By Robin Jones
Written by Garth Ennis
Art by Michael Dipascale
It’s issue #2 of Garth Ennis’s end of the world tale of dogs, friendship, arsehole cats and feeders gone insane. It’s the story of three best friends at the end of the world. Yes it’s Rover Red Charlie #2.
The human race has gone mad. It’s unclear as to whether it was a disease, biological weapon or genetic trait that’s done it, but the worlds population has turned into a bloodthirsty, horrific, murderous, rampaging mess, and that spells trouble for our heroes, Rover; Red and Charlie. Three dogs on a mission to leave Manhattan. After the first issue of dodging blood thristy, crazy feeders, Ennis switches the focus this issue to the inevitable struggle for who will be top of the domesticated foodchain.
Yes, this time around the problem for our three furry friends isn’t the humans, but the dogs age old enemy. The cat. It seems Ennis really has a disliking for cats, he portrays them as cold, calculated, murderous and cunning. Their encounter with our heroes has the trio questioning their tactics and plans for their own survival in this new world.
Ennis’s writing is brilliant, he takes a concept you wouldn’t think would be captivating or compelling, a story about three dogs, and warps and twists it into a complex survival story, with depth, a wealth of charactertisation and Ennis’s trademark snappy dialogue. Charlie, our idealistic hero, is all for helping the “feeders” since he was trained as a helper dog, Red is the big, dopey, loveable character and Rover is the smarter, biting funny one. They’re the “Stand by Me” crew of comics!
Michael Dipascale’s art works extremely well for the story at hand. The range of expression, emotion and characterisation he manages to portay in his art is astounding. The cats look evil, the dystopian backdrop of a shattered and broken Manhattan is familiar but at the same time un-nerving. In most of the subtler panels, Dipascale make sure we don’t forget the sheer weight of carnage and destruction our demise has caused. A pool of blood here, a dismembered body part there. He makes sure that despite the tale of companionship unfolding in the dialogue, there is still the underlying theme of desolation and a changing of times.
Rover Red Charlie is well worth the read. It’s compelling, intelligent, funny and has an individuality of it’s own. It is a must for fans of Ennis’s work, a must for those who love a good survival story and a must for those who read “Watership Down” or “the Animals of Farthing Wood” as a child. BUY THIS BOOK!
I give this 10 out of 10!
Click HERE to view the Rover Red Charlie series!
For more comic views and reviews follow Robin on Twitter at @Hulksmash1985
Posted on January 20th, 2014
Category: PULP FRICTION, REVIEWS
Tags: Avatar Press, Comic Reviews, Garth Ennis, Hisspot, Michael Dipascale, Robin Jones, Rover Red Charlie #2 Review