Battlecats is the ongoing series of Florida comic publisher, Mad Cave. By request of the publisher, let’s go over what makes this series so good. Is it the TTRPG set-up, characters, the world, or is it how each builds off one another?
Battlecats: The Introduction
When I first read the initial series of Battlecats, I wasn’t too impressed. The first three issues are about a generic fantasy TRPG party: paladin, monk, ranger, healer/spellcaster, and bard. You have the quest to slay a monster threatening the lands this party protects and a twist. Fortunately the interactions with the party and the nature of the quest are where things get interesting. TTRPG’s main strengths come from its improvisational nature. Sure the reader isn’t too familiar with the character motivations or the world as writer Mark London. But if they stick around long enough they will see everything unfold.
The Titular Party
The Battlecats are interesting characters when it comes to the world of Valderia. There are legends that surround the formation of this team and the cultures they come from. After gauging the readers’ interest with fantasy cliches like “For the King!” and the kingdom’s stance against people who go against the status quo, things get more interesting. Because wouldn’t you know it, the empire of Valderia is built around zealotry. This gives the IP Warhammer levels of moral grey narrative realities.
Now let’s look at the rest of the Battlecats. Comic relief bard, strong silent monk, innocent healer, rebellious ranger. On the surface, their main appeal comes from how they interact with Kelthan. Mekkar might come up as an annoying comic relief, but his backstory via legacy gives him layers. He has real concern about living up to his legendary hero ancestor. Better yet, he’s loyal to Kelthan and the Battlecat cause. Then there’s Kaleera, she has a backstory that ties her directly to one of the antagonists.
Villain Protagonists?
Let’s go into the opposing Darkcats shall we? This group of former Battlecat candidates look pretty generic in terms of design and idealogical foils. I mean their monk is more interesting than Battlecat Zorien simply by making the strong silent type a monstrous threat. Does seeing a giant who can sneak up on you without trouble sound welcoming? That sounds more like an unstoppable assassin.
Pardon me, I should probably speak about their ranger, the one who was supposed to be a Battlecat. With how maniacally she laughs you’d think the choice to give it to Kaleera was obvious. That is until the reader notices that she’s highly methodical and works well with others unlike the more reckless Kaleera.
Now let’s look at Birch, a gigantic feline with a few disabilities. He has a stutter and apparently bipolar disorder with how he can lash out on a moment’s notice. Despite hailing from the same artistic lands as the happy-go-lucky Mekkar, he was ostracized for his condition.
Valderia: World of the Battlecats
The world these characters live in also might seem like another fantasy world in the vein of D&D but Valderia has a unique character to it. With a rich mythology told by canine court wizards, the very presence of leading figures seem larger than life. Ever wonder why the Battlecats are a five-man band? It relates Valderia’s five moons and the myths surrounding the Lion God’s champions. Side note, those warriors also serve as the days of the week like Thor for Thursday. The entire empire is based around the maned king as the Lion God’s stand-in while the Battlecats are his warriors. So who better to make sure the Battlecats live up to that legacy than the dogs who tell the story?
So yeah, Valderia is essentially a theocratic empire. Which considering the closest analogy is with the Imperial Cult of Rome, it’s for the best and worst. While the empire manages to unite the different peoples and genuinely tries to keep the peoples’ best interest, there’s some unfortunate subtext. Anyone who defies the ideals of the king is a heretic. Beneath the blatant evils, the people are not allowed to think for themselves or directly question a dictator.
This leaves them in exile to badlands where people join in worship to a lizard god. Apparently snakes are too common an opposing force, even for this series. The Darkcats are practically an inversion to everything main Valderia stands for. Wouldn’t you know it but a canine is the one spreading the lizard god’s gospel after her father kept a few secrets. Are we sure the dogs aren’t just hiding details from everyone?
Where To Begin?
Battlecats certainly has a unique world worthy of a few campaigns. Once you get past the elements that make it feel like a D&D knockoff, there’s a rich world to see legends develop. That’s why I personally recommend looking at Tales of Valderia for a first look. This series displays the franchise at its most legendary with stories of heroism, how our main characters meet, and the beginning of Valadar’s fall. All while providing infographics so readers can better understand the world thanks to series artist Michael Camelo, and more like Tekino. That way they can jump in at any point.
Overall the series so far has an 8/10 rating. It’s slow start with spectacle holds it back a little and the character take a while to get interesting. But when things pick up by the first run’s fifth issue, the reader will find themselves drawn in. Also some parts are better appreciated with a full story. Battlecats won’t be for everyone but it will be worth looking at in the long run.