Critter #8 Review

By Diego Chi
February 22, 2013 - 01:27

From the mind of Tom Hutchison comes Critter, the story of a second generation superhero named Cassia Crawford who dons her mother's cat-themed costume to help those in need. To recap: Cassia had become part of an all-girl team of superheroes, called Purrrfection. The group had a member named Josie who was killed, then revived by magic, then killed again (but her ghost is still hanging around). Since then, Purrrfection has disbanded, but all the girls are still together in the aftermath of the tragedy.

In issue #8, Cassia takes a break from crime fighting to help at a live show with the girls from Purrrfection. This show happens to include conjuring spirits using a spell book called the "Necromicon" that attracts a group of trench-coat wearing priests who try and claim the book for themselves. Also, the theater is owned by the granddaughter of Lucifer (also known as the devil). Naturally, once the priests arrive on the scene, the show is disrupted and a battle ensues. Hutchison seems to have packed this issue with just about everything-- Angels: check. Demons: check. Self-righteous cult: check. Spectacular fight: check. Girls in risqué outfits: check check check. Despite what seems like far too many elements, Hutchison somehow pulls the story together without feeling forced or trite. He also does not sacrifice plot for action: issue #8 includes ominous visions, introduces new villains, and concludes in tragedy.

Fleshing out the pages is Fico Ossio's upbeat and exciting artwork. First off, his color palette is full of fiery reds and icy blues, adding a vivid punch to his pencils. Ossio takes the free-for-all fight in this issue with ease, but where he really stands out is with his use of facial expressions. Panel to panel, he executes shifts from excitement to horror, anxiety to peace, determination to sorrow. Hutchison plots at a break-neck pace, so Ossio's ability to keep up with these characterizations really weaves the story together.

Critter is straightforward, elegant, and fun. Hutchison avoids the overbearing melodrama found in a lot of superhero comics, making the book lighthearted and pleasurable to read (unlike some others... *ahem* I'm looking at you, Wolverine). This is only the second issue I've read from the series (I had previously flipped through issue #1) and I was surprised by how easily I could grab ahold of the various plot threads without feeling lost or confused-- a testament to the accessibility of the writing. I admit there is little uncharted territory plot-wise and the scantily clad supporting cast is guilty of being very cheesecake, so the simple joy of the book does have a few trade-offs. Nonetheless, issue #8 is a solid part of a very enjoyable series. I look forward to picking up the next one.

Rating: 7.5 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12

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