Blacksad: The Collected Stories by Juan Díaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido (2020)
Imagine Zootopia if its lead was a jaded, world-weary detective suffering from postwar PTSD, and the bustling metropolis was simmering with corruption, sin, and vice. That would describe Juan Díaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido’s Blacksad in a nutshell, but it would also sell short the pleasure of reading these post-WW2-set noir tales featured anthropomorphized animals. Even if it seems like a losing battle, the titular Blacksad seems intent on using all of his nine lives to take on the corrupt and the powerful, including wealthy tycoons, white supremacists, and Red Hysteria scaremongers — and sometimes, it seems like all he has to rely on are his quick fists, quick wits, and deep-seated sense of justice. I’ll admit, I went into Blacksad with some skepticism; the anthropomorphism seemed like it might be a bit too on the nose. But Canales and Guarnido have taken what seems like a simple premise and spun it into a thoroughly realized world that’s brought to life by Canales’s grounded storytelling and historical references and Guarnido’s richly detailed artwork.
I may earn an affiliate commission on items you buy through Opus. These commissions will go directly to support the site and my blogging.