Angel Catbird by Margaret Atwood, Johnnie Christmas & Tamra Bonvillain

It's a bird! It's a cat! It's an....Angel Catbird!

Margaret Atwood ventures into the world of graphic novels in the first of this series, Angel Catbird. Margaret Atwood is my long time favorite writer, which is why I immediately chose this book as my first to review. This book is completely different than anything I have ever read by Atwood, which is a lengthy list of clever, intriguing and sometimes disturbing novels.

In the introduction, Ms. Atwood explains her decision to take a chance in the comic book universe with her unusual hero. An idea that has been taking up residence in her brilliant mind for some time, she was able to put it onto paper with the help of illustrator, Johnnie Christmas and colorist, Tamra Bonvillain, who really did an amazing job with the artwork in the book.

It starts off the way many comic book stories do, with a science experiment gone awry. Strig Feleedus is a scientist and cat lover working on a DNA experiment for his rat-like boss, Dr. Muroid. When Strig makes a breakthrough, he knows he has to get the formula to work right away, but Strig's cat Ding runs out of the house unexpectedly, leaving Strig out in the street trying to get him back. Dr. Muroid never planned to let Strig develop the formula and stay alive to share it with anyone but him, so in an attempt to get rid of Strig, Dr. Muroid sets off a whole new chain of events.

Strig is spliced with his beloved cat, Ding, and a passing owl, turning him into something he never thought possible. Before he has time to think, he is flying through the sky sporting a new tail and magnificent wings, along with a confusing set of new instincts. Unsure about what he is and what exactly happened, Strig, back in human form, goes back to work where he begins to discover what is really afoot. With the help of Cate, a half-cat herself, Strig learns that he is now a part of a whole subculture of half-cats. He, Cate and the others discover a rat spy which leads them back to the realization that their boos, who always seems rat-like himself, is planning the destruction of all half-cats to fill society with his rat minions and take over. They need to stop him! Meanwhile, they need to hide Cate; she is the next tool in the Doctor's evil plan.

Throughout the book there are interesting facts about how to help cats and birds and how to prevent them from harm. There are some statistics, along with websites and tips to help these furry and feathery friends. Atwood, being a cat lover, added this educational and useful aspect to the book, which I really enjoyed. This book would be great for reluctant readers as it is short, with a simple story and alluring illustrations.

For a little dose of Margaret Atwood and Johnnie Christmas, along with some illustrations from the book, watch this short video:
https://youtu.be/V1DYJPlXQFM