Extinctioners

(Shanda, 1999, 2004)
™ and © Shanda

Even after two and a half years, when a comic book is published only quarterly, it can be hard for a reader to get a firm grasp on where it’s going. Nevertheless, while Extinctioners is still just coming into its own, it is a fun, well-written, enjoyable series. Shawntae Howard has created a ragtag group of anthropomorphic heroes ranging from felines to a gorilla to a phoenix, and there are plenty more species to go around. Shanda Fantasy Arts has released many anthropomorphic comics for fans of the genre to enjoy, and Extinctioners is another that fills the bill.

Extinctioners is attractive because the group, the Solar Foxes, acts more as if its members should be in a soap opera, rather than playing super-heroes. (When they are not fighting bad guys, they are fighting each other. There are more possible love triangles than Melrose Place.) But the humor that Howard brings to the characters makes events less corny. And these characters have super-powers, so, when they do fight among each other, the story gets a lot more interesting.

One problem with the series is Howard sometimes tries to fit too much in his panels. However, his work has become livelier as of #10, since Executioners now uses a graytoning artist; that makes all of the images smoother and makes the comic book look livelier.

Since the series is produced quarterly, there is quite a wait to get progress in the story and between issues. Another problem for the audience is that the comic book switches back and forth between its maturity levels. Issue #5 is suggested for mature readers, but #9 is for general readers — which makes it hard for a younger audience to try to keep up with the series.

However, anyone who likes anthropomorphic comic books should at least give Extinctioners a try. And even those who don’t care for the title would do well to check out other Shanda material; it produces plenty more material in the same genre.

— Nathan Melby

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