Lions, Tigers And Bears Vol. 1
September 25, 2006 | Trades
Lions, Tigers And Bears Vol. 1
Mike Bullock & Jack Lawrence
Image Comics
$12.99 US (Paperback)
**** (out of five)
When you hear the title Lions, Tigers And Bears, the first thing that pops into your mind is The Wizard Of Oz.
There are certainly elements of that classic film in this great miniseries by writer Mike Bullock and artist Jack Lawrence, but in truth it’s best celluloid comparison is probably the third act of the 1985 Stephen King-authored film, Cat’s Eye.
As with that film, the heroes in LTB are feline, and similarly they are trying to stop a ‘beastie’ from hurting a child. But the refreshing departure in LTB is the strong role Joey (the child in question) plays, and how he develops as the story unfolds.
The other major plot difference, the one that makes this book stand apart from its influences, is that the felines are of the stuffed variety.
Just as he and his mom are moving into a new house, Joey’s grandma gives him The Night Pride, a set of four stuffed animals — two tigers, a lion and a panther — and tells him that they will help keep him safe as he gets used to his unfamiliar new environment.
When Joey discovers that the ‘beasties’ in the closet at his new house are real, The Night Pride roars into action and Joey ends up getting dragged into the long conflict between the stuffed animal protectors and their menacing enemies.
An uplifting all-ages title with empowering messages about conquering fear and the power of imagination, Lions, Tigers And Bears is a winner.
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