The only reason I am reviewing Animals Rule This Land by Luke Milton is because I know someone will appreciate this, while having some clever moments but overall violent situations which can be downright oogy moments and which can really be a turn-off, graphic novel due mid-March 2024.
The concept is when animals rule, humans drool. Or worse. Like getting dead worse. Therefore, if you are warped (and I mean that with much love), go for it. Though teens can read, I won’t recommend it for under aged 14, only adults. But then again, kids watch/read a lot of things I don’t recommend so, adults, know your reader.
The thing is the science fiction element has a fantastic premise. Animals have become sentient beings, but are still, well, animals. You can put a vest on a rabbit, hat on a mouse, or dress a duck up in cute overalls, but you will still get blood covered toasters as a gift, drugged by some funky purple berries, and see a cat and dog doing what comes naturally, but not with each other. The neighbor dog likes to huff paint, the duck likes to eat glue, and the curator of the museum wears a cheese grater as a hat.
There is a twist ending, so let us say I don’t have much hope for anyone at this point. I am not sure if there is really a message, but something tells me that Milton might have been huffing some paint (or worse) when this idea came to them. And don’t get me started on the whacked out, weird, disturbing illustrations. Those things are down right nightmarish, like if Disney was on some major LSD trip.
Read via an online readers copy