FERAL #25 (IMAGE COMICS)
Cats and Dogs…..Allies?
Desperate times call for desperate measures. As the CDC continues its’ experiments on the outbreak, the test subjects have tried making a valiant escape. This has lead Elsie and company to take some dangerous risks. The next one challenges all they know.
They’ve now met the Stray Dogs who are attempting to rescue Moosh from being euthenized!
FERAL #25 by Tony Fleecs, Trish Forstner, Tone Rodriguez, &Brad Simpson (IMAGE COMICS) delivers a team-up for the ages!
Let’s take a closer look at this anniversary issue!
FERAL #25 by Tony Fleecs, Trish Forstner, Tone Rodriguez, &Brad Simpson (IMAGE COMICS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Fleecs delivers on an incredible ride with grave repercussions in this chapter. Seeing the Cats and Dogs faction meet plays out as one would expect. Complicating matters is the outside factors swirling around. The dialogue is direct in nature. There’s more shock that wonder as to events. One pairing does shake up the drama. The dialogue between Moosh and Chloe proves to be a needed turning point as more problems arise.
From here, the story heads into familiar territory. Readers watch as the escape from the CDC humans becomes more complex as an unforeseen factor arises. This leads into a frantic pace as the groups attempt to run. The writing goes back to this plot point often as more things go wrong for both groups. Running in circles might wear thin in certain spots, but Fleecs more than makes up for it with surprises to the dynamic. It ultimately leads into a tragic finish with more losses adding up. There is some clarity to looming themes as events seem to simmer into the closing act. Readers won’t be ready for how the final page plays out. That turns into a new gamechanger as one door has closed for good. Buckle in for this one!
read last issue’s review!
Forstner and the team open with a great stand-off page between the Cats and Dogs. This rolls into a strong two page spread. Events become more unstable as the human element comes to crash the party. Panels show the fear rising in certain eyes as another escape attempt takes place. These features grow larger as more dangerous players enter the game. Simpson’s lettering maximizes this impact as the groups see the walls closing in.
Once the building itself becomes a factor, the art exemplifies the troubles stirring here. A half panel welcomes a horror element mixed with fire into sight. This speeds up with more frantic running away form whatever is closing in now. A human comes to a rescue with a half page image but with more baggage than expected. The art locks in on past events to answer a looming question. This helps push the story into the closing areas. The closing pages circle back on a few more loose ends before leading into the frightening final page. Readers better prep for what they’re going to see here. “Business just picked up” as JR would say. Great work.
FINAL GRADE: 9
The CDC mayhem comes to an explosive end with the unified front of Cats and Dogs on the defensive. Fleecs pens a highly driven tale with strong horror elements in place. Forstner and the team keep readers on edge with the frantic chaos swirling the panels. A superb display of storytelling that hits a bullseye each time.
Let me know your thoughts on FERAL #25 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
