Customer Reviews

We3

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Former Animal Man writer Grant Morrison revisits the issue of human inhumanity towards animals in this story published by Vertigo Comics. Beautifully illustrated by Frank Quitely, WE3 is a frightening, hyper-violent science fiction story "suggested for mature readers." It opens in a secret military research laboratory where scientists are working to replace humans on the battlefield with cybernetically enhanced, remotely controlled animals. Their first success is creating a horde of "rat biorgs" able to repair complicated machinery-aided by the drills and other tools that have been surgically grafted to their bodies. But when a senator comes to inspect the scientists' progress, they show him their proudest achievement, an armored dog, cat, and rabbit outfitted with an array of deadly weaponry and electronic voice boxes that allow them to communicate in a crude form of human speech. At the conclusion of his visit the senator orders the animals destroyed-or as he puts it, "decommissioned"-not because he disapproves of the project, but because they were not specifically bred to be used as test subjects and he is afraid the mental strain of their condition may eventually make them uncontrollable. As the "lost" posters that appear before each chapter in this book make clear (the story was originally published as a three issue miniseries), Bandit the dog, Tinker the cat, and Pirate the rabbit are all stolen pets.

Instead of euthanizing the animals as ordered, the doctor in charge of their care removes their restraints and allows them to escape into the night. As described in the ads for the series, what follows is a cross between Terminator and The Incredible Journey, as the three animals try to find "home"-wherever, and whatever, that is-with the U.S. military in hot pursuit.

As the chase continues, this rollercoaster ride of a story touches readers on an emotional level that makes it clear whose side Morrison is on. With the invaluable assistance of Frank Quitely's breathtaking art, Morrison makes the fugitive animals the most "human" characters in the story, without ever forsaking or diminishing their animal nature.

This is simply one of the greatest works of graphic literature to come along in years.

Cautionary note: While I can not recommend this story highly enough, those who are disturbed by comic book images of graphic violence-whether it's human against animal, animal against human, or even animal against animal-should be prepared for some extremely gory scenes. Also, Quitely's innovative panel arrangements, though visually stunning, may be a little challenging for the untrained comic book reading eye to follow.

We3

Let me begin by stating that I am not terribly fond of graphic novels. Even as a child I had no particular love for comic books. Nevertheless, a positive review of Morrison's and Quitely's We3 in the Washington Post, which included a stunning illustration of a cybernetically besuited cat springing at the viewer before a lightning-torn sky, inspired me to check out this work.

I immediately loved it. It's quirky, insightful, exciting, and profoundly moving. One could be trite and call it "Incredible Journey" meets "The Terminator." But this is a much more complex work, and such a comparison does it a disservice. The graphics are innovative and beautiful (even the violence and gore is rendered with a loving attention to detail). The artists manage not only to break out of two dimensions and add depth-here are bullets half the size of the page, flying uncomfortably close to the reader, there a fight spills off the bottom of one page only to crash down on the top of the next-but also to add an element of time as well. No old-school comic this; time and depth and skillfully rendered with clever tricks of the graphic arts.

The story is a simple one: Three family pets, abducted by the government and turned into lethal killing machines, are about to be "decommissioned" (read euthanised). A helpful scientist helps them stage a violet escape, and they begin their journey "home," though what home might be, none of them has a clue. The animals speak in a simple, synthesized patois of AOL-speak. The cat uses "ST!NK" to describe that which it doesn't like, and refers to the dog's (who is called "1") not knowing anything as "1 KNOW 0." The dog is obsessed not only with home, but with being a "GUD DOG." The authors show great skill in allowing the animals to express an amazing depth of feeling with a vocabulary of only a few dozen words.

Despite the story's simplicity, there is much beneath the surface. What does it mean to have a home? Are the animals mere "amoral killing machines" as the military describes them, or do their actions display a moral, albeit non-human, undercurrent? Graphic novels rely on the reader to use his or her own brain to tease out themes and meaning from the story. A good graphic novel, such as this, provides an interactive experience.

Unquestionably, the hyper-violence of this work means that it's not for children, or the weak-of-stomach. But do yourself a favor. Even if you scoff at comic books, pick up a copy of We3-you'll enjoy it. I've read a lot of literature, but few works have left as big an impression upon me as this one. Days later, I still found myself thinking about it. In the end, the thing that best describes the brilliance of We3 is the fact that even though the story is brought to a definite conclusion-one that doesn't really allow for sequals-I'm quite sad that there won't be more We3. In under a 100 pages of illustration, and sparse text, I found three characters that were more real, more interesting, more engaging, than those I've met in countless other bloated novels. Read We3. It will leave a mark on you and make you think.

Grant Morrison is an amazing author. The prolific comic book writer is best-known for intricate, mind-altering meta-stories that must be read multiple times to fully appreciate. (His Vertigo titles include "Animal Man," "Doom Patrol," and "The Invisibles.") With "WE3," the story he tells is far more straightforward, covering a mere three comic book issues. Even within that limited space, he and artist Frank Quitely have created a wonderfully bizarre little tale, a splatterpunk retelling of "The Incredible Journey" that oozes with Morrison's distinctive warped ideas and pointed social commentary -- and somehow manages to be heartwarming as well.

"WE3" opens terrifically, as a fugitive war criminal and his bodyguards are messily assassinated by what looks like a trio of giant, fiber-optic cockroaches. These three deadly entities are soon revealed to be the result of a top-secret military bioengineering project. Once common household pets, their bodies have been grafted into indestructible cyborg exoskeletons, while electrodes in their brains allow them to receive direct orders from their human commanders. They are known only by their numbers: 1 the dog is equipped with ground-to-air missiles and automatic rifles, 2 the cat shoots flechette needles from his metal fingertips, and 3 the rabbit leaves a trail of explosive mines. (Their names were once Bandit, Tinker, and Pirate, as revealed by the poignant "Missing" posters that precede each chapter.) The animals have even been equipped with a rudimentary robo-sentience, and can mimic human speech. Sadly, the project has moved on and WE3 is now obsolete and due for termination. That's when the scientist in charge of the animals, in a burst of guilty compassion, "forgets" to activate the suits' security locks -- and before you can say "Fido," three deadly cybercritters are on the loose.

The remainder of the story chronicles WE3's exploits and the military's increasingly frantic attempts to bring them down. The problem, you see, is that the animals have been programmed to protect themselves at all costs if they perceive a threat to their lives, and it never occurred to those silly army scientists that they themselves are included in this equation. When conventional troops and weapons prove useless, the humans try fighting fire with fire -- first with remote-controlled rats, then with the sinister "Weapon 4," the next stage in the project. But WE3 won't go down easily. It's not just that they're fighting for their lives; 1 has a vague memory of "Home," and he is leading the skeptical 2 and the childlike 3 toward where he remembers "Home" to be. "?Home is?" the cat asks, in the strange digital-pidgin the animals speak, and the dog replies, "Is run no more." I admired Morrison for being able to convey so much in so few words. I also liked that he didn't anthropomorphize the animals; they are not furry, four-legged "people" like in the movies, but confused household pets whose latent instincts are at war with the rudimentary AI they've been implanted with. ("Bad dog!" 1 whimpers as he mows down hapless humans.) Despite the mayhem they cause, we feel deeply for these poor, twisted creatures.

Whether or not WE3 finds "Home" I won't reveal, though I will observe that the climax contains an admirable mix of tragedy and comfort. Both the writing and the art are simple and right to the point; Morrison can be poetic when we wants, but in this case, he knows that the dialogue must be bare-bones to keep the story from dragging. Quitely's art stays firmly in line with a photorealistic approach that makes the violence and gore -- of which there is a great deal -- even more effective. Happily, Morrison continues his trend of playing with the layout of the comic panels in order to accent the story. The are moments when a single image is splashed across two pages, and moments when the page shatters into a hundred fragmented panels. At times we're disoriented, and at times we know exactly what's happening and are horrified by it. The haunting images are really the heart of "WE3"; it doesn't leave the mind in a hurry. It also resonates on a topical level. I mean, is the story really that far-fetched? Scientists have already figured out how to "enslave" rats by sticking computer chips in their heads. Besides an adventure story, "WE3" is a solemn reminder that the human race enjoys playing God -- and that sometimes, we pay the price for it.

"WE3" is a prime example of a master storyteller at work. Only someone as talented as Morrison could craft such an effective tale in so few pages. Only someone as talented as Quitely could illustrate the tale with such pitch-perfect imagery. Although it's a quick read, this book is worth its cover price.

In the not-too-distant future, the next stage of combat is being built.

The story opens with swarms of cyberrats assembling an engine, as three other prototypes have been sent on assassination missions, and an ominous menacing fourth sits in the wings awaiting its turn.

The story kicks in as the three "prototypes" are about the be decommissioned - euthanized - and assisted by a remorseful scientist they escape, looking for "home" wherever and whatever it may be.

Although the days of cybernetic animal servants may seem far away, those days are already here. (remember the National Geographic News report of the" remote controlled rat"?) This serves not so much as a warning as it does of a poignant glimpse into the lives of three who are literally caught at the wrong place and at the wrong time.

The back-story of their acquisition into the program is told simply; by the "lost and found" signs painstakingly drawn by the families that miss them.

Who could imagine AOL speak could be so expressive and heartbreaking? That it is coming from the mouths of animals only makes it more eloquent. The innocence of animals in another scene made only more poignant by the savagery of an ordered attack.

In truth, I'm sorry I can only give this 5 stars; it lacks nothing. The artwork, the plot, the entire graphic novel is just that amazing. I will be keeping my eyes out for more of Grant Morrison's work, and I will be adding this to my collection today.

I bought this book and read it today. Some hours (and the rest of my monthly comic haul) later, I'm still shaking from the intensity of it. The fact that the main character looks very similar to my dog is another factor. When he came tail-wagging up to me after I'd put down WE3, I almost cried.

Like many others I thought it was a very interesting and absorbing read, but what I haven't seen mentioned as much is that it can be a bit difficult to get through, especially if you are bothered by animal cruelty. This is in this story in abundance, though a bit more abstract than what we're used to. There is certainly a charm to being able to understand and follow these animals, but they are not so developed that you're rooting for specific characters but more the basic roles and positions they are in; the abused and captive house pets trying to find their way to freedom in a frantic scramble. Not that this is wrong, no. It's not a tale that you very easily find any characters to attach to, which just as well can be attributed to how short it was. I went into this read expecting a certain amount of development to the animal characters and did not find it. The story went by quite quickly and very violently.

Following a a story with characters facing great adversity that understand whats going on is one thing and can be engrossing. However the animals in this story clearly do not fully comprehend the situation and the wrongness of it, if at all. It has been compared to homeward bound, but the animals in that story had been humanized enough to be identifiable, understand their situation, and set goals. This is not the case here. They are scared and confused animals that were doing what they were supposed to do. The message is clear, but method of delivery could be disturbing and gratuitous at times.

Either way, the point of the review was to say if you're bothered by disregard for animal life and animal cruelty, be careful who you recommend this to because it can be very upsetting.

Grant Morrison is amazing. Like when you see the Grand Canyon for the first time. The ideas that spill from his pen defy any measure compared to 99% of the guys writing comics today. And this is one of his best since the Invisibles.

We3 is an amazing sci-fi tale with gripping violence scenes rendered by Frank Quietly. This is the kind of book that will break comics out, away from the stiffled Super Hero mold they were cast into many years ago.

And I wouldn't be the least suprised if Morrison and Quietly make a mint off the Movie that this book begs to be adapted into.

This is like one of those movies where a group of animals try to find their way back to their home and their masters...but ten thousand times better.
For starters the animals happen to be weapons of mass destruction on the run from the government whos out to destroy them for a newer model of weapon. And has twice or thrice the action you will find in movies like lassie goes home...along with some dismemberment and eviscerations (hoorraay).
the story is perfect...it does not have a lot of talk..but is rather told by images....and the images are gripping...this book clearly shows that images are stronger than words...and more gripping, reading the book one cant help but identify with these animals all looking for home...and you get twice the empathy if you happen to own a pet...all in all the book is great and i cant find any faults in it, great art, great story grat design

The Artwork is smooth and 'graphic'. The characters are drawn convincingly and with depth. But the story. . .the story is very wrenching. The previous reviewer is correct. This story can provoke very strong emotions. Especially for pet-lovers, I think.

Brave New World-themes must be played out by now, right? Wrong -- at least if Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, comic-book creators extraordinaire, have something to do about it. We3, another great collaboration between writer Morrison and artist Quitely, must be one of the most disturbing and relentlessly sad comic books I have ever read, a vivid illustration of Heidegger's observation that animals are "poor in world."

The three animals of the comic's title are former pets, a dog, cat, and rabbit who have been abducted by the U.S. Airforce and experimented upon as part of a top-secret bio-weapons program. The program's objective is the creation of armies of living weapons, hyper-violent syntheses between animals and machines, to serve as soldiers of the future. But when a Senator visits the experimental facility to see how the program is getting along, he is shocked to find out that one scientist has engineered the animals to speak -- and they don't seem like happy campers. Realizing that talking, malcontented animal soldiers would be very bad publicity indeed, the government decides to "decommission" (i.e. kill) the three animal-androids, and to make sure future "soldiers" are appropriately mute. Unfortunately for the powers-that-be, Dr. Roseann has gotten a bit too attached to her animals, and would rather see them free -- and indulging their combat instincts -- than dead. So free the animals are, leaving a trail of carnage in their wake and the U.S. military in hot pursuit, all the while trying -- and failing -- to make sense of the world around them.

Few things in recent memory have moved me quite as much as these three animals "speaking" -- that is to say, the broken sentences and stray words these animals can mouth communicate nothing so much as their vulnerability and alienation, not only from the world around them but even from their own bodies, hardly recognizable to them beneath the layers of weapons and bio-engineering. "Home" remains a powerful call (at least for the dog; the cat is, well, stereotypically cat-like, offering up most of the few moments of comedy in We3), and is defined as a place where the three animals won't need to run anymore.

It is hard not to see the specter of the great Emmanuel Levinas in all of this, specifically of his notion of ethics that is beyond the human, that is, an ethics that is not reducible to humanism: the animals are purely other, by definition other-than-human, yet present a call to us the urgency of which cannot be denied. For Levinas, as in We3, it is not the ontological status of the "other" -- human "like me" -- that determines one's ethical engagement, but his or her need -- the vulnerability that is presented to one's sight as the other's very face -- that does so. That is to say, the provision of home precisely for the homeless. Morrison and Quitely stress the unconditional nature of the ethics that must help the other, represented in We3 by a homeless good Samaritan who simply accepts the animals as they are, and is willing to go to extraordinary lengths to help them. That is to say, in stark contrast to the nation-state, which thinks in terms of borders, citizens, and enemies, and is rather obviously the "villain" of We3, Morrison and Quitely end with the provision of home by the homeless, and, by the end, a community that is neither reducible to a group nor a dwelling. Poor in world, but not unwanted.