DC Comics is one of the best in the game when it comes to putting out anthologies, with creative ideas like Super-Pets Special: Bitedentity Crisis. That’s right, the pets of superheroes get their own anthology in what is one of the cutest and most clever anthologies you’ll read all year.
Super-Pets Special: Bitedentity Crisis is made up of five tales that range from talking animals to the love of our super friends. I dare you to read this and not feel the charm shine through.
Kicking things off is “Pup, Pup and Away” by Tony Fleecs and Mike Norton. Norton’s clean art style does wonders to make these pets super cute. Pets include Nightwing’s dog Haley (the main character), Jumpa, Bat-Hound, Krypto, Gleek, B’Dg, and Bat-Cow. It’s an impressive batch of super-pets.
The genius of this opening story is how Fleecs and Norton don’t forget Haley is pretty much a regular dog. When she barks at cats, the Super-Pets are confused. When she runs off, they don’t get it. They assume she’s a little more tactical and a true hero but also a bit young.
These are the goodest pets around.
Credit: DC Comics
The story involves a supervillain snatching up pets for an evil means. In true superhero fashion, it all builds to a big battle and a win for our heroes. Fleecs captures the purity of these pets well through dialogue, and you believe Haley is a good girl by the end.
Next up is “A Starro is Born” by Alexis Quasarano and PJ Holden, featuring Jarro. That’s right, Batman’s Starro friend and also a Robin takes center stage. The story reveals a band clearly mind-controlling people to gain popularity—not on Jarro’s watch. It’s a cute, if not short, tale.
“Refuge” is next by Michael W. Conrad and Sami Basri, focusing on four stolen pets. They rush to free themselves and create quite a ruckus. The story does a good job translating their barks, moos, and hissing while showing they work quite well as a team.
“The Little Cat” by Dan Watters and Christopher Mitten gets emotional using Dex-Starr. Told in a fairy tale style, Mitten draws beautiful panels that convey an emotion and a feeling while Watters adds captions over them. There’s a beautiful message by the end, although I found this story a little too vague and dreamlike for its own good.
Last but certainly not least is Kyle Starks and Tom Napolitano’s “Who Woofs the Woofmen.” First off, take a moment and really take in that title. What an achievement.
This is a retelling of The Watchmen, but all the main heroes are dogs. You read that right, cute doggos and this story is inspired.
Told in a comic-strip style, Starks writes and draws the iconic classic across fifteen strips telling the entire epic. Sure, pieces are left out, but Starks hammers home some of the biggest moments. That includes the weapon used on the people–a cat–and the building of a Mars palace that only a dog would love. It’s at once funny while paying homage to a classic. Bravo, Kyle, bravo. Add in great lettering by Napolitano, which enhances the humor, and you have an Eisner-worthy short story.
Don’t pass on Super-Pets Special: Bitedentity Crisis, as it’s filled with cute, funny, and downright excellent stories. This is a delight and a real charmer of an anthology.
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