Writer: Paul Carroll
Artist: Gareth Luby Publisher: Limit Break Comics
WHAT IS IT?
A bloody, humorous, action-packed crime/mystery with a foul-mouthed cat as the main character.
It's like if you took your favorite family film, made it ultra-violent, and the main character was a mercenary.
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
(Minor Spoilers)
Frankie is an assassin.
He’s also a cat.
When someone else beats him to a mark, he realizes he’s up against a highly trained and extremely deadly group of catsassins.
Why are they taking out all of his targets? Who's behind them? And what series of events turned Frankie from a lovable ball of fluff to his current mercenary self?
You're gonna have to read MEOUCH and find out!
WHAT WORKS?
The first thing you'll notice about this comic is its color
It has gorgeous, full color and, matching the tone of Meouch, it playfully walks the line between noir mystery and fun story with a talking cat
Soon after, you'll likely notice this comic is VIOLENT, but, like, in a fun way
I'm talking pools of blood, holes in faces and bodies, and a hilarious kill count at the end of the issue
Gareth Luby's cartoonish style for Meouch balances out the violence
Though the panels, themselves, are rough and sketchy, the actual art is clean and crisp
He also has some fun little Easter Eggs, like the Tick pic on the wall in the art below or the humorous information found in a mark's file
Paul Carroll's writing is an absolute pleasure to read, filled with fun banter, ridiculous puns that never get old, and action-packed plot
It's like the team realized cats really are murder machines, and decided to write a humorous comic based on that
Meouch is one of the rare comics to credit its artist before the writer on the title's cover
It could be because the titular character is based on his real cat, Frankie, who Gareth sadly lost last year
This comic is such a great way to honor Frankie
I think this is very cool and progressive of them!
Like the panels borders and Frankie, himself, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou's lettering in Meouch is intentionally rough around the edges
His sound effect work is bright and hand-drawn and gritty, which is perfect for the title
One of my favorite parts of Meouch, and one of my favorite lettering effects of all time, is the shadow cast by the moonlight hitting the exposition (see the page below)
WHAT DOESN'T WORK?
Though there's no real cursing, all that violence means Meouch definitely isn't a kids' story
I would've been OK with more SFX work from Otsmane-Elhaou, especially in scenes where a bell jingles or a gun fires
WHY SHOULD I READ IT?
If you're in the mood for a bit of the old ultra-violence, and you're up for some hilariously cheesy cat-based humor, you absolutely have to read Meouch!
WHAT DO I READ NEXT?
If you like the writing:
Rocket Raccoon, Vol. 1 by Skottie Young & Jake Parker
Assassin Nation by Kyle Starks and Erica Henderson
If you like the art:
Life & Death by Paul Carroll & Gareth Luby
Scott Pilgrim by Bryan Lee O'Malley
ABOUT THE CREATORS
Paul Carroll – Writer
Multitalented: Also works as a colorist
Outlander: Hails from Ireland
Gareth Luby – Artist
Outlander: Also from Ireland
Dream Team: Often works with Paul Carroll
Joe Griffin – Colorist
Dream Team: Also worked with Paul, Gareth & Hassan on the Limit Break Comics anthology, Mixtape
Outlander: Works in Cork, Ireland
Moniker: Also goes by "Joseph Griffin"
Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou – Letterer
Multitalented: Edits PanelxPanel, the digital magazine about comics, and also writes comics & films
Outlander: Lives in the south west of England
HOW DO I BUY IT?
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The image(s) used in this article are from a comic strip, webcomic or the cover or interior of a comic book. The copyright for this image(s) is likely owned by either the publisher of the comic, the writer(s) and/or artist(s) who produced the comic. It is believed that the use of this image(s) qualifies as fair use under the United States copyright law. The image is used in a limited fashion in an educational manner in order to illustrate the points of the author and not for the purpose of entertainment or substituting the original work. It is believed the use of this image has had no impact on the market value of the original work.
All Gareth Luby and Paul Carroll characters and the distinctive likeness(es) thereof are trademarks of and copyright Gareth Luby and Paul Carroll or their respective owners. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED