters, but are well written, well drawn, and enjoyable to read regardless of whether or not you are into (as Gabe put it) "smoldering cheetah temptresses."

Here are the ones I wrote down already.

- Maus - An autobiographical tale of a Jewish mouse son recording his father's memories of the Holocaust. Everybody knows this one, as it is considered one of the all time comic greats. This is a work listed in articles on of graphic novels alongside the best of the best, having won the Pulitzer, the Eisner, and the Harvey awards. This tops the list at #1.

- Usagi Yojimbo - a straight-faced samurai drama featuring a cast of animal characters lead by the titular rabbit warrior. Stan Sakai's artwork features excellent black and white brushwork, and he sure as heck does his period research!

- Blacksad - A series of French Graphic novels, with lush water-color illustrations, this is the film noir inspired story of a cat private detective solving mysteries.

- The works of Jason - Norwegian-born comic artist living in France, his often tragic, surreal tales feature animal characters.

- Apocalypse Meow - Despite the play-on-words title, this manga is series of gritty, violent vignettes featuring rabbit soldiers fighting in the Vietnam war. Like Maus, the species of animals are divided along racial lines: Vietnamese are cats, the Japanese are monkeys, etc.

- Mouseguard - featuring medieval adventure and fantastic art, David Peterson creates a believable society of sentient mice interacting with the harsh realities of the natural world.
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Comments

  • OmnutiaOmnutia
    I strongly recommend Lackadaisy Cats.
  • FunfetusFunfetus
    edited February 2010
    Carl Barks' and and Don Rosa's Scrooge McDuck comics?

    And I guess TMNT counts.
    Post edited by Funfetus on
  • AprecheApreche
    /looks at shelf

    Some of the mutants in X-Men are anthro.

    Tezuka frequently has animal characters that may or may not speak. Kimba, the Amazing 3

    Fables has a bunch of anthro characters.

    There's that Mice Templar comic. I haven't read it, but it appears to be just trying to ride on the Mouse Guard bandwagon.

    Cerebus is an aardvark, like the comic or not.

    Countless newspaper comic strips are anthro. Perhaps more than not have at least one animal character.

    Not sure if Pride of Baghdad counts.
  • WindUpBirdWindUpBird
    edited February 2010
    Does We3 count?
    Post edited by WindUpBird on
  • lackofcheeselackofcheese
    Well, the first thing I thought of was Damekko Doubutsu, even though I haven't even read the manga or seen the anime for that - hence I can't say whether the manga is good.
  • AprecheApreche
    Well, the first thing I thought of was Damekko Doubutsu, even though I haven't even read the manga or seen the anime for that - hence I can't say whether the manga is good.
    I didn't know there was a manga.
  • lackofcheeselackofcheese
    Well, the first thing I thought of was Damekko Doubutsu, even though I haven't even read the manga or seen the anime for that - hence I can't say whether the manga is good.
    I didn't know there was a manga.
    Wikipedia page.
  • FunfetusFunfetus
    Does We3 count?
    We3's not anthopomorphic. It's awesome, though.
  • Victor FrostVictor Frost
    I strongly recommendLackadaisy Cats.
    I just read through that whole thing, and I really want more.
  • loltsundereloltsundere
    I recommend the extremely whimsical Tiny Kitten Teeth. It's all hand painted, and you will love the style of it.

    There's also Vinci and Arty, which is a very casual comic by a cool person I know.

    And I would have recommended Lackadaisy first and forehand if I hadn't been beaten to it. I can't recommend that comic enough. The art, story, characters and the extremely entertaining dialogue are just totally perfect, and there is nothing "furry" about it at all. Go see.
  • Victor FrostVictor Frost
    I recommend the extremely whimsicalTiny Kitten Teeth.It's all hand painted, and you will love the style of it.
    It's kind of a creepy art style...and I feel like I'm reading a comic about animal crossing...
  • KoholintKoholint
    Isn't some kind of big trade paperback of Blacksad coming out soon? It seems really interesting.
  • NukerjsrNukerjsr
    I recommend the extremely whimsicalTiny Kitten Teeth.It's all hand painted, and you will love the style of it.
    It's kind of a creepy art style...and I feel like I'm reading a comic about animal crossing...
    THAT'S where that art-style comes from! I've been seeing that constantly, but never knew the source.
  • AprecheApreche


    THAT'S where that art-style comes from! I've been seeing that constantly, but never knew the source.
    Is that really where that style comes from? I'm pretty sure I have children's books from when I was a kid that are in that style. Some of them maybe Little Golden Books. I can't remember.
  • loltsundereloltsundere


    THAT'S where that art-style comes from! I've been seeing that constantly, but never knew the source.
    Is that really where that style comes from? I'm pretty sure I have children's books from when I was a kid that are in that style. Some of them maybe Little Golden Books. I can't remember.
    The author is actually writing and illustrating a little golden book for the near future.
  • Dr. TimoDr. Timo
    The first ten book of Inspector Canardo by Benoît Sokal.

    There are also anthropomorphic Egyptian deities in one of the Bilal comics I sent you, wich may not count as an Anthro comic but is an awesome comic nonetheless.
  • WindUpBirdWindUpBird
    edited February 2010
    I hear that most of Jason's comics are pretty rocking. I got the chance to flip through I Killed Adolf Hitler once, and that was quality.

    Also, Dungeon is hilariously crazy and awesome.
    Post edited by WindUpBird on
  • gomidoggomidog
    I strongly recommendLackadaisy Cats.
    I love Lackadaisy! the pencil art is so well done.
    Isn't some kind of big trade paperback of Blacksad coming out soon? It seems really interesting.
    Yes! Darkhorse is publishing it in the spring. I am very excited!
  • GeoGeo
    edited February 2010
    I strongly recommendLackadaisy Cats.
    I love Lackadaisy! the pencil art is so well done.

    Isn't some kind of big trade paperback of Blacksad coming out soon? It seems really interesting.
    Yes! Darkhorse is publishing it in the spring. I am very excited!I remember that time, me, you, and Rym discovered that Blacksad holy grail in the sea of furry porn at Connecticon; finds like that are rare, but I guess such things won't be the case once that trade comes out.
    Post edited by Geo on
  • ......
    edited February 2010
    Reading this thread reminds me of Better Days, by Jay Naylor. Another webcomic artist who only draws anthropomorphic comics.
    me, you, and Rym
    As my seniors would say "Stront voorop".

    EDIT: Apparently the sequel of Better Days (judging by first page), set several years in the future, called Original Life, is running over at Jay Naylor's site.
    Post edited by ... on
  • loltsundereloltsundere
    I read Better Days. It got a little bit less Republican-preachy and overdramatic as it went on into later years. It was also a little over-sexualized for me personally. Mr. Naylor loves butts.

    Its sequel, Original Life, has been a lot more cute and focused on humor... at least so far. I like it much better.
  • ......
    Mr. Naylor loves butts.
    He does.
    Its sequel, Original Life, has been a lot more cute and focused on humor... at least so far. I like it much better.
    I JUST ADDED THAT! D: You're evil Tsun, EVIL.
  • ChurbaChurba
    edited February 2010
    It was also a little over-sexualized for me personally.
    The Majority of his income comes from Selling furry porn, and better days was essentially an idea that sprang from a series of furry porn standalones that he did. It is over-sexualised, but it's not terribly suprising. And it's better than this other goddamn furry comic I remember where EVERY SINGLE PROBLEM is solved by copious amounts of on-panel sex Yiffing. Anyone who doesn't go about naked and have sex all the time in the comic is either unhappy because they didn't realise they wanted to be this way, or outright evil. I wish I was kidding.
    Post edited by Churba on
  • gomidoggomidog
    edited February 2010
    See, what I am trying to do is get anthro comics that DON'T remind people of furry porn. The closest to "hot cat ladies" my list comes is the femme fatale characters in Blacksad, who are presented very much like the sultry dames in old noir movies. Very scene/setting appropriate. What I don't want to say is "all anthro artists aren't furry porn artists!" and then send them to a furry porn artist. That's counter-productive. What I want is fine art and plot, not butts.

    I mean "Not all anthro-artists are furry porn artists!"
    Post edited by gomidog on
  • ChurbaChurba
    edited February 2010
    See, what I am trying to do is get anthro comics that DON'T remind people of furry porn. The closest to "hot cat ladies" my list comes is the femme fatale characters in Blacksad, who are presented very much like the sultry dames in old noir movies. Very scene/setting appropriate. What I don't want to say is "all anthro artists aren't furry porn artists!" and then send them to a furry porn artist. That's counter-productive. What I want is fine art and plot, not butts.
    They're not all pornographers, and Better Days has a pretty decent plot, good art, and so on, even if it did get a little overwrought at the end. If I could remember the name of that horrible comic, I'd point it out so people could avoid it, as avoiding the trash is just as important as getting the good stuff.
    - Apocalypse Meow - Despite the play-on-words title, this manga is series of gritty, violent vignettes featuring rabbit soldiers fighting in the Vietnam war. Like Maus, the species of animals are divided along racial lines: Vietnamese are cats, the Japanese are monkeys, etc.
    The Australians are Wombats, Kangaroos and Koalas, Depending on what they do.
    Post edited by Churba on
  • AprecheApreche
    Tank Police
  • OmnutiaOmnutia
    I put forth that the reason many anthro comics are over-sexualised is mostly due to that being what people who read them want. The kind of introversion we see in super hero comics or are beginning to see in the anime industry.
  • WindUpBirdWindUpBird
    Tank Police
    *sigh* Ninja'd.
  • gomidoggomidog
    edited February 2010
    Tank Police
    Ana Puma and Yuna Puma are not really that much animal. They are mostly person with a little bit of cat. If you think the Puma sisters are hot, I would not classify you as a furry, but merely as a fan of hot girls. I want comics that have talking animals/animals with human-like characteristics, but that isn't all fan-service.
    I put forth that the reason many anthro comics are over-sexualised is mostly due to that being what people who read them want. The kind of introversion we see in super hero comics or are beginning to see in the anime industry.
    I concur. The problem is they are catering to niche fandoms, just like the moe phenomenon. The reason why I like some anthro comics is mostly because 1) I like animals. They are cool to draw and I like watching them. 2) You can get an interesting dynamic when you combine human foibles with animal nature 3) choice of animal species can be used to caricature people - Blacksad and Usagi do this especially well.
    Post edited by gomidog on
  • loltsundereloltsundere
    edited February 2010
    If I could remember the name of that horrible comic, I'd point it out so people could avoid it, as avoiding the trash is just as important as getting the good stuff.
    You are talking about Kit and Kay Boodle, the worst thing on the internet.

    You are better reading the crushyiffdestroy article that brutally tears it to pieces at the multitude it deserves instead of looking at the actual comic.
    I concur. The problem is they are catering to niche fandoms, just like the moe phenomenon. The reason why I like some anthro comics is mostly because 1) I like animals. They are cool to draw and I like watching them. 2) You can get an interesting dynamic when you combine human foibles with animal nature 2) choice of animal species can be used to caricature people -BlacksadandUsagido this especially well.
    You like anthro stuff for all the same reasons I do but put it to better words than I could.
    I JUST ADDED THAT! D: You're evil Tsun, EVIL.
    No, I'm just that GOOD.
    Post edited by loltsundere on
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