Human Nature In Animal Form: The Unnatural Series Reviewed
by Tito W. James
Unnatural by Mirka Andolfo is about a dystopian anthropomorphic animal world where love is decided by the government. It’s illegal to date a creature of the same sex or of a different species. The plot is an allegorical tale about the taboos of queer and interracial romance but it’s also more than that. After the first volume, Unnatural morphs from an allegorical fable into a high fantasy thriller. Do all these ideas meld into a cohesive story or is it too big of a beast to handle?
THE BAD
Unnatural is clearly a series that is meant to be read in order from start to finish. While Image is releasing the story in three trade paperbacks, the series would truly benefit from being collected into a single hardcover like the European version.
THE GOOD
Unnatural has gorgeously rendered art, and a unique premise that explores poignant subject matter. Andolfo can deliver sensual erotic scenes as well as moments of humor and horror. It’s her artistic range that manages to combine all these disparate elements into a cohesive whole.
THE VERDICT
Unnatural isn’t one story. It starts out as furry erotica with some social satire and quickly runs wild with a plot involving cults, government coverups, prophesies, and terrorism. The bizarre mix of elements isn’t for everyone but if you’re looking for a comic with queer and furry elements, you’re going to get way more than you bargained for.
Unnatural is available now from Image Comics.