Gear (Image Comics)

"Gear" is a graphic novel written and illustrated by Doug TenNapel, the creator of Earthworm Jim. It was published in six issues by Fireman Press Ltd, a production company and publishing house which also published "". Previously, TenNapel had written an issue of a "Scud: the Disposable Assassin" spin-off comic entitled "Tales from the Vending Machine" for Fireman.

Gear featured black and white artwork mostly created with an ink brush by TenNapel. Many of its covers were photos of 3D sculptures, owing to TenNapel's affinity for stop motion animation.

Plot

Gear tells the story of a podunk town of squat, hominid-like cats who are bordered on all sides by bigger and more war-like animals. The town's only protection comes from an aged Guardian, a gigantic battle robot in disrepair. The town elder sends four brave cats out to capture an enemy guardian to further defend the town. The cats are named Waffle, Mr. Black, Simon and Gordon. They were named after TenNapel's actual pet cats. After tragedy strikes the cats in a battle with the neighboring dog faction's Guardian, Waffle begins blaming himself for the trouble and goes into the woods to end his own life. There he meets Chee, an insect from another warring faction. The two befriend each other, little knowing of the role they will both play in the oncoming battles.

The name "Gear" comes from a mystical artifact existing in the land which promises to greatly increase a Guardian's powers. Many parties search for the Gear, including a secret ninja-like Gear cult. The main plot revolves around the appearance of the gear and the subsequent mysteries it creates. Further themes in the story are the politics of the animal towns, the friendship of the four cats, the afterlife and giant robot combat.

Adaptations

Gear has been loosely adapted into a Nickelodeon cartoon entitled "Catscratch," though GEAR and other main elements of the graphic novel do not appear in it. The character of Mr. Black was also renamed to Mr. Blik, presumably for political correctness.

Publication

The six issues of the comic where reprinted as a graphic novel by Fireman Press at the end of the comic's run.

Gear was reprinted by Image Comics in full color on January 2007 (ISBN 1582406804)

External links

* [http://thedailycrosshatch.com/2007/03/04/gear-by-doug-tennapel/ A review of TenNapel's "Gear"] at The Daily Cross Hatch, from March 4, 2007