Review - Bee and PuppyCat #1

"PuppyCat, it's a brand new day! Endless opportunity!"

We need partners in our adventures. Even if that happens to be a strange creature who goes by the name PuppyCat, as is the case in Bee and PuppyCat #1 from BOOM! Studios. The issue is written by Natasha Allegri and Garrett Jackson and illustrated by Allegri.

Bee is a forever unemployed character who can't seem to figure out life. That brings in PuppyCat, a stray creature that she stumbled upon and who holds a powerful secret. Together, the two of them handle all manner of obstacle thrown at them, including fighting bad guys in a quite amusing way.

Bee and PuppyCat are quite a unique pair and it's something that Allegri and Jackson really spend a lot of time focusing on. The two characters are very endearing and the reader experiences the world through their eyes, with a lot of Bee's narration overlaid for good measure. The hijinks they participate in fall somewhere between Powerpuff Girls and Calvin & Hobbes, both of which give you a good indication as to what the reader can expect. There's little dialogue throughout the book, but the gist of the action is still largely recognizable. The two characters enjoy each other's company and have a lot of fun on their misadventures.

Like the writing, the illustrations are pretty breezy and pop with color. Allegri's style is very friendly and cuddly, offering a subtle softness to the work that ensures it maintains its lightheartedness. There are some really great colors used as well, providing a bright book that at times looks like Adventure Time. The panels are laid out in a very familiar grid format that doesn't bog things down too much, again allowing the reader to focus on what makes the book enjoyable.

Bee and PuppyCat #1 is a book that doesn't take itself too seriously and it doesn't ask that the reader does so either. It's a very easy read that doesn't get swamped with an overabundance of continuity or characters, instead relying on something of a simple approach that works. The story by Allegri and Jackson is very accessible and friendly, providing a relatively straightforward script that doesn't take itself too seriously. Allegri's art is up to the task of providing a look that's equal parts sunshine and lollipops. Bee and PuppyCat #1 is a book that's a lot of fun to read and even more enjoyable when you realize the creators probably had just as much fun putting it together.

Bee and PuppyCat #1 is in stores now with interiors below.