Monkey Meat #1

Monkey Meat #1

by Juni Ba

DJELIYA creator JUNI BA introduces a new fantasy universe in this ANTHOLOGY SERIES! The Monkey Meat Company made its fortune selling cans of processed meat all around the world. Using that money to fuel their wacky experiments, they turned their native island into a magical hyper-capitalist hellscape where even demons have to pay rent! Follow the lives of the creatures of Monkey Meat Island in this fun, action-packed romp. Each issue is its own story!

Genres: Comics, Fantasy, Graphic Novels

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 5, 2022

About the author

Juni is an illustrator and writer hailing from Senegal and France. His current works include the Kayin and Abeni mini series and the Monkey Meat stories both published by Kugali. He’s also a cover artist with works for Skybound and IDW. His artistic fuel is mostly based on orange juice.

Reviews

[Mr. Cody · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not entirely sure what the hell it was I just read, but if not for some occasionally weak art, this issue would be rated higher. Amusing concept all in all.

[Kasia (kasikowykurz) · Rating 3 out of 5]

So weird...

[Theophila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure what is happening but seems so cool.

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Monkey Meat #1 is written and illustrated by Juni Ba.

An anthology series that explores the hijinks and horrors on Monkey Meat Island and the Monkey Meat Company.

I don't know what I was really expecting here, but it wasn't this. The book explores some of the horrors of capitalism but in a fun and colorful world. I found the art hard to decipher at times. It could end up being an interesting book but I will skip for now.

[Cybernex007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE JUNI BAI!! Look what happens when you let a creative like this do whatever they want, you get a PEAK out of this world insane story that grapples so many ideas about colonialism, rebellion, turning against your own people to save yourself only to find yourself a slave after all. It’s brilliant and with Juni Bai you already know you are in for a good time art and color work wise. I also love how this issue doesn’t hold you hand, it shows you concepts and legit hard to understand art that only makes sense latter as the story continues and reveals to you what you were looking at before. This first issue serves two purposes, to give us a brief introduction to the corporate controlled and unregulated monkey meat island. A place they slaughtered the locals to obtain, then poisoned to the point of the creatures mutating on the island. But the company only adapted, taking the excess creatures and chopping them up to make product while manipulating the local creatures capable of thought but not outright killing them into the service of the company. One such is named Lug, a mysterious creature who started small but as he drove out his own people he began to grow and mutate into something unrecognizable. They use him to go after the big monsters they can’t usually handle, keeping him on a leash but letting him experience concepts of rebellion within allowance to yank him back if needed. But with a new mysterious product about o hit shelves and Lug seeing that testing behind the scenes is leading to dangerous outcomes, that rebellious energy is repackaged into fury. The company treated their time on the island as a game for so long, forgetting that to locals like Lug it was never a game and was only about survival. Lug attacked the compound with the new product with full force, ripping through the guards surrounding it until he finally found it and took it himself. The effects of the liquid led to a boost of energy, which could lead to a satisfying calming resolution…if the subjects didn’t constantly explode because of it. But in death Lug believes he had finally found peace, he is a soul free from the corporation at last…only for his soul to be plucked before the pearly gates and repackaged. The salesman that convinced lug to join them is said to be able to convince anyone to a deal…even literal god, as it turns out the secret ingredient in their new product are souls. They are a me to take a dead body and inject Lug’s soul into it. They now own Lug’s body and soul and then can bring him back as much as they want. They even web ahead and named the new product, an energy drink, “lug’s soul juice.” Brutal.

[Niklas Semmler · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wild and colorful comic book that jumps into the story of an previously beautiful island that has since been taken over by a ruthless company. The book simultaneously follows the story of one of the companies' agents and one executive.

I really liked the flow of the layout. Scenes are often composed with messages or symbol reminiscent of Adventure games. This gives the book a very fresh and engaging feel. Also, there are many scenes, where pictures of dialogue are superimposed on landscape pictures. This balanced the plot with a better view of the comic's world.

I did not like too much, the drawings of action scenes and the main agent. The drawings are so rough, that it often becomes hard to see where one shape begins and the other ends. Additionally, I was a bit overwhelmed by the story line. It goes to the extremes of the world. I would have prepared either a slower progression of the plot or a smaller plot for the initial issue.

All in all, I recommend the book for its adventurous and fresh style. Where it not for it over the top and self-contained story, I'd sure to pick up the next one. As it is, I will decide when I find it in the store.

[Colin Post · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a book about the horrors of capitalism, this sure is fun! Ba brings an exuberant energy to this title that rattles on every page — the story moves with the pace of a folk tale, lots of action and consequence compacted in a brief yarn. My only complaint is that the art is a bit hard to follow at times — though I’m overall a fan of the more cartoony style — specifically, there was quite a bit of variation in how Lug was illustrated, which made the story hard to follow at times as he’s the protagonist.

[James Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

An odd, bonkers yarn about how Capitalism demeans and destroys lives and environments and replaces this with surrogate slogans promoting the values of their system. The entire world becomes erased to build walls to sell for advertising space. I loved it. I thought the jarring, hell-boy, art style perfectly encapsulated the pottiness of the whole sorry business of the Monkey Meat Company. It is raw, violent, strange and fascinating by turns. A terrific little series that won't attract many plaudits but whose devotees will talk about for a long time to come.

[Eric Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's soooo good! Preordered some Soul Juice off the advertising alone. Not only does it look delicious, but I sure could use the pick me up! I can't wait to reveal my inner self! Hooray!

This book was so good on ALL the levels, story saturated with humor and dark satire, frenetic-faced past artwork, and I clearly bought into the propaganda- God and I can't wait for more. Thank you Juni Ba, and sorry, I am all out of change.

[Joshua · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting and amusing. It’s kinda like Moomin goes to imperialist capitalist hellscape island. It is a little hard to follow as others have said but I think it’s intentionally surreal and the art and the wacky tone do a great job keeping my interest where a clearer plot otherwise might. I’m gonna keep reading.

[Geoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure what's happening here, but I enjoyed the ride a great deal. Excited for the next issues.

[Ondřej Halíř · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kurwa co to je? Tohle je jak totální fever dream. Regulérně nechápu o co šlo, vím úplný hovno, ale je to super!

[Dayna-Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting but a bit hard to follow

[Robert Hultman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird. But not in a bad way. Artwork is hard to decipher and the story isn’t much better. Meh.

[Ivy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is so weird. The graphics are super cool, but this is definitely for a select audience. Another challenge read.

[Simon Bostock · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting comic, a strong anti-capitalist message about an island being turned into a hellscape.