This is one screwed up book. I think I liked it. Maybe. Maybe not. Yes, I liked it. Maybe.
When Henry the pet cat turns human like, the adventures he has with his human are odd, weird, and fun. Okay, so he likes to eat birds, sit in boxes, and does not want to go to work (then again, who does?). But he is a best pal with the best of the best pal bunch.
Olivia and Henry just go day to day in Catboy by Benji Nate. I had not connected the fact this is the same author as Lorna which, if possible, was even more warped that Catboy. In this fast-paced graphic novel, Oliva (a lonely woman who at first blush looks like a 12-year-old girl and not a 20-something-college graduate) wishes that her cat was more like a human friend, what happens is a human-like, with a cat mind and body, cat happens. A big, black, furry cat that dresses in “girl clothes” because that is all Olivia has, named Henry. And if that is not warped, I do not know warped. It is not like it is creepy, just off. Since nobody is really concerned that there is a walking, talking, anchovy eating, wine drinking, clothes wearing cat is just there.
It all gets tied together with some equally goofy artwork that is a perfect match for the equally goofy text. There are colors, minimal details, and some interesting details at that. It is not out of the ordinary. It is houses and furniture and other animals and flowers and people. It is just life. Are the illustrations and text making a political commentary? Was Nate really high on something? Or is it just a graphic novel for fun?
Not for youngsters or if you do not care for an abstract, but also solid, concept at the same time read.
