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Animosity Evolution #5 Review: Cyber-Animals Unleashed

Augusta of the Grassland Sisters takes to interrogating Mya herself while Dr. North begins looking into Octavia's disappearance. Meanwhile, Octavia and Penelope are brought to the crime lord behind both Mya and Fuzu Kazi.

Animosity: Evolution #5 cover by Eric Gapstur Rob Schwager
Animosity: Evolution #5 cover by Eric Gapstur Rob Schwager

It never ceases to amaze me how much political and philosophical theory can be conveyed through a dystopian comic series about talking animals. Marguerite Bennett really is one of the great comic scribes of our time. Also, read her Batwoman.

Animosity has mastered the tonal balance it takes to show really cute animals showing affection for one another and the outright brutality that sentient beings can perform upon one another for power, resources, and whatever they want.

Animosity: Evolution focuses more upon the cruelty which can be perpetrated by government than the individuals lashing out at one another which the main series depicts. As such, Evolution frequently comes off far more nihilistic. That is on full display in this issue; Wintermute's more cruel instincts are shown, Penelope is coaxed into a cruel act all her own, and the new antagonists have a pair of speeches that can be summed up with, "Take what you want because it won't be there for long."

Animosity: Evolution #5 art by Eric Gapstur and Rob Schwager
Animosity: Evolution #5 art by Eric Gapstur and Rob Schwager

Eric Gapstur's artwork once more dazzles with its ability to balance the seemingly disparate tones with a style both gritty and endearing depending on the intent of the scene. The ability to show this much emotion with realistic animal depictions and the ability to make many characters outright frightening in a vaguely human manner never ceases to impress. Rob Schwager's color work supports all of this with its own balance of color and tone.

Animosity: Evolution #5 is another impressive and thought-provoking installment of the series. The story deepens and becomes more complex as it progresses, and it continues to introduce interesting and complex characters supported by the excellent artwork by Gapstur and Schwager. This one gets a recommendation. Check it out.



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Joshua DavisonAbout Joshua Davison

Josh is a longtime super hero comic fan and an aspiring comic book and fiction writer himself. He also trades in videogames, Star Wars, and Magic: The Gathering, and he is also a budding film buff. He's always been a huge nerd, and he hopes to contribute something of worth to the wider geek culture conversation. He is also happy to announce that he is the new Reviews Editor for Bleeding Cool. Follow on Twitter @joshdavisonbolt.
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