Well, I wasn't exactly sure how to approach reviewing a graphic novel so I will separate it into two parts: art and story.
As far as the art is concerned, it is simply drawn, easy on the eyes, and quick to read; I had no problems at all there. I thought it was interesting that anime-style shorthand was used. For instance, there was a scene where Steve the protagonist cat is late for work and is depicted with toast hanging from his mouth and his shirt buttons off by one. It is also one of the few scenes where he is wearing a shirt.
It was also notable that "man" was used instead of "human" and all men are, well, male. I'm putting that creative choice on the art department, even if it was probably a writing decision.
Now for the story! The story is... Well if you took off the outer layer of "oh wow! People are cats and cats are people!" What you would get is a lazy, self loathing, depressed protagonist who prevails without any real internal growth. Steve doesn't learn to do his job or to be better to his friends or to be less awkward. Steve simply gets caught up in the mania of his lost pet for a brief period forcing him into action.
By the deus ex machina of... Getting popular? Steve suddenly gets a job, earns everyone's trust, and is well put together. It is never addressed how he overcame these issues, he just does because people liked his missing man posters.
I would not recommend this graphic novel to anyone except maybe people who already follow Manfried on Tumblr.
Thank you for reading; see you next time!
-Bekah
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