By Larry Jorash — Dogs are “man’s best friends.” Dogs are lovable, amazing, and a staple in our modern lives; and for many of us, dogs are the same as family members. And when a member of said family is in danger? Many of us and our pets have an almost psychic ability to sense it. This is all the basis for the new book from Image Comics, Stray Dogs #1.

Stray Dogs #1 brilliantly and disarmingly struts right into the dynamic between dogs and the humans who keep them. We meet our pawed-protagonist Sophie at the start, and it’s from her eyes we experience the full trauma and anxiety of a moment of panic; just before being ripped into an entirely different, almost foreign narrative and setting. Through a unique first-dog point of view, the reader gets to explore a bold new side of the world to which we’ve been introduced, and what results is a roller coaster of emotions, plot, and humor.

Art plays a pivotal role in telling a story full of mystery and fear; even one as satirically dark as Stray Dogs #1 turns out to be with its third act twist (no spoilers). There are canine character expressions displaying deep pains of anxiety, finding companions in funny panels and witty widespreads. Transitions are almost seamless from page to page as the story flows elegantly. A deep understanding of personality and emotion is present throughout this comic, all of it predicated on something very relatable — the relationship between us and our canine pets.

There really isn’t a book on the shelves right that plays like this one. The creativity abounds, and the art is spot-on. It is genuinely a great surprise to experience something as shocking, witty, and different as Stray Dogs #1, which stands ready to catch readers by surprise in the best possible way.

Overall: Don’t sleep on this shockingly brilliant, and incredibly witty mystery comic series. Four paws up! 9/10

REVIEW: Stray Dogs #1

Stray Dogs #1
Writer: Tony Fleecs
Artist: Trish Forstner
Colorist: Brad Simpson
Layout Artist: Tone Rodriguez
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $3.99
It’s scary being the new dog.
Sophie can’t remember what happened. She doesn’t know how she ended up in this house. She doesn’t recognize any of these other dogs. She knows something terrible happened, but she just…can’t…recall...WAIT! Where’s her lady? A five-issue Don Bluth-style suspense thriller by My Little Pony comic artists TONY FLEECS and TRISH FORSTNER, STRAY DOGS is Lady and the Tramp meets Silence of the Lambs.
Buy It Digitally: Stray Dogs #1 via comiXology

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Larry Jorash resides in Central Florida managing a comic book shop and coaching youth sports. In his spare time he enjoys watching ice hockey and reading. You will almost never find his hand vacant of coffee. Find him on twitter: (@theREALlarbear)