For Molly #2: Fox Eyes

The second issue of this unusual tale begins with a sad anxious dream of our main character, and there we get the same messy and sad feelings presented of a cinematographic way that characterized issue one, but then it quickly shifts its tone and focuses on the other main character: the talking dog Molly. And, narratively, this issue is gonna focus way more on the talking dogs’ mythology within this story and makes us more interested in the fantasy parts of this tale, that doesn’t stop reminding us of real-life anxieties, like fear of abandonment, belonging, friendship or anger.

My absolute highlight from this second issue is how Benjamin Sawyer draws dogs. Even if the cover didn’t sell the issue instantly for me (although Isabella Cheng’s variant is indeed spectacular again), I’m not for now interested in the other connecting storyline (the one with the corrupt cop and Ava, Greg’s lost sister), and the style of drawing people in fights and action scenes really doesn’t grow in me… there was something that highlighted this issue: the dogs’ scenes, design and dialogue just captivated me. When author Gabe Cheng tells us this is a tale about talking dogs he’s not exaggerating the weight of it, since it’s a really good placed tale, and we come to believe and humanize these animals’ history and mythology within this fictional world.

Character design is a big part of why this issue hits deep. The color of the dogs’ hair, their backstory, the design of the nature placements for each scene, just make the art shine a lot. Everything seems in place design-wise, and the physical features of these dogs, especially their expressive eyes, seem to tell something deep about every each of them (range, attitude, relationships, depth fears, emotions like resentfulness, hope or anger). The worldbuilding story that is being told, even if in the middle of it is still vague and mysterious, seems a compelling one, and some big themes like trauma bonding and abandonment are starting to be explored. I want to highlight the introduction at the end of the issue of a Robin Hood-inspired character, whose design and the place he has in the story seems like a really cool one, and keeps you interested in how this tale continues.