Animal Pound #1: More Than Just Animals (Spoiler-Free!)

Animal Pound #1 is the latest series from Boom Studios, and an attempt at adapting the classic novel “Animal Farm” by George Orwell. Much like the novel, Animal Pound follows a group of animals who decide that they are tired of the humans controlling their lives and dictating what they can and cannot do, leading to them revolting and attempting to form some form of society on their own. This modern retelling changes the setting from a farm to a modern day pound, where animals are held for a variety of reasons. 

Whereas “Animal Farm” focused on a group of barn animals , choosing to relegate most of the other animals to the background with the exception of a few, Animal Pound #1 sees the main cast consist of Cats and Dogs. This creates a dynamic where the humans are the agreed upon oppressors; however, there is even a greater division between the two animal species who have their own opinions about one another. Additionally, the pound houses rabbits who are freed in this introductory issue, although none of them add too much to the animal’s plight. It will definitely be interesting to see how the firmly established division between the Cats and Dogs creates a unique dynamic to this tale that extends beyond their shared desire to escape oppression.

Anyone who reads this issue is going to look at their household pet in a new light. It’s not made clear if that was writer Tom King’s intention; however, the opening monologue from a dog about to be put down really paints human animal owners in a negative light. At a minimum, this can be seen as a means to  an end in order to set this narrative in motion; however, there is a lot to be said about the idea that humans control animals purely because they have the ability to open and shut doors. This simplistic view on the role humans play in this narrative makes everything flow easily and allows the central conflict to come to light with little issues. This also brings up the subject of animal abuse, highlighting human’s quick and decisive way of deciding if an animal needs to be spayed, neutered, or put down. It takes the idea of free will and carries it to a whole new level that definitely will make people want to hug their dog or cat after they turn the final page.

Tom King has an elegant way of writing these characters, giving them voices and personalities befitting the animal in which is being written. Each character feels even close to the breed of dog or cat that they are, like the Doberman being brash and the black cat liking to lie in its lonesome. This gives a lot of authenticity to the narrative, making every character read in a manner that befits the story being told.

Another shockingly great element of the narrative is Peter Gross’s art, which without the lettering, could be seen as just animals sitting around in their kennels in a pound. These animals are only anthropomorphized as much as the dialogue bubbles around them. They do not stand up like humans and they do not move their mouths in a humanlike manner. Even with this specific aesthetic, Gross manages to give all of these animals a personality through the art alone, making this a very astounding achievement. Gross is also not afraid to show the harsh reality of life within a pound, highlighting how mundane and uneventful it looks within a kennel. Overall, the art truly sells the narrative behind it in more ways than one.

Another superstar here is Tamra Bonvillain on colors, who in addition to Clayton Cowles on letters, genuinely give this book a feel that makes it reminiscent of other Tom King narratives. Whereas Gross has to draw dozens of dogs and cats in different positions, Bonvillain then has to make sure that the colors also indicate how unique they are. These colors have to not only be indicative of the kinds of fur on the different breeds, but they also need to highlight the differences one may see among the same breeds. This level of detail adds so much to the art and makes this world look so much more authentic.