THOUGHT BUBBLE MONTH 2026! Way back in November 2020, in another lifetime that we’d probably prefer to forget and when Thought Bubble stepped back to an online incarnation, I reviewed the first volume of Peter Morey’s anthropomorphic animal warriors comic Animal Spirits. At the time I noted that “if you’re looking for a diverting piece of escapism with some neat comic set pieces and strongly choreographed action sequences then Animal Spirits will certainly prove a distracting and fun read!”.
Last year Morey returned to that cast of characters to pick the story up again and this second episode is just as silly, just as wonderfully random, and also just the kind of comfort reading we probably all need right now. In this newest edition – subtitled ‘The Ballad of Lady Foxhound’ who remains the focus for much of this issue – the group of enchanted canine warriors we met last time have seen off the threat of Vladmir Putin in his giant mecha battlesuit and are continuing on their quest to reach the great North base of Hvälberd.
It’s a journey that will see them encounter a sinister monk, the machinations of a bumbling Trump and Boris Johnson (still funny despite the gap between issues causing certain… topicality… issues) and mutants in the frozen Arctic…
The plot lurches from one entertainingly ridiculous scenario to another and, to be frank, making sense of it all almost seems to be to miss the point. This is Morey simply throwing everything at the page, juxtaposing cool dog samurai and awful corrupt politicians in page upon page of explosive action sequences and addictively violent visuals. And no doubt having a ball in the process. As a result the panel to panel storytelling here is intoxicating in its motion and rhythm.
Animal Spirits certainly isn’t for seekers of highbrow comics culture but if you’re just looking to kick back, relax and unwind, and enjoy some thoroughly entertaining silliness you can not go wrong with this!
Peter Morey (W/A) • Self-published, £10.00
Review by Andy Oliver
Peter Morey is at Table B11a in the Redshirt Hall at Thought Bubble.
Thought Bubble 2026 runs from November 9th-15th with the convention weekend taking place on the 14th-15th. More details on the Thought Bubble site here.
Read all our Thought Bubble 2026 coverage so far in one place here.
Poster art by Núria Tamarit
