SHOUT OUT! Review: WE3
When tag-teamed with Frank Quitely, it’s clear that Grant Morrison can do no wrong. With this latest addition to my Morrison/Quitely section of my Comics hustle, it’s fair for me to say these two are on some next-level ish. Imagine a scenario where you’ve been kidnapped, manipulated, funked with your format eight ways from Sunday, and forced to do someone elses dirt — that the flavor of WE3. Now, pause and let it marinate — what would you do if you got free? WHEN you got free? This is the hustle & flow of the entire story. Three domesticated animals have been transformed into instruments of destruction, serving as armed forces assassins for the United States government. After their last mission, it’s ordered that they be decommissioned. Essaywhuman?!? The dog,cat, and rabbit aren’t having any of it, and put their lives on the line trying to get free. Trying to get home.
Honestly, there have been times when I’ve been reading Morrison and feel the need to issue a, C’MON BRUH!!!, but WE3 is crafted just right. The sense of struggle from the perspective of the three is slightly overwhelming at some points. You feel for them. Killer cuddly nature aside, while reading, you’ll want to save them. You will definitely cheer for them. It takes a considerable amount of storytelling talent, where you truly understand how animals would communicate with each other. Morrison successfully delivers a believable dialog and you’re left with a solid awareness of just what animals in this situation would feel, and how they would get down to survive. Given a similar scenario, I could imagine following the same path.
Quitely’s artistic hustle in this three issue graphic novel screams volumes. The story is fast paced and his panel selection is right on time. There is a lot of violence in WE3, and he still manages to always keep the animals loveable, even when they are getting downright midieval on their captors. The expressions are priceless for each of the three and they give perfect meaning to the words that Morrison lays down. One of my favorite panels in the entire story involves the cat, who is a straight up ninja when it comes to killing!
If you’re a fan of the Morrison/Quitely duo, you definitely need to get down with WE3. My only contention for this graphic novel was that it deserved another issue. The climax of the story was over quickly and I would have appreciated seeing the three really step correct and handle their business, especially against the enemy who gives them their biggest challenge! The whole story is wrapped up nicely despite the lack of the fourth issue, and you get the sense your dividends were well spent in the end. Bahlactus has spoken.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:01 am
I have NEVER heard of this title man, but you’ve got me sold. I’m going to my local shop and have Steve keep this title for me on standby. Good looking out!!! Now THAT’S
March 28th, 2007 at 7:01 am
I have NEVER heard of this title man, but you’ve got me sold. I’m going to my local shop and have Steve keep this title for me on standby. Good looking out!!! Now THAT’S a review!
March 28th, 2007 at 10:37 am
I like this alot too but felt it was a bit too short. It reminded me quite a bit about Richard Adam’s “Plague Dogs” where two dogs (Rowf and Snitter) escape from a research facility. In the escape they run through the lap making a mess and it is believed they might have gotten into the area containign the bubonic plague so there is a huge “man” hunt for the dogs. The book is about half the dogs point of view and half the people looking for them. The best part of the book is the dogs and them trying to survive in the English countryside and deal with the things they went through at the facility. It’s a bit long and slow in the middle but a good read, there was an animated movie made of it by the same people that did Watership Down. The movie is really good and focus’ mainly on the dogs. It ends ambiguously though and is a bit depressing, so much that I had to read the book to know what really happened (the book has a happy ending). But yeah, alot of We3 strongly reminded me of Plague Dogs (as you can probably see why from the description). I heard that there is talk about making this into an animated film too. Hopefully it won’t have as depressing an ending as Plauge did!
March 30th, 2007 at 9:51 am
I’ve also read this…and it was nice of The Goog not to out me on this one…but this comic made me cry. If you are really senstive about animals, as I am…here’s your warning.
That said, it’s a good story with a good ending….but yeah, it’ll pull at your heartstrings.
I’ve refused to have anything to do with plague dogs ;-)
March 30th, 2007 at 10:51 am
Yeah, I’ve said you don’t want to see or read Plague Dogs, it’s Watership Down that you need to read! If it’s good enough for Sawyer it shold be good enough for you.