Here Comes Calico #1 of 8

1/30/2021

Here Comes Calico #1 of 8 SafHari-Kari
From Sigma Comics

Creator/Writer: H. H. German
Artist/Letterer: Javier Orabich
Colorist: Daniel Grimaldi
Cover: Garnabiel

“He’s a one-man arsenal of destruction, in the constant pursuit of justice for the smallest and weakest among us.”

This is a brand-new comic and story from Sigma Comics.  Unlike a number of other comic books and the typical mainstream plots, this comic book addresses a societal problem that exists across the globe and is truly something anyone with a conscience can get behind and support.

The issue addressed is one near and dear to my heart as I am a pet parent of five.  We have four cats and a German Shepherd.  The cats are a 12-year-old gray tabby, two Bengal cats (one 11 years old and one 7 years old), and an all-black Bombay that is about 6 years old.   The German Shepherd is 3 years old.  So, the idea of what this comic entails is, in part, truly horrifying.

The first page of the comic depicts a deplorable person violently abusing a sweet little dog while a child cries out for the abuser to show mercy to the animal in the background.  This terrified and beaten dog appears on the page with scared, sad and desperate eyes, tears flowing from his eyes and blood spurting from his little nose and mouth.  The pictures are utterly disturbing on one hand, but on the other it is a scene that many abuse victims see on a regular basis.

This is the introduction to the story of Calico, a man with one goal, one purpose, one mission…to exact justice on those that abuse and torture animals.  Now, if you are thinking that sounds a little corny then you really should reserve forming an opinion until you actually see the comic book.  This is far from corny or silly.

Truth be told, this is one angry man.  He is incensed over the violence and utter cruelty inflicted on innocent animals.  We all know it is wrong to physically impose one’s will on a smaller and weaker being.  And we have all seen those commercials on TV about animal abuse.  A lot of people change the channel when those commercials come on.  Not only because they won’t or can’t afford to help or donate to the cause but also because they don’t want to see what is actually happening to these vulnerable, dependent creatures.  However, this comic makes you face the problem, putting it out in print and picture right in front of your face.

Two things I feel really make this comic work are the spectacular artwork and the realism of the topic.   The artwork is excellent and the artist has a talent for capturing facial expressions, which is very hard to do (in my opinion).  The combination of color variations and bold, significant, intentional linework expertly depict the natural expression of emotion that is often missed in traditional comic book art, which usually seems to rely more on the written story than the visual story for emphasis on things like emotion. Furthermore, this is a real-life concern, unlike rabid vampires stalking the city streets or zombie attacks across the globe.

Being the first of eight issues (the second issue expected in March), I think this comic has a fantastic start on a story line that is only going to become more intense and emotionally charged as it moves forward.  Most introductory issues are full of explanation and character intros, bogging them down in a bunch of boring text rather than getting to the nitty-gritty of  the story right away.  This comic plunges you into the deep from page one and makes you tread water against a massive and domineering current the whole way through to the last panel.

Although it is an emotional and sensitive subject, it is one that needs to be more widely addressed.  According to the Humane Society there are over 144 million pet dogs and cats in this country.  Many of those animals that are abused are often found in homes where there is spousal or child abuse present.  According to the website www.humanesociety.org there is a commonality between those that abuse humans and those that abuse animals.  This is presumably due to the personality of the offender, meaning  that a person who is compelled to exert and impose their will over other people physically is probably comfortable doing the same to a small, helpless animal.

While this is what I consider true crime and real-life horror, I do feel that this comic book is a great way to open a dialogue about the issue.  This is a medium that is becoming more popular as a way to get various messages and information across to people all over the world.  It is a much more entertaining and moving option than simply seeing it on the TV screen.

RATINGS
Overall 5/5
Artwork 5/5
Story 5/5

Below is an excellent video interview from Zia Comics with the
creator of Here Comes Calico, H.H. German: