A killer high-concept, and the storytelling chops to pull it off; Stray Dogs lives up to the hype as one of the must-read comics of the year. The pitch is simple, a serial killer thriller in the mould of Thomas Harris or Stephen King, but told from the PoV of the victim’s pet dogs, and presented in the style of an ’80s Don Bluth family animation.
The respective creators really understand their crafts here; writer Tony Fleecs has crafted a tight thriller over 5 issues, carefully unfolding the classic horror tropes to build the mounting sense of dread. Artist Trish Forstner does a remarkable job of building a cast in the traditional Disney style and yet framing each panel as if it was shot by Alfred Hitchcock.
The storyline takes place almost entirely within a single residence, and the reader gets a real sense of the geography of the place. It’s no small feat, and leads to a nailbiting climax in which the four-legged heroes find themselves literally with nowhere to run. This comic won’t be for everyone; and I imagine that some dog-lovers could have trouble getting through some of the grizzlier developments. But rest assured, this story has a big heart, and is ultimately a celebration of the bravery and loyalty of Man’s Best Friend.