Your favorite superheroes and the adorable animals they call pets are up to some shenanigans. Your Major Spoilers review of Marvel Mutts #1 from Marvel Comics awaits!
MARVEL MUTTS #1
Writer: Mackenzie Cadenhead
Artist: Takeshi Miyazawa
Colorist: Raúl Angulo
Letterer: VC’s Joe Sabino
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $6.99
Release Date: February 12th 2025
Previously in Marvel Mutts: Dogs like Bats, Lockjaw, and Bats have come to be integral parts of their particular corners of the Marvel Universe, here’s what happens when they all come together and enjoy some fun, just being dogs.
A DOG’S LIFE
Marvel Mutts #1 kicks off with Ms. Marvel in a heated battle with Kraven The Hunter. During their scuffle, the two crash into an animal shelter and it’s there that Ms. Marvel first meets a little dog named Mittens, who in turn helps Kamala defeat Kraven. Feeling a kinship with the dog, Ms. Marvel brings Mittens to The Avengers Mansion where they meet fellow dogs, Lockjaw, Pizza Dog, Lucky, Bats, and Cosmo. After a slightly cold meeting, the canines become friends and begin a series of small adventures. Their time together includes an interdimensional game of fetch, celebrating the holidays together, a tense introduction to Squirrel Girl’s trusted companion Tippy-Toe, as well as Captain Marvel’s pet cat/flerken Goose, and not to mention a rescue mission for none other than Steve Rogers.
DOING A LOT WITH A LITTLE
Marvel Mutts #1 combines 12 individual stories originally released exclusively on Marvel Unlimited, each being just a couple of pages each. Yet, even with this unusual publishing system, a complete and coherent story was still achieved. Beyond simply existing, Marvel Mutts #1 also manages to find spots for humor as well as some legitimate emotional moments. What’s even more impressive is that it does this with practically no traditional dialogue. Of course, don’t expect something deep, this is a comic that features a ghost basset hound and a dog named Pizza Dog, but if you’re looking for something cute, with a couple deep cuts, and probably most importantly, all-ages, this is going to be a good pick up. Some stand-out moments include the game of fetch that utilizes American Chavez’s powers and a brief look into Cosmo’s past.
FINDING EMOTION IN SUBTLE WAYS
With a majority of the characters in Marvel Mutts #1 being, understandably, animals, it might come as a surprise that there’s a surprising amount of emotion conveyed in the mannerisms and facial expressions on display. But, there is and even more impressive is how this is accomplished without going into full cartoon mode. There are some slight exaggerations that go beyond what a real dog or cat can do, but the visuals remain firmly planted in a mostly realistic style. While there are a few word balloons that sort of cheat and give away exactly what a particular animal is feeling or thinking about, it’s not hard to imagine this issue working just fine without them and that’s due the wonderful work in the characterizations.
BOTTOM LINE: A GREAT ALL-AGES FUN PICK UP
For readers of all ages, especially those who didn’t previously have access to these stories, Marvel Mutts #1 is a great collection. It’s a wholesome anthology that finds some deep emotional moments and it also manages to act as a complete story in itself. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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Marvel Mutts
Marvel Mutts #1 is a must read for any pet lover who might also be a fan of comics. The bite size vignettes work well on their own as well as a connected tale which finds a nice range of emotion even without much dialogue.
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At a young age, Jonathan was dragged to a small town in Wisconsin. A small town in Wisconsin that just so happened to have a comic book shop. Faced with a decision to either spend the humid summers and bitter winters traipsing through the pine trees or in climate controlled comfort with tales of adventure, horror, and romance, he chose the latter. Jonathan can often be found playing video games, board games, reading comics and wincing as his “to watch” list grows wildly out of control.