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Strayed #1-5
Strayed
A cat will astral project and attempt saving humanity from its biggest threat, the all-powerful military industrial complex colonizing the galaxy.
In the far future, a military-industrial complex reigns over all humanity and actively destroys distant alien worlds. The galaxy's only hope can be found through an unlikely pair: an astral-projecting cat named Lou and his loving owner Kiara. Trading nine lives for the well-being of billions, their revolt is a battle for love, friendship, compassion, and the soul of humanity.
Writer Carlos Giffoni makes his comics debut alongside veteran comics artist Juan Doe with a sci-fi adventure powered by feline ferocity.
Collects Strayed #1-#5.
In the far future, a military-industrial complex reigns over all humanity and actively destroys distant alien worlds. The galaxy's only hope can be found through an unlikely pair: an astral-projecting cat named Lou and his loving owner Kiara. Trading nine lives for the well-being of billions, their revolt is a battle for love, friendship, compassion, and the soul of humanity.
Writer Carlos Giffoni makes his comics debut alongside veteran comics artist Juan Doe with a sci-fi adventure powered by feline ferocity.
Collects Strayed #1-#5.
144 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2020
2 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 30, 2021
(3,4 of 5 for Space cat which eventually landed on all four, unlike the comic)
I'm a sucker for space sci-fi. And this was a good one. I loved the idea, loved the light dystopian tone, imperialism and humankind again failing on one power-lust person. Humans colonizing the space thanks to one's cat special astral ability is a fun idea and it is well executed with very nice colourful art. But. This may be a little bit of spoiler, so weak characters who didn't read it yet should avoid clicking on it. Even if it is kind of clear before you get to it when you start to read:
This and the last part, an "issue", which suddenly becomes some narrative over various scenes composition, some kind of awareness and making "bigger picture" completely killed the story for me. It felt like there should be more of the story but it was suddenly very unsatisfyingly finished in a bit over a dozen pages. When I started reading, I was so hyped, but the ending just plain and simple disappointed me. And ruined whole experience, I'm tempted to go for two stars just because of that.
I'm a sucker for space sci-fi. And this was a good one. I loved the idea, loved the light dystopian tone, imperialism and humankind again failing on one power-lust person. Humans colonizing the space thanks to one's cat special astral ability is a fun idea and it is well executed with very nice colourful art. But. This may be a little bit of spoiler, so weak characters who didn't read it yet should avoid clicking on it. Even if it is kind of clear before you get to it when you start to read:
This and the last part, an "issue", which suddenly becomes some narrative over various scenes composition, some kind of awareness and making "bigger picture" completely killed the story for me. It felt like there should be more of the story but it was suddenly very unsatisfyingly finished in a bit over a dozen pages. When I started reading, I was so hyped, but the ending just plain and simple disappointed me. And ruined whole experience, I'm tempted to go for two stars just because of that.
June 6, 2020
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
Have you ever felt so overwhelmingly happy to be around certain people that you'd do anything for them? The sense of belonging can be mysteriously hypnotizing and leave you blind with a desire to please and satisfy. Imagine the strength of this love in pets, those very life companions that long for your love and attention (and probably also for your food). But sometimes, happiness can be an illusion fed through false promises and empty words. Sometimes, they open your eyes to the ugly truth and everything you believed in crumbles before you. Collecting issues #1-5 of Strayed, debut comic book writer Carlos Giffoni and veteran comic book artist Juan Doe join forces to deliver a story featuring a powerful cat and his owner off to change the world in unimaginable ways.
What is Strayed about? Set in a faraway future, the story follows an astral-projecting cat named Lou and his owner Kiara Rodriguez condemned to working for a military-industrial complex ruled by Premier Peely. Through a translation device, Lou is able to communicate his thoughts to his owner, and innocently utilizes his powers to search out for habitable planets with a viable and organic energy source. What he doesn't know is that his abilities are used for much sinister plans that rhyme with galaxy domination through destruction and colonization. It's when Lou learns the truth that he then becomes the last hope to save humanity before it's too late.
This stand-alone graphic novel has a lot of great ideas but most of them come off half-baked. It isn't a flaw in itself, especially when you realize its length, its focus on the artwork rather than a wordy exposition, and its elusive desire to raise philosophical questions. Without ever beating around the bushes, the story dives headfirst into this science-fiction universe and quickly establishes the few characters and their relationship with one another. The various dilemmas are then established, leaving the reader with questions to ponder, whether it's the cost of one life versus that of millions or the omission of the truth from loved ones for their own good. The final act, where all the cards are flipped over, the story takes an unexpected turn as it allocates the final issue to a completely hallucinatory experience that tackles themes of love, loss, purpose, and home. While this final issue was visually commendable, it forbade this tale to offer any form of closure and left a lot of loose threads hanging around in the universe.
If there's one thing this story does right, it's the artwork. Artist Juan Doe pencils and colours all five issues and does an exquisite job in sharing a gorgeous vision of a galaxy filled with beautiful yet dangerous creatures. Whether it's a planet with inorganic beings (e.g. A.I.) or creatures with an advanced form of communication, there's a truly outstanding visual understanding of this universe in which this story is set and the artwork allows the reader to be immediately immersed in this environment throughout this voyage through space. Tinted in shades of green, orange, and brown, the artwork also fully appreciates the liberty of structure as it presents stunning splash pages that capture a very experimental visual style.
Strayed is a psychedelic and out-of-body adventure featuring a disillusioned feline creature and his search for happiness.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
January 31, 2021
Aspoň to má zajímavou kresbu a barvičky.
Ale buďme fér. Není to vyloženě špatná záležitost. Jenom je to bohužel jedna z těch "people bad, aliens good" věcí, kde lidstvo s pomocí kočky, co umí astrálně cestovat hledá nové zdroje energie a drancuje u toho planety. A kdyby to tak moc netlačilo na tyhle drancující praktiky a neskončilo to, jak to skončilo, tak bych to bylo pro mě lepší.
Na druhou stranu, jestli máte rádi kočky tak tohle je přesně něco pro vás.
Jestli nemáte rádi kočky, tak si počkejte na "Stray Dogs" komiks, který prý bude mix Lady a Trumpa s Mlčením jehňátek.
Ale buďme fér. Není to vyloženě špatná záležitost. Jenom je to bohužel jedna z těch "people bad, aliens good" věcí, kde lidstvo s pomocí kočky, co umí astrálně cestovat hledá nové zdroje energie a drancuje u toho planety. A kdyby to tak moc netlačilo na tyhle drancující praktiky a neskončilo to, jak to skončilo, tak bych to bylo pro mě lepší.
Na druhou stranu, jestli máte rádi kočky tak tohle je přesně něco pro vás.
Jestli nemáte rádi kočky, tak si počkejte na "Stray Dogs" komiks, který prý bude mix Lady a Trumpa s Mlčením jehňátek.
January 31, 2021
Příjemné čtení, na které jsem měl hype o d té doby co jsem zjistil, že to začlo vycházet. A má to fakt dobré barvy.
Ve zkratce: číča co zachraňuje ve své astrální formě lidstvo.
Ve zkratce: číča co zachraňuje ve své astrální formě lidstvo.
July 3, 2020
I'm not sure what to think of this comic. It was a pretty typical sci-fi, other than the cat - which is what made me want to buy it.
The story had some important points, and I think a lot of Americans could benefit from reading this - if they have open minds - but I felt that it lacked the last... Something... To make me really care about the story.
Part of that could be the artstyle. I found it simple, flat, and hard to follow, and a lot of this story was told through pictures instead if words.
The story had some important points, and I think a lot of Americans could benefit from reading this - if they have open minds - but I felt that it lacked the last... Something... To make me really care about the story.
Part of that could be the artstyle. I found it simple, flat, and hard to follow, and a lot of this story was told through pictures instead if words.
July 30, 2020
I just need to declare my undying love for Lou the astral projecting cat.
August 13, 2020
Mačka so schopnosťou astrálnej projekcie zachraňuje svet? Toto je splnený sen každého mačkofila.
April 11, 2020
Did I pick up Strayed because the story hook was just 'astral projecting space cat'? Yes. Yes I did.
But Strayed is more than that. Strayed is the story of the characters that look after Lou, the aforementioned astral projecting space cat, and the way that their lives are changed by him. Poor Lou finds himself involved in a cross-galaxy plot that puts his favourite humans in danger, as well as an ancient civilisation that can only be saved by Lou himself. For a five issue story, there's a lot of ground covered, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't tear up at the final issue.
Juan Doe's artwork is a huge part of why this book's so successful. His depiction of the intergalactic locales that Lou visits is insane, and it's his sweeping splash pages and double page spreads that manage to pack in so much storytelling in such a short space of time. But he also manages to sell all the little character beats as well, he's extremely versatile, and his colour choices are just perfect. Strayed looks beautiful, even when it's breaking your heart.
Strayed is far more than you'd think it is on the surface. If you don't hug your cat, dog, or other furry companion before reading Strayed, you'll definitely need to afterwards, and I highly recommend that you do.
But Strayed is more than that. Strayed is the story of the characters that look after Lou, the aforementioned astral projecting space cat, and the way that their lives are changed by him. Poor Lou finds himself involved in a cross-galaxy plot that puts his favourite humans in danger, as well as an ancient civilisation that can only be saved by Lou himself. For a five issue story, there's a lot of ground covered, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't tear up at the final issue.
Juan Doe's artwork is a huge part of why this book's so successful. His depiction of the intergalactic locales that Lou visits is insane, and it's his sweeping splash pages and double page spreads that manage to pack in so much storytelling in such a short space of time. But he also manages to sell all the little character beats as well, he's extremely versatile, and his colour choices are just perfect. Strayed looks beautiful, even when it's breaking your heart.
Strayed is far more than you'd think it is on the surface. If you don't hug your cat, dog, or other furry companion before reading Strayed, you'll definitely need to afterwards, and I highly recommend that you do.
September 13, 2022
For most part I liked this graphic novel. It had a good story about different types of humanity. You have the power hungry willing to take everything out with it, the sheep that follow blindly and the ones who care deeply. Sadly, even though the story idea was good, the execution was just okay. A lot of jumping around and the dialogue didn't quite flow. The artwork was nice and everyone needs an astral projecting cat named Lou. All in all a good story.
July 27, 2020
The colors, the artwork, and the general concept to this were excellent, but the conclusion was weak and I would have liked more depth to the villain. With just a few issues, though, I'm not sure how much more it could have been.
March 7, 2021
I admit having a cat as the main protagonist was the only drawcard for me :)
August 23, 2020
10/10 am in it just for Lou. SO CUTE!! Be still my heart!
I don't really care about the plot, but the concept is really cool! Also, it's not too farfetched that humanity would obliterate life on all other planets to own a power source and be superior. Poor Lou.
It ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, I'm interested to see what happens next!
I don't really care about the plot, but the concept is really cool! Also, it's not too farfetched that humanity would obliterate life on all other planets to own a power source and be superior. Poor Lou.
It ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, I'm interested to see what happens next!
November 19, 2020
This was way heavier than I expected. Not surprising given other books I've liked that popped this one up in my recommendations. The story is very focused on one stand, so a lot of the visual interest in some of the worlds is a little too easily glossed over... but the story is great, the art is pretty, and I mean.... astral projecting cat has to save the worlds.
October 29, 2023
An astral projecting space cat that saves the Universe: of course this comic is for me. It gets a bit heavy handed on the evils of colonialism: very evil human tyrant vs. very good innocent aliens. The only shade of grey here is the human caretaker who just wants to keep her kitty alive long enough to get to go home.
March 29, 2020
Loved the concept but the story came to a jarring and abrupt end that wasn't very satisfying. However, the most important criteria for me was that the cat survive so from that perspective its a win!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2020
A space cat that can travel via its mind intrigued me. The end is not what I anticipated, which is a good thing. Beautiful artwork and well told.
July 7, 2020
Kat(t)astrofalt tråkig
July 12, 2022
Great premise, beautiful artwork! The ending was too rushed for my taste. The first 3/4 of the book were well paced.
February 9, 2024
A little too on the nose and a little too corny for my taste but it was cute, worth the read!
April 26, 2025
The art is next level gorgeous and the story and lessons explored feel raw in the face of current genocides and oppression worldwide.
May 23, 2025
Glorious colours, adorable cat, very thin story.
January 24, 2020
In Trump era America there is nothing wrong, in my opinion, with a story that tries to get across a message. There is arguably more than one message here. The most prominent one for much of this short tale is that relationships, and those we love, should be placed above the job.
The other is that placing yourself and your selfish goals above the harm you do others should eventually cause your downfall.
Lou is cat that can astrally project across light years. Her person Kiarra understands that doing these scouting missions for Earth's totalitarian government is placing a significant amount of physical and emotional stress on her cat/charge Lou.
And, the high government official running the scouting program doesn't care about anything except exploiting the indigenous peoples on the habitable planets founds and furthering his run towards supreme power.
The other is that placing yourself and your selfish goals above the harm you do others should eventually cause your downfall.
Lou is cat that can astrally project across light years. Her person Kiarra understands that doing these scouting missions for Earth's totalitarian government is placing a significant amount of physical and emotional stress on her cat/charge Lou.
And, the high government official running the scouting program doesn't care about anything except exploiting the indigenous peoples on the habitable planets founds and furthering his run towards supreme power.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews