Writer: Cortney Cameron
Illustrator: Luyi Bennett
Publisher: Self-Published
WHAT IS IT?
A cat-themed semi-magical girl-style prelude to a greater tale of good and evil. This prequel sets up the future series' greater antagonist.
Comic-wise, it's a little Wayward meets Monstress.
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
(Minor Spoilers)
A gang murders a woman's husband. When she finds out she's beloved by cats who bestow her with magical powers, she takes her revenge on his killers with the help of her new, furry friends.
But when she uses her newfound abilities in a way they were never intended to be used, the consequences might be more dire than she could have ever thought.
WHAT WORKS?
The manga-inspired art style works well with the magical girl tropes
Luyi Bennett's color work is smart, desaturating her colors to build tension and using pops of red for dramatic effect. The color throughout is high-quality, beautifully rendered with a lot of thought to lighting and texture.
Her hand-drawn balloons and lifelike illustration style bring an organic tone to the story, balancing the more fantasy-oriented tropes
Bennett somehow brings facial expressions to cats without making them seem fake or monstrous
This issue is completely free at the links listed below. The duo plans to release one 24-page chapter 1-2 times per year, and a print edition will be available in the not-too-distant future.
The little interstitial panels are very pretty, focusing on design, and bring a magical feeling to the pages while giving the narration room to breathe.
Cortney Cameron writes this story in a way that alludes to a depth of history that's yet to be revealed, but not in a way that feels overwhelming. It lends a richness to the world that promises fertile territory for the future stories to come.
There's a fair amount of depth and heartbreak that I didn't expect to encounter in a cat-centric, magical girl comic. There are moments in Catians that hit you like a gut punch, which helps you understand some of the characters' choices.
WHAT DOESN’T WORK?
Some cursing and violence may place target readership in the "Teens+" category.
It's pretty cat-centric, so, if you're not a "cat person," this series may not be for you.
WHY SHOULD I READ IT?
Especially for a free comic, it's very well made, and the creators have a lot of plans for the future of the series.
The series promises cats, diverse teens, and magical powers against a powerful evil. Personally, that's right up my alley.
Definitely consider checking it out!
HOW DO I BUY IT?
Read it for free on:
Or keep up with their Patreon for information about a printed version.
The image(s) used in this article are from a comic strip, webcomic or the cover or interior of a comic book. The copyright for this image(s) is likely owned by either the publisher of the comic, the writer(s) and/or artist(s) who produced the comic. It is believed that the use of this image(s) qualifies as fair use under the United States copyright law. The image is used in a limited fashion in an educational manner in order to illustrate the points of the author and not for the purpose of entertainment or substituting the original work. It is believed the use of this image has had no impact on the market value of the original work.
All Cortney Cameron & Luyi Bennett characters and the distinctive likeness(es) thereof are trademarks of and copyright Cortney Cameron & Luyi Bennett or their respective owners. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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