Captain Ginger: Volume One

Captain Ginger #1

by Stuart Moore, June Brigman

Now in one volume: the acclaimed tale of a starship run by cats! The intrepid Captain Ginger struggles to keep his fellow felines united against a hostile universe―and their own worst feline instincts, too. Featuring the entire original miniseries, plus two rare extra stories and a sketchbook of character designs.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Animals, Science Fiction, Fiction, Cats, Space

128 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2019

About the author

STUART MOORE is a writer, a book editor, and an award-winning comics editor.

Among his current writing projects are THE ZODIAC LEGACY, created and cowritten by Stan Lee and published by Disney, featuring an all-new team of teenaged super heroes in a series of illustrated prose novels and graphic novels; DOMINION: LAST SACRIFICE, a comic book series for Amazon/Jet City; and THANOS: DEATH SENTENCE, an original Marvel prose novel. Recent work includes EGOs, an original comic book series from Image Comics, and GARTER'S BIG SCORE, an original ebook novella for Kindle. He also contributed two series, TEACH and OUT WITH A BANG, to the launch of the online comics app Stela. Other comics work includes WOLVERINE NOIR and NAMOR: THE FIRST MUTANT (Marvel); FIRESTORM (DC Comics); assorted Star Trek and Transformers projects; and the science-fiction graphic novels EARTHLIGHT, PARA, SHADRACH STONE, and MANDALA. Prose writing includes the novel version of Marvel’s CIVIL WAR, and Disney Worldwide's JOHN CARTER: THE MOVIE NOVELIZATION.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a universe where humans have gone extinct, an evolved cat named Captain Ginger struggles to keep his ship of cats working together as they scour the universe for other evolved felines.

Stuart Moore and June Brigman served up this entertaining morsel. "What if cats ruled the world?" is the core premise. Except that the world is a starship built by humans.

One of my pet peeves about science fiction is when the alien characters are just humans with a lick of paint. Captain Ginger isn't that. The cats actually act like cats. They have petty spats, enjoying killing mice, and hate dirty litter boxes. Captain Ginger trying to herd the cats toward the same goal is the main struggle of the book, although his relationships with Deena and Sgt. Mittens also fuel the fire. Ginger tries to adopt the ways of the vanished Feeders, although his catlike nature still shows through.

Ginger's search for other cats will undoubtedly propel the series forward. June Brigman's art is perfect for the series. Her cats are cute but still believable as killers, much like real cats. It's not easy to convey emotion and individuality when all the characters are humanoid felines but June knocks the string across the hallway on this one.

On a side note, it was hilarious that our old lady cat, Cashmere, kept headbutting me and walking across the book while I was reading it.

Ahoy Comics has another winner on its hands with Captain Ginger. I'm ready for book two right meow!

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had my doubts about this. Evolved cats in space? But Stuart Moore and June Brigman make it work. Moore smartly plays it straight. This is hard sci-fi with cats that were artificially evolved by humans operating spaceships and machines they don't fully understand now that humans have died off. It feels some like Planet of the Apes in that way. There's also a lot of comedy because the cats are unable of ignoring their instincts. It hilarious seeing cats paw at a screen while under attack because they're chasing a laser. I look forward for more Captain Ginger.

Received a review copy from Ahoy Comics and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.

[Alex Sarll]

What if Star Trek, but cats? Some but not all of them uplifted to a semblance of rationality, trying to make sense of the technology the Feeders left behind, but still in many ways fundamentally cats – which poses particular problems when they encounter beings of pure light, and react as their ancestors would to a laser pointer. Ginger may not be the science officer (that's Science Cat), but is in many ways the Spock of the team, the one who tries to approach everything rationally and tends to lose touch with his feline side, so the poor bastard is largely (and yes, they go there) herding cats. I'm not sure the concept has the substance for more than an occasional miniseries, but as a quick lark it's good fun, and another promising sign as regards new publisher Ahoy. Which is handy, because Image seem to have stopped giving away loads of free ARCs this month (the cads!), so the Ahoy stuff on Netgalley is the big free comics haul for the moment.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

You see, I have been spoiled by reading the Pride of Chanur. . Excellent book, set in a universe where a cat like being evolved and took to the skies.

So, when I saw this graphic novel listed, I thought, oh, that will probably be just as good.

I was quite wrong. This is a hot mess, and gets no better when we discovered that space faring cats come from a human to made them evolve.

And now they are out in space, and being cat like, and not cat like. Where they have kittens all over the place that didn't evolve, or start out as kittens, or don't. It is never quite clear what the hell is going on. Frankly, at a certain point, I didn't care.



Too much fighting. To much gross stuff. Too much not the kind of intrigue as the Pride of Chanur. This graphic novel is for someone, but not for me.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Captain Ginger: Volume One' by Stuart Moore with art by June Brigman is a about a spaceship crewed entirely by cats.

A group of evolved cats is running a spaceship left behind by humans. The humans are long gone, and left in their place is an alien race called the Lumen. When Captain Ginger boards an abandoned Lumen ship, he starts a mutiny since his own ship is running low on space and supplies. Speaking of space, the cats have a breeding problem as kittens threaten every system on the ship. That along with internal tensions between crewmates makes for an uneasy journey.

I couldn't tell immediately if this was supposed to be comedy or not. There are certainly funny bits, but it feels pretty serious. I also like that the cats act like cats, not necessarily baby humans. The art is quite a bit of fun and I can't wait to read the next volume.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Ahoy Comics, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is such a clever, unique idea. Humans (aka Feeders) have been wiped out and a society of cats is trying to make the best of the technology they left behind and survive a life out in space. If, like me, you like cats and space, you'll probably dig this. Three stars because it wasn't life-changing or super emotionally resonant for me, but there's nothing wrong with it, and it's fascinating and well-drawn. 😼

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm… I had mixed feelings from this; some of it was a bit good, others a bit too sloppy and scratchy. The world is one where humans have been killed off – they perfected and unified their DNA to make sure they were near invincible, without realising it opened them to one attack which easily put paid to them all. But they also managed to boost cats immensely, to such an extent this book is set on a space-ship entirely crewed and populated by moggies. Some of which are not quite the obeying kind, but all the same they will try and find the rest of their kin and soldier on. What's distinctive is that this is not a bunch of anthropomorphised cats – these are cats, puking too much, breeding too much, and using litter trays too much. So while the sci-fi may be old-hat (alien species in the way, a kind of Star Trek replicator on board called The Maker, messages from light-years off, etc) the book feels entirely new.

But at the same time, I didn't know if this went too far – the stereotypes about cats not being able to keep off the furniture ("Rattle! No claws on the touchscreens!"; "...then it was nap time") and so on felt a little forced, and there's a whole holographic/spirit entity side of things that didn't work for me. The sci-fi fan is left regretting the fact we see the ship and its tech through feline eyes (ie it makes no sense). Still, the ending here is a great punchline, and I can see a few more than reasonable books coming out of this concept. This might have had the creases ironed out (much like a sphynx cat, then), but is still good company for a while – until it goes off and does its own thing too much.

Three and a half stars.

[Joe Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5. If you love cats or space opera or space opera cats, give this a read!

[tony dillard jr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cats have been an intrical part of science-fiction all the way back to Jonesy in 1979’s Alien and Heinlein’s The Cat Who Walked Through Walls. A mutated cat-human was a character on the BBC’s long-running Red Dwarf. And what Star Trek fan can forget Gary Seven’s shape-shifting cat Isis or Mister Data’s cat, Spot? But all of these felines have unfortunately been rather minor characters. A sci-fi series involving cats as the main characters has really not been a thing- until now!


In the distant future, the human race has either gone extinct or evolved into a higher form. Taken their place are a more advanced species of feline that can talk, walk upright and fly spacecraft while still being able to claw your eyes out. Leading the possibly last vestige of the feline race is Captain Ginger! An intrepid tabby, Ginger balances the responsibility of leading his fellow gatos to safety from a menacing race of unseen aliens along with trying not be overthrown by a mutinous bosun and solving the mystery of just who was Captain Ginger’s father.


Deadpool The Duck’s Stuart Moore has crafted a sci-fi fantasy that brings cat lovers and fans of apocalyptic fiction together. Captain Ginger, the character might not know what breed of cat he is. But Captain Ginger, the comic book, is a mix of dark humor, swashbuckling adventure and techno-mystery. Moore has got to be a cat lover because he capture’s there foilibles so brilliantly. The scene in which the two alley cat navigators get distracted by a moving blip on the radar screen is straight out of any puss’s encounter with a laser pointer!


Those sort of scenes come to life through the talented pencils of June Brigman (Brenda Starr). Brigman has created an ensemble cast of Persians, Sphinx, Main Coon and Toms on this voyage through the stars. However, I find that both Stuart Moore and Brigman have one major problem on their hands. If one of these precious little puddy tats die, I along with scores of cat fans, are not going to be happy.


I’m sorry, but I am in that faction of animals lovers that doesn’t mind if the main characters die. But if you kill the dog, or cat in this case, then I am done with you. Animals are just one of those untouchable things that if they face a demise, whether sudden or expected, I have trouble being a fan of. For many, Disney’s Bambi, is an excellent case in point. For me, it was that tear jerking scene in Futurama. I just wasn’t the same kind of fan of Matt Groening’s sci-fi cartoon after Fry falsely believed that his beloved dog had move on after his disappearance. Thus, with cats being the main characters, you can see how a certain attachment to furballs is a major issue here.


There’s another element that I’m not really a fan of: the element of survival. Captain Ginger’s ship is much like the Battlestar Galactica. Both are running dangerously low on food and fuel. Some aspects of this kind of plotline are quite thrilling; like Ginger having to quell a potential mutiny from his chief rival, Sgt. Mittens. But what really turned me off of Battlestar Galactica was how convenient it was when fuel and food ran low, they always managed at the right time to find a planet or abandoned ship with exactly what they needed at the exact time. Once or twice is fine. Just not every episode. I hope Captain Ginger doesn’t fall down that rabbit hole that so many other shows fall prey to.


Volume 1 collects the first four issues of the series. I thought that it was a series that was fresh and new. I hope that when further chapters of this comic debut they will continue to stay that way. With the awesome twist cliffhanger, I think there’s very little chance that this series will start to stink like an unscooped litter box. Paws crossed!


JUST DON’T KILL THE CAT!

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

I really wanted to like this - something different and perhaps fun and interesting. I had hoped for different stories: perhaps a space opera, a quirky and humorous play on the love of cats, or just a fun yarn. But this is unfortunately something else that never manages to understand what it wants to be or what it wants to say. But worse of all, it feels like it was written by someone who never owned a cat and doesn't understand all the quirks and ticks that could have made this title lovable instead of clodding. So many cheap shots at the obvious and not enough sly winks at the species.

Story: Captain Ginger is one of several modified (anthropomorphic) cats trying to figure out their 'feeder's' space ship. Along with the crew of the sentient cats, they are being overrun by feral, unmodified cats, who are suddenly (and inexplicably) breeding beyond capacity and destroying the ship. Captain Ginger is trying to hold it all together while also facing off an enemy determined to destroy them - the Lumen. At the same time, the 'Feeders' ended up destroying themselves and their remnants would like to see the cats not do the same to themselves.

Did you ever see a dog lover approach a cat at a friend's house - trying to either avoid it, do the cliche type of petting, or just make bad cat jokes to avoid having to touch it? That's what this book feels like. From how cats walk, how they socialize, how they communicate, the purring, the cat fights, dominance, etc - it's all missing here. Instead, we get the ponderously obvious litter box jokes, cats being distracted by lights on the monitor and not tracking the enemy, and a giant scratching post in the center of the room used to climb to higher levels. Then a lot of clueless sentient cats not really doing much except setting up suspicious 'cat humor' jokes that fall flat. Then the second part kicks in and I think that must have been written by a pure cat hater, because it gets weird and ugly fast.

The illustration work also felt very off to me. The grace and elegance of the cat form, even when walking upright anthropomorphic style, was clearly missing. These cats looked awkward in nearly every page, making the characters look very ugly. It was hard to get into any of the characters when they were often indistinguishable. The colors were bland and conventional and felt out of date with what could have been a fun or interesting concept.

The real killer was logic here. From the author not recognizing that cats are born with their eyes closed and unable to start 'scampering' toward teats, to the more recognizable question of where all these cats came from and if it is from a seed of a very small number of pets that turned into the thousands eventually. And if there are cats, where are the other pets such as dogs or lizards, etc.? There's a hint at the end we may see a dog ship - but are we to believe they were segregated, the ships separated, and then they were given sentient life to some but not all? It's just weird.

The irony for me is that I had the same thought as another reviewer - I also was wishing for a CJ Cherryh Pride of Chanur story rather than this disjointed and chaotic mess of bland cliche "Star Trek archetype" characters. Complete with buffoon captain, ship scientist who is 'alien' to the rest (hairless species - the only one on the ship apparently), and engineer with tricks up his sleeve (or, in this case, an engineer who keeps breeding kittens spontaneously that inexplicably know perfect English and start fixing the ship within minutes). Don't get me started on the horror of the second half with the weird mutated kitten. I'll have nightmares about that one. You have to really hate cats to do that storyline. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Darik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captain Ginger is exactly what you would expect from hearing the premise. It's a Star Trek pastiche with a ship full of humanoid cats, who have to battle their feline instincts in order to operate the ship and function as a crew. It's cute. It's silly. And sadly, it has no ambition to be anything more than that.

The characters are all fairly two-dimensional, and over a slight, four-issue run, there really isn't time to flesh out interesting interpersonal dynamics (outside of the endlessly reinforced "Sergeant Mittens hates Captain Ginger" angle, which isn't elaborated on in any meaningful way past the first issue). Traditional Star Trek is built on character interplay, so dedicating so much of this clearly-derivative work to a single antagonistic relationship feels like an odd choice--especially when said relationship never even APPROACHES a resolution or a turning point. And the plot really isn't engaging enough on its own to drive the narrative; it keeps repeating the same beat of "stupid cats wreaking havoc on a starship" over and over again, with little variation.

As for the artwork, June Brigman's work is strangely graceless and ugly for a book about friggin' cats. Faces lack distinction or emotion (yes, I know they're cats, but it's hard to empathize with characters who barely emote), line work is chunky (though that may be the inks), and the action beats simply aren't dynamic.

Captain Ginger is a comic that, so far, hasn't been able to get past its high-concept gimmick. It's an entertaining enough read, but there's not much to chew on-- no depth even to the execution of its basic premise. I can only hope that the following volumes manage to enrich the narrative and the characters, rather than just leaving the book as a one-note joke.

[Shaelene (aGirlWithBookss) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very happy and grateful to receive a free e-copy of this Graphic Novel when I signed up for the Diamond Book Distributors mailing list. It took me a while to get around to reading it, the CAT-aclyst *wink-wink* was seeing the second volume available for request on NetGalley.
I read this and once done requested the second volume straight away.

I love this series.
I love cats, I love the characters, I love the sci-fi space opera setting, and I love the story.

Captain Ginger and this colony of cats live on a dilapidated spaceship trying to find a permanent place to settle where they will be safe while also trying to find other cats in the galaxy and figure out their origins and more about their creators- The Feeders, aka, humans.

This book is brilliant, it’s fun, it heartwarming, it has lots of action and plenty of mysterious elements that left me wanting more. I wanted it to go on forever.

Thank you to the author & illustrator, I have found a new book that finally gives cats the recognition they deserve.
I loved this, 5 stars.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what Star Trek would be like if all the human crew died and the cats became intelligent life left to run the ship. If this thought has ever crossed your mind then I have the graphic novel for you. There are two types of cats: humanistic cats, and unmutated cats that are more like how we expect a cat to behave. Kitten breading is out of control, the ship is falling apart, and the Lumans are quickly approaching. This was an interesting read, and I can wait to see where the story goes. Will they find a way to curtail breading, or will they finally get access to the “feeders” files and figure out how everything in their world works.
#NancyDrewChallenge - #AnimalonCover
#GondorGirlGNChallenge
#BNSciFichallenge #non-human narrator
#KillYourTBR #memorablecat
#SFFTBRChallenge #LowestRatedonGR

[Mercer County Library System · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super-intelligent cats in space! The cats inherited the ship from the Feeders (their word for humans.) The technology isn't perfectly understood and is getting old. There is an overpopulation problem, especially with the cats who are not intellectually enhanced. Some of this collected volume is standard Sci-Fi: a struggling new captain, a hostile sergeant, a ship on the edge of breaking, one crew member colluding with a little-understood intelligence, alien invaders. But the twist of the crew being cats adds a new layer to the story. (No claws when using touchscreens! And mice are a big distraction.) The art is perfect for the futuristic story. Further volumes are coming, and it will be interesting to see where Ginger, Mittens, and the crew go from here. (Reviewed by Sharon, Hickory Corner Branch)

[Elaine White · Rating 5 out of 5]

** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Copy received through Netgalley

~

Captain Ginger, Vol. 1, by Stuart Moore
(Artist: June Brigman)
★★★★★
128 Pages


While this was easily one of the strangest books I've read, it's not THE strangest. In fact, it's on the list but pretty far down.
With gorgeous illustrations, full of colour and detail, the world was vivid and alive. Yes, it's cats. Sure, that's a little strange, but it was also weirdly brilliant. Every word, phrase and action was thought about before it was put into motion. The fact that these were cat-people was a constant theme and it never failed to make sense. It was fun, smart and original, clever right down to the last detail, and had a fun, surprising ending that will make me want to read the next volume, for sure.
And, oddly enough, it was full of real-world relevance, which is the cleverest part of it all. Because, there's a population crisis, science, health issues, childhood bullies, compassion, a desperate need to help their people even if it means doing the wrong thing, abandonment issues, and an apocalyptic world that is, scarily, possible.
I will never look at cats the same way again.

[Jill Jemmett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out great but it got quite strange by the end.

This story is an imagining of Star Trek cast with cats. There were tons of cat jokes throughout the story. There was a character called Sargent Mittens. Their enemy targeted them by sending laser lights to distract them. One cat even had a ton of kittens that overcrowded the ship!

The story took a strange turn by the end. One cat was transformed into an omniscient being that could create new parts of the ship. It was very weird and quite creepy.

This book could have been clever, but it was just too strange for me.

Thank you Diamond Book Distributors for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super-intelligent cats in space! The cats inherited the ship from the Feeders, whose technology isn't perfectly understood and is getting old. They've also got an overpopulation problem that's becoming major. The basic story is a standard Sci-Fi plot: a struggling new captain, a hostile sergeant, a hidden illness, someone working with a little-understood intelligence, alien invaders. But the twist of the crew being smart cats adds a new layer of dimension to the story. (After the big battle, it's naptime. And no claws out when using touchscreens!) I cannot wait to see where Moore and Brigman go from here.

[Tom M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cats in Space -should- be different than Humans in Space. But in Captain Ginger, they aren't.

What could have been an imaginative take quickly turns into a series of disjointed, clichéd episodes to move what little plot there is forward.

The only thing that makes these cats cat-like is a spaceship being overrun by kittens. Otherwise, the cats are as human as The Feeders that created them, including having petty jealousies, anger issues, dysfunctional families, and angst.

I had hoped for better.

[Jen N · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a joke at first. Cats on a ship? But this is a really solid story. There's some light humor and a lot of cat references. It is tastefully put into a really well-written sci-fi story.
I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll be vague. I really enjoyed their problem solving skills, showing issues that would happen in such a situation. And I look forward to reading more about the other races. Even the side characters have a lot of potential.
I would highly recommend this to any cat or sci-fi fan!

[Sheldon Wiebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid space opera in a world where the feeders (humans) have been destroyed by alien invaders but had elevated cats to human intelligence levels (they couldn't do anything about feline behavior, but the kitties are working on that - in the way cats do, which is to say not at all...).

Fast-paced and both riotous good fun and sparkling drama, Captain Ginger is one of the best comics/graphic novels out there in terms of pure originality of concept.

Even Grumpy Cat (RIP, buddy) would have approved.

[April Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read, good but not great. Genetically altered cats have evolved on a spaceship after humans are killed off, learning how the ship works as they go along, helped by The Maker, a machine something like the replicators on Star Trek. Hints and details of how the cats came to be are revealed as the story moves along. The plot is interesting enough, but doesn't really grab you. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

#CaptainGinger #NetGalley

[Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick impressions: An interesting idea: human beings are gone, extinct from the looks of it, and cats inherit the world, or at least a single starship. The story can have some slow moments, but it is interesting overall. Readers get clues to what happened much as the cats do, a bit at a time. Worth a look if you want something different. I may look up the next installment down the road.

(Will have a blog post full review later)

[Nika Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy thru #netgalley in exchange from an honest review (thanks!)

If you love Cats, Sci-fi, you should read this one, you will fell in love with the characters and the illustrations are high top. Such an stunning graphic novel. I highly recommend it.

[Mainon · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wacky, weird, but strangely compelling concept. A few evolved, newly anthropomorphic cats have taken over a spaceship after the seeming demise of the humans who built it... but can they figure out how everything works and overcome existential crises at the same time?

[Jean-Luc · Rating 3 out of 5]

The humans are all dead, only the pets are left. Naturally, the cats head to space because how else are they gonna get fed??

Meg got this for me as a gift. I thought it would be dumb, but it was great. ♥

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like cats and science fiction and comic books, then this is for you

[Kitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just. So. Good. Cliche jokes make it even better. Strong themes of space travel mewtiny [so sue me] and socio policies.
What could you not love?

[Sarah AK · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this because it looked batshit and I love batshit. It was indeed batshit and I loved that about it. That said, it wasn't that great, but still gave me some good laughs.

[Joel Kibbe]

This was a fun read. Moore uses a number of Sci-Fi tropes but doesn’t depend on them.

The extra content and short stories are fun to read in the individual comics.

[Juho Pohjalainen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cats should not be able to ever cooperate to such extent. This premise is completely unrealistic.