Mac Smith’s one-stop creation may have used a variety of techniques, but computers are certainly credited with the amazing photorealistic effects in this book. It’s impressive when you realize that photorealism is being used here to depict anthropomorphic creatures in what looks like a postapocalyptic environment.
Pict and Wix are two adorable, large-eyed, cartoon mice. My first impression was that the battles of Wix to defeat housecats took up the majority of the early sections of the book. I thought this was an updated version of Tom and Jerry. It turns out that it is more like Watership Down, or Mouse Guard.
Humans have suffered a terrible fate. The exact cause is never revealed, but a flashback suggests that climate change and nuclear power may have also been at play. The animals haven’t disappeared, but they are consumed with one of the greatest desires in life: food. There are also cats, dogs and other animals like a dog, a cat, a fox, a mouse, a beaver, a squirrel or a squirrel. They are all realistically portrayed, except for the fact that some of them can speak and others have a constant hunger. Hunger has already driven some of the characters a bit crazy.
As is often the case when you have disparate characters together, the mice form a colony. The wizened, old mouse’s daughter, who was one of the heroes, wants to get rid of the younger, more sleazy mouse. Imagine “The Grand vizier” from every Arabian adventure film you’ve ever seen on the Late Late Show back in the days.
All this adds up to a thrilling quest with two little heroes, big-eared and plucky. They’ll win your heart as well as your respect through their struggles and triumphs.
Mac Smith’s cartoons are more realistic than traditional cartooning and still look cartoonish. Smith knows how to combine all the elements of a comic to create a great effect.
Animal characters that act like they do in real life. The majority are neither bad nor good. The only thing they want to do is eat and then eat more. This is one of the most powerful motivators in life, and you can see it here.
Bottom Line?
Scurry by Mac Smith is a 300-page adventure that’s suitable for everyone. It features some new, likeable heroes without capes and superpowers. Every single page is stunning.
Written by Mac Smith and illustrated by
Published By Image Comics/
Skybound Comet