Critters

There are very few anthologies that leave one feeling that every strip deserves its place. Critters almost manages it in that, even if there are some strips that you don’t enjoy, Kim Thompson’s editorial selection is of a consistently high quality so that you can admire the craft if not the result.

Critters proved to be a valuable showcase for both new and established creators, though only Stan Sakai’s and Cathy Hill’s creations continue to be published in the U.S. Funny animal strips had seen a resurgence of interest in the mid 1980s (with Omaha, Albedo and Neil the Horse leading the way alongside the longer established Cerebus the Aardvark and Maus), and Thompson provides space for practically everyone of note in the field, including Sam Kieth (#7, #11, #12, #23), Ty Templeton (#8, #11, #23—including a song on the free flexi-disc—and #50), Mark Armstrong (#7, #8, #11, #13, #23), Steve Lafler (#9, #11), Holland and Wilber (#11, #17, #19, #21, #23, #24, #29, #31, #32), Jim Engel (#18, #50), Steve Purcell (#19, #50), Mark Martin (#30, #50), Stephen DeStefano (#32, #38, #50), Donna Barr (#38), Arn Saba (#50), Tim Fuller (#15, #18, #22, #28, #31, #34, #38, #44, #50), Cathy Hill (#50), Doug Gray (#50), Joshua Quagmire (#1, #50) and Sergio Aragonés (#50).

Stan Sakai’s excellent samurai tale Usagi Yojimbo appears in #1, #3, #6, #7, #10, #11, #14, #23, #38 and #50, while the Groo-like “Adventures of Nilson Groundthumper and Hermy” features in #5, #16, #27 and the whole of the Critters Special (1988). From the same source (Albedo), Steve Gallacci’s Birthright is a furtherance of the science-fiction series “Erma Felda,” which began in that title (#1–6, #12–17 and #47–49).

Translated from the Danish by Thompson himself, “Family Gnuff” by Freddy Milton is the heavily Barks-influenced story of a family of dragons. Lighthearted and good-humored, the strength of this strip serves as the cornerstone for much of the title’s run (#2–5, #7, #9–11, #13–16, #19–26, #30–34, #40). Issue #2 contains a preview of the just-released Captain Jack series by Mike Kazelah, who contributed a number of other strips to Critters, though his best work remains that on Captain Jack (#42, #50). J.P. Morgan’s “Fission Chicken” and Tom Stazer’s “Lionheart” are both parody strips, the former of super-heroes, the latter of hardboiled detectives. Well presented, they only occasionally hit all the right points but are generally good fun.