Warriors: Tigerstar & Sasha Volume 2: Escape from the Forest

 Christmas gift for the Kiddo, bought at Foreign Languages Bookstore, Shanghai, China. This is my last comic review for 2020. I've been mostly focusing on graphic novels lately, but I still have about have of the current Random Stack of Unread Comics to get through, so I hope to make that last me until travel restrictions are lifted and I can get back to the US to buy some new comics.

Title: Warriors: Tigerstar & Sasha
Issue: Volume 2: Escape from the Forest
Date: 2009
Publisher: Tokyopop / Harper Collins Childrens
Writer: Dan Jolley, Erin Hunter
Artist: Don Hudson
Letterer: Michael Paolilli
Editor: Jenna Winterberg

This story is a spin-off from Erin Hunter's Warriors novels, featuring the adventures of kittypet-turned-forest-cat Sasha, after she refuses to be part of Tigerstar's plan to rule the four clans.

Sasha tries to seek out her former owner among the housefolk, but instead finds herself on a tour boat, helping out the captain in some surprising ways.

This was a nice self-contained story (in spite of being the middle chapter in a three-part series), that resolved several plot points. It also featured a lot more interaction between cats and humans than most Warriors stories do,  and it was fun seeing some of the story from the human perspective.

This is a solid addition to the Warriors canon of stories, with some tender moments and some fun bits of action.

Rating: 8/10

Warriors: Graystripe's Adventure

The Kiddo picked this one out this past summer at Barnes & Noble in Manchester NH. We've read two Warriors novels in prose form. This is our first time trying out the manga version.

Title: Warriors: Graystripe's Adventure
Date: 2008
Publisher: Tokyopop / Harper Collins Childrens
Writer: Dan Jolley, Erin Hunter
Artist: James L. Barry
Colorist: James L. Barry
Letterer: Mike Estacio, Lucas Rivera, John Hunt
Editor: Lillian Diaz-Przybyl

Originally published as three b/w manga volumes, this full-color collection tells the complete story of Graystripe's capture by the "twolegs", his life as a "kittypet", and his romance with Millie, who makes the decision to join in his attempt to escape back to his beloved Thunderclan.

Erin Hunter's world of feral cats is fun, and it has a an interesting level of depth, especially around the mythology the cats have developed, and those mythological elements play an important role in this epic journey.

There are plenty of encounters and dangers along the way, and the romantic elements between Millie and Graystripe are handled with only the occasional slip too deep into romantic trope territory.

The real strength of the story is Graystripe's internal conflict as he battles his doubts and fears that his time living with humans has somehow altered him so much that he may not be able to regain his warrior nature.

This conflict takes center stage as he is forced to decide whether he can possibly compromise his beliefs that all contact with anything to do with humans must be avoided.

This is an excellent heroic journey with character who experience many stumbles, but find a way to follow their quest to its end.

James L. Barry's artwork is excellent, and the vivid use of color brings the story to life in ways that weren't possible in the black-and-white manga version.

Lovely book and an engaging and satisfying story.

Rating: 9/10