By d. emerson eddy — Funny animal books don't necessarily have the same market penetration in North America as they do elsewhere, especially across Europe. It's not to say that they don't exist, we've got wonderful works like Maus, The Autumnlands, Grandville, Mouse Guard, and the big juggernauts like Mickey Mouse and Looney Tunes, but it's usually only the latter that seems to have prominence here. Works that are primarily aimed at children. Across European comics, you're as likely to see talking animals in any genre, from adventure through to crime noir. Of the latter, one of the most successful in any language is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Juan Díaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido's Blacksad.

Originally published in French by Dargaud as Blacksad: Tome 1 – Quelque part entre les ombres, Blacksad: Somewhere Within The Shadows is a noir masterpiece. In the first volume, Díaz Canales and Guarnido introduce us to John Blacksad, a black cat and private detective, who we find embroiled in a murder case of a famous actress that used to be a client and lover. Set in a stylized 1950s America, the world of Blacksad is populated with anthropomorphized animals, dogs as cops, lizards and rats as a criminal underbelly, gorillas as boxers, and more, with the animals chosen often representative of something about the class or profession that they're portraying. For instance, in regards to the dogs as police officers, in the first volume, especially with Chief Smirnov, the qualities of loyalty and duty are played up. Even as they may turn a blind eye to vigilante actions that they're bound by the law not to pursue.

One of the immediate draws to the series is the art, Juanjo Guarnido's artwork is, in a word, breathtaking. He captures the architecture, clothing, and vehicles of '50s America in incredible detail which makes the beauty and realism of the animal characters all the more impressive. There doesn't seem to be a single animal that he's not adept at, moreover Guarnido manages to give them all a depth of emotion in body language and facial expression that many artists are unable to do even with humans. When combined with his use of browns, greys, and beiges across an almost charcoal texture for his shadows, it gives a stunningly rich noir feel to everything. The series is an absolute feast for your eyes.

The noir feel is also well captured by translators Anthya Flores & Patricia Rivera. Noir can often live or die by the narration and Díaz Canales' words could have fallen flat with a literal translation. Flores and Rivera do a wonderful job of shaping that hard-boiled patter, playing up a delivery that is both floral and blunt. Studio Cutie's narration boxes and rectangular word balloons also well fitting the tone and atmosphere of the story.

Overall, Blacksad: Somewhere Within The Shadows by Díaz Canales, Guarnido, and Studio Cutie as translated by Flores & Rivera is not just a masterpiece of funny animal books, it's a stunning example of crime noir literature. The artwork is drop-dead gorgeous, rich in detail, and enthralling as we're guided through a seedy underworld in a high profile murder mystery.

Blacksad: Somewhere Within The Shadows

Blacksad: Somewhere Within The Shadows
Writer: Juan Díaz Canales
Artist: Juanjo Guarnido
Letterer: Studio Cutie
Translators: Anthya Flores & Patricia Rivera
Publisher: Europe Comics (digitally), Dargaud (original), Dark Horse (print collection)
Release Date: October 18, 2016 (digitally)
Price: $8.99 on Comixology | Also collected in recent print collection Blacksad: Collected Stories by Dark Horse ($29.99)

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d. emerson eddy is a student and writer of things. He fell in love with comics during Moore, Bissette, & Totleben's run on Swamp Thing and it has been a torrid affair ever since. His madness typically manifests itself on Twitter @93418.