The Feud, The Parody, The Furry
Hello, and welcome again to a Thanksgiving delayed edition of Odin’s Comic Symposium. Today’s topic is a return to form established by my previous entries into this section. For I’m going to present you a comic property that is technically a mix of science fiction or fantasy (well, as much as super hero comics can be for either) and present something that is more to the Fur than the Sci-Fi. Ladies and Gentlefurs I give you…CAPTAIN CARROT AND HIS AMAZING ZOO CREW!!!
Now, I’m sure a lot of furs in the fandom have at least a little knowledge on this particular title, but for those who aren’t informed, let me teach you about one of the few mainstream anthro-heroes and villains titles ever made. It all began as a story that was started between the main tale told in New Teen Titans #16, and wrapped up in the first issue of the Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew series. Superman had been investigating a strange phenomenon that was causing Metropolis citizens to begin acting like their primate ancestors. He was soon struck by a ray from a strange “barrier” surrounding the Earth, forcing him to use a meteorite as protection. When it stuck the meteorite, it caused the Man of Steel and the meteor’s fragments to be sent from Superman’s native Earth to Earth-C. Now, let me explain that this was 1982, so this was several years before Crisis on Infinite Earths, so there was still a multiverse teeming with hundreds of Earths.
And on this Earth (designated as Earth C), the world is run by various anthropomorphized species of talking animals existed, which included “anthro” versions of familiar celebrities and characters, such as “Sarah Foxette”, “Bow-Zar the Barkbarian”, and “Mallard Fillmore”. And these name puns were not limited to just the fursons within. You also had Gnu York City, Califurnia, and the United Species of America (It just makes sense, no?)
Anyway,back to the origin. Once Superman and the meteor fragments were shifted into Earth C’s universe, they crash landed on Earth C…although, all scattered to different points in the USA....
In Piggsburg, steel mill worker Peter Porkchops is struck by one of the irradiated meteor fragments, knocking him into a vat of molten steel. But, when he emerges, he finds himself transformed into the super strong being of living metal, becoming the hero known as PIG IRON!
In Kornsas City, Timmy Joe Terrapin tried to catch a bus, a meteor frament became lodged into his shell, blessing the incredibly slow minded and slow in general Timmy Joe with super speed, and soon, became the hero FASTBACK!
In Mew Orleans, martial arts instructor Felina Furr, as she engaged in a meditation session, a fragment of the irradiated meteor crashed a pot with a stirring stick, imbuing both the stick and Felina with mystical powers, the stick becoming a magic wand. She would later become the heroine “ALLEY-KAT-ABRA” (Me-OW!…I’ll leave the puns to the professionals now ^^;;; )
In Follywood, movie actor Byrd Rentals (now, a certain trucker hoss I know would HAVE to know who this is based on…seeing how Byrd starred in something called “Smoke-Eye, and the Panda”) and gossip columnist Rova Barkitt, who was interviewing him at the time, were both struck by two separate meteor fragmets, becoming imbued with different abilities, from Byrd becoming incredibly elastic, able to stretch into any shape while Rova achieved powers of “animal magnetism”, generated in the forms of blue stars (which repel) and red and white stripes (which attact). Both assumed the identities of RUBBER DUCK
and YANKEE POODLE!
And…while returning to the main part of the story, we look to Superman as he flies to what he’d hope to have been the parent office of Galaxy Communications, he instead reaches the media publishing house known as Womabt Communications, and there, the mild mannered artist Rodney R. Rabbit, who after a brief argument with Superman, munches on a carrot from his window-planter, which unknown to him or Superman, had been contaminated by a meteor fragment, so when he munched on the carrot, he suddenly ballooned into a muscular rabbit of steel, imbued with many of Superman’s powers, which only last 24 hours or after extreme exertion, which then requires him to eat another one of those carrots to regain those powers, so he always carries two just in case. So, in the end, he too takes up a costume and becomes CAPTAIN CARROT!
So, soon the super powered denizens of Earth C and Superman team up to stop the source of the mysterious ray (who conveniently was doing the same thing to citizens of Earth C,as they behaved like their non-anthropomorphic counterparts). The villian turns out to be none other than old Justice League nemesis, Starro the Conqueror (a sentient starfish…look, hes from the Silver Age, alright, it made sense back then!). Anyway, the newly formed Zoo Crew and Superman defeat him, and Crew decides to stick together ,even after helping Superman return to his home universe.
And so forged the Zoo Crew! A legend so memorable to last…twenty issues. But it’s a series that had grown into an underground cult hit, as its pun-heavy humor and interesting characters kept them from fading completely into obscurity. But I’m getting ahead of myself. During the 20 issue run, we saw the team develop from a group of rookie and inexperienced heroes with large egos, chips on their shoulders, and different ways of thinking and slowly become a team of professional crime fighters (okay, that last bit is a stretch, but they do get better at their job!). In the span of these issues, they fight homegrown menaces such as Armordillo, Salamandroid, and A.C.R.O.S.T.I.C. (A Cabal Recently Organized Solely To Instigate Crimes), as well as see the introduction of a new member (who funny enough, didn’t receive his powers from a meteor fragment, but in fact from a piece from Earth C‘s moon…which IS made of cheese), the size shifting mouse known as LITTLE CHEESE!
Also, over the course of the series we learn that much like the main DCU, there are a number of sub-dimensions in this universe, which the Zoo Crew comes to find: Earth C-Minus, which contains a world thought only “fictional” in Zoo Crew’s home universe, as it is home to the JLA! No, not the Justice League of America but…Just’a Lotta Animals
That’s right, Anthro Justice League, with core members like Super Squirrel, Wonder Wabbit, Batmouse, the Crash, Aquaduck, and the Green Lambkin.
Although, we do learn there are reserve members as well…
These ranks include the Rat Tornado, The Martian Anteater, the Item, Elon-gator, Hawkmoose, Zap-Panda, Green Sparrow, Stacked Canary, and Firestork, all of which would team up with the Zoo Crew to fight their native menaces of Feline Faust, the Shaggy SDog, and Amazoo.
But, as I said, their misadventures on and off Earth C came to an end at Issue 20 (where they once more teamed up with one of the Main DCU’s heroes, Beast Boy of the Teen Titans, but at the time, he was known as Changeling, chasing after the villian Gorilla Grodd (seriously, what is comics and fascination with monkeys?).
But, it wasn’t the end of the Zoo Crew entirely, as they returned for a three part miniseries three years later, trying to avert a war between (get this) The Land of Oz and Wonderland.
Yes, you read that correctly. It was quite the trippy series as these were all based on the original literary universes of Oz and Wonderland, so, a LOT of characters he weren’t introduced to in either live action or animated adaptations of both properties. But, it also marked the return/crossover of another super powered rabbit, HOPPY THE MARVEL BUNNY (one of the Captain Marvel family standby characters).
But after this miniseries, Captain Carrot and his Zoo Crew were then only seen time to time in cameos or brief appearences…until 2005/2006 in the issues of Teen Titans 30-31, where once more, a Zoo Crew insert story was placed between the main story. But here, we see a VERY Differtent Earth C (obviously a satire to the dark state of comics were in since the Zoo Crew were last seen, as clear in jokes to stories like “Watchmen” or “The Dark Knight Returns” are made, as well as story elements from them too).
Here, the Zoo Crew long since disbanded, Little Cheese murdered, Fastback gone missing, and Captain Carrot retired in disgrace following the death of his partner, Carrie Carrot ( No, she was never introduced before this, this is part of the satire on characters being killed all over the place.), Many of the other Zoo Crew Members are also moved away from the superhero life, while others continue to fight crime in secret. However, at the end of this quite short storyline, most of the heroes return to reform the Zoo Crew after catching and sending away their beloved Little Cheese’s murder, Alley Kat Abra ( Her excuse? Shes a cat, and he was a mouse. Do the math). Personally, I think this might've been a jab at Avengers : Disassembled, which had its magically inclined member, Scarlet Witch, revealed to be the source behind everyones recent "rough times". They also recruited a very right winged non powered hero by the name of the American Eagle (who is in fact, an eagle. Go fig.) And that STILL was not the end of our heroes!
One year later, as a tie in to…that series that must NOT be named, The Crew returned in the mini series “Captain Carrot and the Final Ark!”, (which in post crisis, their Earth is now labeled Earth 26) where it this time parodied recent Marvel events with our heroes unable to use their powers thanks to the Collar I.D. Initiative (Civil War, anyone?), only for it to be revealed as a sham to take away their powers. They also discover that the Alley Kat Abra wasn’t Little Cheese’s murderer, but a magical evil doppelganger called “Dark Alley” created by Feline Faust. But the true villains of this mini series, manipulating old stand bys like Frogzilla and Salamandroid, turn out to be none other than Starro and Ras Al Paca (a spoof off of Ras Al Ghul) while they attempt to flood the earth. Which they succeed, forcing the Zoo Crew help evacuate everyone off their Earth and into the Justa Lotta Animal’s native Earth C-Minus (Er, Minus 26?). However, The New Dogs muck the plan up, and send both the Zoo Crew and the “Ark” they used to save their Earth’s inhabitants to the Main DC universe, where they all become non powered, non-anthropomorphic animals.
And let me tell you something, fans and creators of these characters were PISSED about this ending, as it was to conform to the ending that Dan Dido (oh how I wish I could put venom in my words when I say either his or Queseada’s name.) had for the series that begins with C and Final Crisis . But, Scott Shaw (one of the Zoo Crew's creators) has gone on saying that this will NOT be the last of the Zoo Crew. And to prove him right, Final Crisis 7 did see the Zoo Crew returned to their prime (for a panel or two. But I’m not griping). Another point worth noting, and since I’m all for supporting smaller comic companies (who provide plenty of interesting stories on their own =3), a certain furry comic company also set up the release of their own "resolve" on the Final Ark’s rather unpleasing ending, but having unable to achieve the rights to “borrow” the characters from DC, they (as well as their flag ship hero Atomic Mouse, who they revived some time back after trying to get the Zoo Crew rights from DC), and…well, let me put it this way
Atomic Mouse vs. Power Jack and the Lost Menagerie!
Now, if this isn’t enough to stir interest in the comic, I don’t know what will. I will certainly try and find myself a copy. Also, its not copyright infringement if they have different names, costumes, and satire is in play ;3. Also, here's a link to give you a couple sneak peeks into this...
http://www.shandafantasyarts.net/index.htm
And I admit, it seems to be in delayment hell, but I REALLY want to get my hands on this comic. But, getting off topic…
So, will we ever see Captain Carrot and The Zoo Crew? I think we can and will. Why? Over the last ten years, the most unexpected of Lower grade heroes and villians have gained HUGE popularity in both comic book titles, animated series, and movies. I mean, ten years ago, did anyone ever hear of Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, or any of the Teen Titans? Not really, and look how popular they've become. They even gave Krypto the Super Dog a cartoon! KRYPTO!
But anyway, I can bet, in the next ten years, we’ll see these Fine Furred Heroes once more, either on the comic page, or heck, maybe even a cartoon appearance on Batman Brave and the Bold (seriously, given the campy style of that show, it IS possible, right?). So, in short, I hope I’ve both entertained and enlightened you about this. I’m Odin Ashcroft, and I’m your comic bo-...Oh wait, one more thing...here's a little piece done by the oddball (in a good way) minds behind the Zoo Crew, in a bit of tongue in cheek to the glut of crossover comics of the 90s and early 2000s...
Enjoy! ^_^
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Thread: The Feud, The Parody, The Furry
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Originally Posted by Fenryx
