No matter how spiteful … friendship endures.
Creative Staff:
Story: Joe Brusha, Ralph Tedesco & Dave Franchini
Writer: Joe Brusha
Artwork: Guillermo Fajardo
Colors: Walter Pereyra & Ulises Arreola
Letters: Taylor Esposito
What They Say:
Up against heavy odds, two urban legends turned unlikely heroes find themselves up against a plethora of enemies – yes we said plethora! The dynamic duo of Phil and Floyd must learn to rely not only on their unique skills and instincts, but on one another, if they’re going to survive what’s coming for them!
Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
After unwrapping a grisly present from the cult and sincerely comprehending their monstrous demand to keep its owner alive, Phil and Tammy waste no time in rushing out of the house, only to be stopped by a resolute monster hunter who decides now is the time to stop his quarry from escaping, hindering the rescue of their furry friend. While Man Goat attempts to negotiate an escape from this impasse, the man named Cooper is suddenly knocked unconscious with a well-meaning impact from an unseen baton, with Wendell being the bearer of the punishment in order to stop the one-sided hostage negotiation. Although he is glad to help his associate from this tense situation, the officer still demands an explanation of what is happening, but is stunned after hearing the seriousness of what he initially thought was a harmless group of devil worshippers now has captured Floyd, however, chooses not to help since he cannot be late for his wife’s birthday and instead escorts his prisoner back to town. But as the desperate pair race to the place in question to save Bunnyman, it only now that the impassioned woman demands to know the real reason why they want him, and while Phil tries to deny any knowledge of the dastardly plot, an outburst of anger finally convinces him to reveal the truth: Man Goat was originally the creation of a demon named Baphomet who rejected evil, and while he was cast out of the Underworld, there is still a prophecy which foretells he will be the key to bringing about the end of the world.
However as they arrive at the cultists’ lair, Phil has resolved himself to face whatever may await within the building, even as Tammy boldly states she will not go in unprepared and secures herself with a shotgun, but as they step forward the pilot seriously questions her partner if he cares about the rodent. It is then when Man Goat hesitantly confesses that Floyd is his best friend and maybe his only friend, and wishes he realized this obscured fact before all of this happened, to have Tammy then tenderly comfort and tell him she cares for him too and they will get their companion back. But as they stride into the dimly lit building, both are surprised to witness a frightening number of cloaked worshippers surrounding the white rabbit with a curved blade at his throat, to then have the crimson robed leader confidently tell the one he calls Philanus to surrender by lying down within the pentagram drawn upon the floor. Seeing no other choice to save Floyd, Phil obediently walks to the center of the room even as Tammy screams for him not to since they will be killed either way, and yet the high priest reassures all they will not be if the Man Goat follows his orders, prompting this unwilling pawn to wearily submit and command the sadistic man to complete his foul ritual.
In Summary:
We always knew it would come to this, Phil’s past catching up to him due to the traumatizing nightmare which opened the last issue of Baphomet casting him out, and yet with a tantalizing story crafted by Joe Brusha, Ralph Tedesco, and Dave Franchini, plus allowing Brusha to craft an inherently moving tale for this notoriously gruff antagonist, who would have guessed readers could gradually become invested from the beginning, even within a formulaic unfolding of events by which the hero faces impossible odds. At the start we were presented with a caustic pair of protectors, trying to save innocents from the perverse side of humanity, while they themselves are shunned or mocked for their unusual appearance, with Man Goat willingly accepting his animalistic magnetism and able to live the carnal life which partner Bunnyman longs for, only to be rejected due to his bestial facade, that made worse due to constant callous heckling at his expense. And yet even within such a hostile environment in which only one gained a situational advantage, it was clear from the beginning Phil still cared for his furry friend in the midst of his toxic attitude, helping Floyd focus whenever he became Psycho Bunny and offering joking advice during the rare moments when they could have a civil conversation. However, these genuine events seem wholly suitable when they allowed the ruminant a meaningful advantage, such as during grisly missions and when they visit Wendell from which the rodent is used as comic relief, making one wonder why the white rabbit didn’t leave this inflammatory relationship earlier, aside from the obvious problem of not fitting into man’s world of normality. It is through this one-sided association from which this initially surly title creates its curious foundation, allowing Brusha to concentrate on the underlying cause of Phil’s foul demeanor, to which the full brunt of hiding his demonic background finally comes to bear and impacts the one person he cares for the most – Floyd.
It is fiercely ironic throughout this hectic series of gruesomeness, the only person which gains any benefit is the world-savvy Phil, with the trusting and inexperienced Floyd who visually reflects his endless naivety of being taken advantage of by his so-called partner, but now that Bunnyman has been captured and must he confront the truth of their relationship via Tammy, this bitter and evasive being can no longer deny what he has been hiding all along – the shy white rabbit is his best and perhaps only true friend. To think from the beginning Man Goat has always been severely terse with the only person who could understand his unique circumstances, and while Floyd may not have fully comprehended his underworld creation and would probably have a few well meaning laughs at his expense, this discussion could have remedied so much of the tension we witnessed during the story, but at the same time defusing much of the abrasive charm which made their friendship relatable, with some readers perhaps knowing a stubborn yet close couple like them. It is the build up of unsaid apologizes which makes this finale much more meaningful, with Phil finally enlightening both readers and pilot of how his hidden secrets have worn away at this fragile psyche, causing him to verbally lash out at anyone who he knew would not push him away, namely the dependent Floyd who was saved by him and felt obliged to repay the ruminant in some way at a future date. And as such, it allows the narrative to karmically and conversely come full circle, with Bunnyman now placed in a dangerous situation to rescue a psychopathic Man Goat, and unlike his brusque companion who might complain the whole time, this furry rodent is able to remind his buddy how close they are and each can depend upon the other, no matter what the world may say or hold against them, they will be able to overcome it as long as they have friends by their side.
And yet as we witness the shaky relationship between an endlessly clashing Man Goat and Bunnyman unfold, one cannot deny it is the organic illustrations of Guillermo Fajardo which makes this title tangibly relatable, allowing for a drastic difference between the pair and humans to be the striking focus of his carefully drawn pages, all while taking into consideration the nuanced need for acceptance from these unique individuals. As we witness the initial presentation of this duo, it is their animalistic nature which causes curiosity to spark our interest, with one visually not so dissimilar from a normal person, aside from elongated ears and curved horns, versus the striking oddity of a white rabbit standing on rear paws with a big smile and speaking as if anything he says fits into every discussion; it is due to this noticeable distinction which immediately causes anyone who does not know Floyd to be either repelled or attracted to this cute bestial irregularity, even as they acknowledge a humanoid named Phil as someone who may seem a bit strange with an eternal scowl, thus causing unfounded prejudice toward a being who is not as outwardly ordinary than themselves. And yet due to Fajardo’s captivating manner of presenting everyone with equal distinctness and universal recognition, we as an audience are at once biased with his technique of portraying Man Goat in a manner which is no different than any other broadly built man within this limited series, but that same prompt disparity is utilized in seeing Bunnyman as being someone who is strange in allowing himself to think he can be welcomed into normal society, even when realizing he looks different and attempts to put up a brave front, made more pronounced due to his adorable appearance and pleasing attitude.
Floyd’s fluffy white fur, prominent teeth, and floppy ears stand out amid his cheerful grin, while Phil’s back set curled horns, dropping ears and downward mouth with goatee make each individual stand out, with the former always portrayed as being optimistic and the latter scowling his way through life due to his sour disposition, but what makes each character so likable are the methods by which Walter Pereyra and Ulises Arreola apply their coloring techniques to magnify the personality of the actors, ivory against crisp black linework to display innocence versus muted earth tones for the more grounded and realistic being with more experience. And yet even within these straightforward techniques, there are still times in which one questions as to variations within the same page, such as allowing Man Goat to have a tanned appearance while his human friend Tammy who is standing beside him has skin which looks like a sickly carnation pink, almost as if she has stayed inside most of her life. This discrepancy is consistent only for this woman, with all other people having a healthy tone no matter the lighting, allowing for the pilot to suddenly shift near the end once shadows are introduced to the scene, giving her a sense of relief to finally know the danger is over. However even within this wavering of colors, what is the most monumental application of light and darkness within this series is the epic clash between forces, allowing readers to witness the confidence of the cult with their charcoal grey robes and a leader dressed in crimson to project their force against our heroes. The carrying over of sanguine tones and fiery yellow to bring forth the menace which is Baphomet is explosive, his forbidden powers and minions raging forward as they slaughter all, making one giggle to see Floyd’s horrified expression as his true love meets her just end, allowing Psycho Bunny to emerge once again and show us how much his once naive rabbit can protect those he truly cares about, even against his best friend.
Man Goat & The Bunnyman may have given us a bitter introduction to the troubling connection between these quarrelsome friends, but as we slowly witness the truth behind the caustic nature of ruminant versus the naïvety of rodent, one cannot but become inspired by the complex relationship which relies on readily trusting each other, no matter the test which they must face for sincere understanding. The humility of Phil understanding he must face his destiny is shocking, while Floyd accepting he will do anything for Man Goat allows us to see his courage is not rooted within Psycho Bunny, letting both sides recognize they are reliant on each other, and their partnership works better if they see each as equals and not one domineering other. However as the story winds down with a pleasing closure, one cannot but question if this will be the last we see of the adventurous pair, or if they will emerge from their isolation to protect us from evil which lies in wait, whether they be man or beast.
Grade: A-
Series Grade: A-
Rating: T (Teen)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: July 07, 2021
MSRP: $5.99
