We have never wondered what it would be like if you took Silence of the Lambs and illustrated it like All Dogs Go To Heaven, but that’s what we get with Stray Dogs and it is a stunning work of creativity.

In Stray Dogs, readers meet Sophie, a dog who can’t remember what happened. She doesn’t know how she ended up in this house. She doesn’t recognize any of these other dogs. She knows something terrible happened, but she just…can’t…recall…Wait! Where’s her lady? Now Sophie has to figure out where she is, what’s happening, and how she’s going to survive this. They say there’s no such thing as a bad dog-just bad owners.

In a wide world of comics I am always looking for something new, interesting and unique and Stray Dogs definitely scratched that itch. The premise behind writer Tony Fleecs and artist Trish Forstner‘s comic series is truly wonderful and captivating. Fleecs does an excellent job building tension throughout the story, while Forstner gives us a style of artwork you would not typically see in a horror comic such as this.

The story is not something truly groundbreaking but when you use cute innocent dogs as your vessel it stands out in a crowd. Forstner uses Don Bluth animation style illustrations that can be both charming and unsettling. The children-like art creates a sense of innocence that is juxtaposed against the darker themes of the story. The contrast in styles adds a depth to the characters and enhances the overall atmosphere of suspense in the comic. Something unique that makes you scratch your head with each page turn.

Stray Dogs is a horror style but also maintains a sense of humor and heart along the way. The story can be heartwarming at moments and frightful in others. Fleecs strikes a perfect balance between light-hearted and nail-biting suspense, while pair extremely well with Forstner’s artwork. This is clever storytelling and a fresh take on a traditional thriller that kept us turning the page.

While I don’t say this often, but Stray Dogs is a must-read horror comic. The uniqueness of a horror story with charming artwork makes this series stand out amongst the rest in the genre. Tony Fleecs and Trish Forstner created a unique and refreshing comic series that is one of the best reading experiences in years.

The collected edition of Stray Dogs is available at bookstores everywhere from Image Comics.