Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site sfmin.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!mhuxm!sftig!sfmin!jeffj From: jeffj@sfmin.UUCP (J.S.Jonas) Newsgroups: net.comics Subject: cats in comics (Planet of the cats) Message-ID: <648@sfmin.UUCP> Date: Fri, 31-Jan-86 19:41:41 EST Article-I.D.: sfmin.648 Posted: Fri Jan 31 19:41:41 1986 Date-Received: Sat, 1-Feb-86 20:07:39 EST Distribution: net Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Summit N.J. Lines: 103 [purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!] I love cats dearly and it warms my heart to see them portrayed well in comics, with such attributes as dexterity, strength, nobility and sensuousness. It is this craving that brought my attention to these titles, which I haven't seen mentioned on the net. Albedo Anthropomorphics I have only #5. The story I see is that there is a conflict between the gov't and many of the people, with radicals and protests a-la 60's. The main character is a smart cat-woman who is diplomat by day, but cool and cunning enough to tactfully use military force when needed. Other than a lion commander, every character is a different animal. At a dinner party, an otter officer goes puppy over her, but she admits "he is sort of cute, in an otter sort of way" Dreadstar (Marvel) (okay, this one has been briefly mentioned on the net) In the graphic novel we meet a whole planet of gentle cat-people who are farmers. They are the result of a genetic project that tried to mix people and cats to produce great warriors, but failed. All but one, Oedi, are killed. Oedi turns out to be a great fighter, although I like him since he is capable of being kind, quite unlike Larry Niven's kzinti. At the current point of the story, Oedi is presumed dead. I hope that Dreadstar's moving to First comics will give the cat another life (he's entitled to 8 more). Kazar (Marvel) I know this is no longer published, but I am including it for completeness. It is like the Jungle Book (Mowgli => Steven Plunder aka Kazar, Bagheera the black panther => Zabu the Saber Tooth Tiger). A warm story of a boy and his large ferocious cat who adopted him at birth (who needs wolves?). Omaha (Steeldragon Press) I was too young to read Fritz The Cat the first time around, but I saw the movie (and have the soundtrack). "Fritz the cat is basically a phoney, and the fact that he is a cat is arbitrary. He is quite human, in fact more human than many of the people Crumb was to draw later in his career. He is a con-man, a sex maniac, and totally incorrigible" - Joe Brancatelli, The World Encyclopedia of Comics Omaha is similar, with the cats having a lot of sex and getting into strange situations. The intro to #1 tells of Omaha, the stage name of a beautiful exotic dancer. She had a honest job as a club dancer, but the dishonest owners get everybody in trouble. Porn, prostitution, hit-men are the key ingredients so far. She seems to be an ok person who gets along with her lover Chuck (a cat-man). Very little plot, very many sex scenes. The Omega Men (DC) #32 In this issue, I see a planet/civilization of cat-men, men, and ordinary cats (quite a mix). This is the first time I ever saw a cat strip-tease ("If you want a fur show, go down the street!"). Felicity, a cat-woman, takes jobs as a dancer in clubs and winds up sharing an apartment with a murderer. Is this the only issue with cats? The West Coast Avengers (Marvel). #6 Tigra is a cat-woman superhero-type. During a mystic science chant, the West Coast Avengers summon Balkatar, brother to the Jungle Cat, who takes Tigra home to meet the family -- sort of. They pop into "The Land Within" which is a city of cat-men. We see fierce guards and warriors, a king and others in the background. Their race was from a mixing of men and cats (like Dreadstar). Tigra and the Balkatar get along real fine...but other conflicts arise leading to lots of fighting scenes (well, it's only a comic book). I don't see any other issues dealing with Tigra, only a frame or two in subsequent issues to show she's still in The Land Within having a grand time. Star Trek (DC) #25 It's the April edition, where Uhura says "there's no one here to take your call right now, but if you leave your name and frequency when you hear the tone...". After surrendering the Excelsior to the Ajir, it's also surrendered to the Grond, who are just plain cats. Even toting machine guns doesn't make them fierce. And they know it. A fun episode featuring the following dialogue: "Captain Kirk?" "Admiral, actually" "and this is the Enterprise?" "sorry, the Excelsior" "We're a little behind in the news. All right, surrender your ship" ------- Jeff 'aye captain' Skot {ihnp4 | allegra | decvax ...} attunix ! jeffj oh yes, did I mention that I *hate* Smurfs Rainbow Brite Care Bears Strawberry Shortcake He-Man She-Ra Get Along Gang (well, I like Zipper the cat) Transformers and all other Japanese robot spinoffs.