Street Angel's Dog, FCBD Special
Written by Jim Rugg and Brian Maruca
Art and cover: Rugg
Rated: T (Teen)
Published by: Image
Released: May 5, 2018
Usually I'm drawn to the Big Two comic companies, both in terms of comics I buy and ones I get for free. But I'm also open-minded, and it wasn't exactly a hard decision to give this issue a try. Cute dog? Nunchuks? A young, female protagonist who just might make this comic appealing to my daughters?* What are we waiting for?
“Street Angel's Dog” is part of the “Street Angel” comics produced by Rugg and Maruca for Image Comics. Who or what is Street Angel? Beats me. Fortunately, the issue gives newcomers like me enough information to appreciate the offbeat offering.
It starts with a literal bang, as a group of young hoodlums is chasing a dog and throwing firecrackers at her. The terrified canine flees into an alley, occupied by none other than Street Angel, who the text identifies as Jesse Sanchez, “the Deadliest GIRL alive” and … “a homeless NINJA on a Skateboard?”
So right off the bat we've got an animal being tormented and a homeless teenager scavenging for food in an alley. Frankly, this is not the lighthearted romp I was expecting from the cover. But we do get a terrific splash page:
After smashing the lead hoodlum square in the nose in a striking, two-page closeup, Street Angel turns her attention to the wounded, frightened dog. She takes the animal for first aid at a church, then Dumpster diving, where they find a bag of clothes before begging for money on the sidewalk.
Her lifestyle is clearly more intense than what this poor dog is used to, and that's before a page in which she fights ninjas and red demons, one of whom is toppled by the terrified dog.
After stealing some food from a butcher shop, we see panels of Street Angel fleeing from … some kind of muscular humanoid with an eyeball for a head and maybe a drone before she wipes out on her skateboard. Picking herself up off the pavement, the bloodied teen spots a poster identifying her new four-legged friend as Princess. As she vows to get the dog home, the group of young hoodlums returns with a guy who looks like a minor boss in “Double Dragon.”
But just as he's about to deliver a brutal blow with an ax or hammer or some combination of the two, he recognizes his target as Street Angel and flees in terror. I may not be familiar with this character, but she's got a reputation in-story for sure.
As the sun sets, Street Angel returns Princess to her home and the little girl she loves so much. She doesn't stick around to be thanked, but helps herself to the girl's dad's sandwich.
That style also helps sell a wacky story that nevertheless features a teenage girl living on the streets, panhandling and scavenging for food. This does not seem like the setting for a short, sweet adventure with a cartoonish dog, but here we are. And it works.
The issue carries a T for teen rating. I'm not sure it' quite necessary, but the situation and some of the blood could make it a poor choice for really young readers.
I've said before that one of the main objectives of Free Comic Book Day should be to get people to check out and maybe pay for subsequent comics. The stark concept delivered in a fun, carefree way immediately made me more curious about other Street Angel adventures, which the comic helpfully informs me consist of titles like “After School Kung Fu Special,” “Super Hero for a Day” and “Street Angel Goes to Juvie.” Many of these are available on the free Hoopla library app.
I don't know, but I'm curious to find out.
* - As yet undetermined.
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