There is an old folk song, popularized by musician Fred Penner and sung by countless children around the campfire called The Cat Came Back. It chronicles the tale of a mysterious cat that refused to go away, despite the best laid plans of its owner.
That cat has nothing on Bestie from Hairball.
In the second issue of this limited series, Bestie has already survived a clubbing, a drowning and a fire. And in the process, she has sent her owner, a nameless young girl, to a therapist to recount her story. The girls’ parents haven’t been so lucky. Dad had a stroke after accidentally eating a poisonous hairball. Mom is battling her injuries from that fire.
And Bestie? Aside from one eye that isn’t quite right, it’s just fine.
Such is the creepy feline tale (or is it a tail?) that has emerged from the mind of writer Matt Kindt. Kindt has taken the idea that cats are familiars, or supernatural beings that serve witches and demons, and brought it to like in a horrifying way.
Tyler Jenkins provides the simple, yet effective artwork. His style, like that of colorist Hilary Jenkins, is similar to Kindt’s, an artist in his own right. So it’s easy to see why the three are collaborating on this series. Hilary, in particular, is able to explore the darkness surrounding this black cat with a great deal of chilling effectiveness.
By telling the story through the eyes of the young girl, the story is more grounded. And since the girl starts out innocent – her parents may be the real villains of the story – her increasingly unnerving interactions with Bestie are starting to bring out the worst in her. It’s even possible we could see her descend into madness before the series is over. That is, if she’s not already there.
Hairball #2 will be available for purchase tomorrow.
There is an old folk song, popularized by musician Fred Penner and sung by countless children around the campfire calledCOMICONRead More