009 of 100: something wicked comes to burden.
In this latest installment of Angie B's 100 Things, POP CULTURE YOU SHOULD KNOW:
I know about Beasts of Burden thanks to my lovely coworker and friend Chip, who is a veritable treasure trove of obscure comic knowledge. Several months back, he was in charge of an endcap display featuring "Comics Everyone Should Know", and while many of the titles caught my eye, it was the Beasts that won my heart.
The premise is an interesting one -- know how everyone calls dogs a man's best friend? Well, that's 100% apt, because it turns out that the dogs (and one cat) of the small town of Burden are the first line of defense against supernatural threats. If it weren't for the brave intervention of these four-legged friends, the men and women of Burden would be up to their armpits in zombies, golems, giant frogs, and witches hellbent on breaching demon realms. The canines (and the Orphan) fight a variety of dangers, including a werewolf and vengeful ghosts, all without their masters being the little bit aware of the truth.
The artwork is fabulous -- all of the animals are incredibly expressive -- and there's a luminous sadness in some of the stories. The action is exciting, the challenges very mythic, and the heroes are all unique, well fleshed-out, and interesting.
If you're a fan of supernatural and pulp tales, this is sure to delight. I highly recommend picking up the first trade volume, which has been out for several months, and then tracking down the Hellboy/Beasts of Burden crossover -- because that is one fabulous sidestory. When Hellboy, one of my many supernatural boyfriends, rescues the cynical Pugsley who, yes, is a pug, I may or may not have let loose a supersonic squeal of delight.