Great Story--Excellent Art
A nice modern fable while violent is also piognant. Grant Morrison captures the "inhuman-ness" of man while connecting the reader to the feelings of animals. The art done by Frank Quitley is very detailed and sensitive. He manages to capture the horror of violence while drawing the reader into the hearts of three unfortunate creatures being used for a new kind of warfare.
The story revolves around three escaped animals who were bred, altered and surgically enhanced with machines to become ultimate killing soldiers. The idea of letting animals fight the wars of men (surrogate soldiers) becomes a metaphor of animal abuse and the horror/folly of war (violence of man).
I bought this for my son to read. It's a bit visceral, so I wouldn't recommend this to anyone under 13.
Grant Morrison's most human story... and its about animals
Grant Morrison is best known for his complicated stories rife with insanely original concepts and ultra-cool dialogue you can't find anywhere else. We3, however, is simply a story of three animals trying to find their way home. While, admittedly, the animals are cased in millions of dollars worth of military hardware, all of that is secondary to the very simple, very heartfelt storyline reminiscent of the old family classic, "Homeward Bound." Add a little "Robocop" and a strong animal rights undercurrent to the mix and you have We3. Despite, or maybe because of, its simplicity, We3 is one of Morrison's most accessible stories. Frank Quitely's page designs are both cinematic and inventive and his pencils evoke strong emotion, particularly in the sad eyes of Bandit, the canine leader of the group. We3 is an instant classic and a prime example of Morrison and Quitely's legendary partnership.
Excellent story, just a little too short.
The art is beautiful, the story is great, the whole thing is very engaging and moving. My only complaint is that it is over a little too quickly for my tastes . . .
Wow.
Grant Morrison, We3 (Vertigo, 2005)
I can't remember the last time a graphic novel made me cry. We3 had me bawling like a schoolgirl finding out the Backstreet Boys had broken up. Morrison's tale of three altered animals (a dog, a cat, and a rabbit) trying to figure out what to do (and how to avoid the forces hunting them) after being freed from their armed forces research facility on the verge of their being decommissioned is heart-rending, and Frank Quitely's artwork is, if anything, stronger than the story itself; the emotions the characters show belie their rudimentary speaking abilities. Morrison and Quitely have packed an incredible amount of emotion into a very short story. Easily one of the best books I've read this year, and perhaps the best so far. *****
If you love animals, you will likely shed a tear....
If you like books that make you think and like a fine wine improve with each reading then you will enjoy We3. It is a cautionary fable and tale, yet with the pace of technological evolution, one that might exist in the not too distant future.
When we first meet Bandit, Tinker and Pirate it is in their battledress as 1, 2 and 3. Their backstory is former house pets co-opted by the military. Their animal swiftness and natural agility bio-mechanically enhanced and put to use as weapons of war.
The story alternates between humor, tenderness and raw violence.
We3 is also a tale of family, as the three animals bond and form their own "pack" led by 1. Like most families they don't always get along or agree yet their bond and loyalty to one another is palpable throughout the story.
You may not think We3 is the best Grant Morrison has to offer, but it truly is an original tale.
One that will have you thinking of its implications long after the first reading.
Rush through it quickly if you must, but definitely return and pay attention to the details.
Cheers!
(31 reviews)
