Bekyoot.com, in their own words, “features one-of-a-kind original designs and character merchandise inspired by life, laughter, and the pursuit of cuteness. There is a story behind every character — a life of whimsy and simplicity sure to set a smile on your face”.Though characters like Fat Cat, The Evil Landlord (a chibi raccoon fem), Pudge the Pug, and Kyoot Bear look like they stepped right out of Japanese culture, Bekyoot is actually based in Houston, Texas. Besides their web site they have an on-line comic strip (Where Cute Things Go) and of course a store full of merchandise featuring their characters.
Cats
Nine Lives on his side
Scratch 9 is brand new 4-part full-color comic book mini-series, written by Rob M. Worley and illustrated by Jason T. Kruse. The first issue’s front cover was illustrated by Mike Kunkel, creator of Herobear and the Kid. Here’s the story: Scratch is the black & white pet cat of a little girl named Penelope… but little does she know that her pet cat is actually a superhero! Scratch has the ability to call up the powers of his previous 8 lives when he needs them. That can be especially useful when his first life was a saber-toothed tiger! Scratch 9 #1 is out this month from Ape Entertainment. Have a look at Mr. Worley’s Scratch 9 web site too.
image c. 2010 Ape Entertainment
TUFF Puppy is coming your way
Butch Hartman is a busy busy man. The creator of the hit Nickelodeon shows The Fairly OddParents and Danny Phantom has yet another 2D animation show called T.U.F.F. Puppy, premiering this September on Saturday mornings. According to Animation Magazine, the show “…follows the adventures of the enthusiastic Dudley Puppy who is recruited to work for the mysterious Turbo Underground Fighting Force (T.U.F.F.) along with the sophisticated Kitty Katswell (think a feline version of Emma Peel!).” Our heroes find themselves in a constant battle with the master super-villain known as Verminious Snaptrap.
image c. 2010 Nickelodeon
The 2010 Animation Pitch Party
The August 2010 issue of Animation magazine presented the results of the 2010 Pitch Party — where interested folk submit “pitches” for proposed animated series, consisting of a single illustrated panel. The “pitches” are judged by a group of industry experts, among them Kevin Gamble of Disney TV Animation, Brian Jones of Cartoon Network, and Kim Manning of Adult Swim. Among the submissions of note for furry fans were items like Dino-Might by Dom Voser (domvoser.blogspot.com), Pug & Cat by Brittany Langlois (brinnyart.com), Wolf Whiskers by Keith Krail, Backyard Dragon by Scotland D. Barnes, Monkey & Robot by Ken Gray and Mars Elliot (monkeyandrobotgo.com), The Monster Monkeys (www.atomicmonkeyltd.com), Samurai Chinchilla by Kristine Marsh (www.kristinemarsh.com), Rebel With Paws by Christopher Slaughter, Fireflyz Avengers by Don and Julie Farmer, Joe Chameleon by Dave Barton Thomas (www.seizethedave.ca), Franken-Cat by Simon Shocket (franken-cat.blogspot.com), and Eddie the Disgruntled Reindeer (eddiethedisgruntledreindeer.com). Gotta love that last one for the title alone. Visit the Animation Magazine web site to find out more about entering your own ideas in next year’s Pitch Party.
Dragon Puncher
James Kochalka (creator of Monkey vs. Robot and other strangeness) is back with a new full-color, hardcover graphic novel from Top Shelf Productions. Dragon Puncher Volume 1 gives us the adventures of, well, Dragon Puncher: “A cute but ruthless kitty in an armored battle suit, dedicated to defeating dangerous dragons wherever they may be. The Dragon Puncher and his would-be sidekick Spoony-E (a fuzzy little fellow armed with a wooden spoon) confront a gigantic, drooling dragon and have a ridiculous, hilarious brawl”. You heard ’em. The artwork combines Kolchalka’s well-known funny animal style with humorous photography for a “goofy backyard adventure”.
Krazy Kat in Kolor
Those with an interest in comic strip history should of course be familar with the adventures of Ignatz Mouse and Krazy Kat, written and illustrated by George Herriman in the early 20th century. Now Sunday Press Books brings us Krazy Kat: A Celebration of Sundays, coming this June in Hardcover. Collecting the greatest Krazy Kat Sunday pages, for the first time in their original size and colors, just in time for Krazy Kat’s 100th birthday. The book also includes a sampling of Herriman’s pre-Krazy works, as well as contributions by Michael Tisserand (Gambit Weekly) and Art Spiegelman (Maus). Here’s more information on the book at Westfield Comics.
Krazy Kat characters c. 2010 Wikipedia
Lackadaisy — The Book
Tracy Butler’s popular web comic Lackadaisy (a frequent Ursa Major Award nominee and winner of the Web Cartoonists’ Choice Award — twice) has finally been released on dead trees by 4th Dimension Entertainment. The Lackadaisy Volume 1 graphic novel (in softcover) tells the story of the Prohibition-era speakeasy known as Lackadaisy, and characters like “a rum-running violinist named Rocky and a police academy dropout nicknamed Freckle”. Oh by the way, those characters (and all the rest) happen to be anthropomorphic cats. That little fact, not to mention Ms. Butler’s attention to detail and sepia-toned artwork, have sealed the popularity of this comic in and out of Furry Fandom.
More Classic Funny Animals
Felix the Cat is, of course, one of the classic funny animals from both comic strips and early animation. Now IDW is collecting together the former in Felix the Cat: The Great Comic Book Tails (coming in hardcover this June). Felix’s original artist, Otto Messmer, wrote and drew the bulk of Felix comic strips and comic book stories for Dell and Harvey during comic books’ “Golden Age”. Now IDW presents more than 200 pages of full-color comics, showcasing the magical cat’s journeys on his flying carpet to surreal lands, past times, and Toy Land. Comic historian Craig Yoe edited the collection and wrote the behind-the-scenes introduction.
Recently Discovered Furry Manga
Three black & white manga titles published by Yen Press have recently caught our eyes. Cat Paradise (written and drawn by Yuji Iwahara) tells the story of Matabi Academy, where students are allowed to keep their pet cats in their dorm rooms with them. Trouble begins with a bang when a rip between the worlds occurs and a violent cat-demon intent on revenge is released. Now the students and their friendly cat-spirit companions find themselves in a battle not only for their lives and their school, but for the whole world! Then there’s Laon, written by Young Bin Kim and drawn by Hyun You. Laon is a magical nine-tails fox who found himself on the losing end of a bet in Heaven. Now he finds himself cast out of the realm of the gods, sent to earth in the guise of a young boy — and all of his tails have been removed, cast to the four winds, along with his heavenly powers! Now the exiled fox is determined to get back his powers, and his place in Heaven, one tail at a time! Yen Press is also the home of Spice and Wolf, of course. This popular manga by Isuna Hasekura and Ju Ayakura follows the medieval adventures of a human merchant and his friend, a pretty Wolf-God of the Harvest. Volume 4 of Cat Paradise and Volume 2 of Laon are coming from Yen this May. Volume 2 of Spice and Wolf will be out in June.
