Tom King and Peter Gross are joining forces for a reimagining of George Orwell‘s iconic novella Animal Farm. Animal Pound is set to arrive from BOOM! Studios next year, and moves the events of Orwell’s story from a farm to a modern animal shelter. The series is written by King, illustrated by Gross, colored by Tamra Bonvillain, and lettered by Clayton Cowles.
Here’s how BOOM! Studios describes Animal Pound:
When animals grow tired of being caged, killed, and sold off–it’s only a matter of time before they’ve had enough…
After an uprising puts the animals in control of a pound, they quickly find themselves as comrades–united against everything that walks on two legs. But with this newfound power comes a sudden challenge: how best to lay the groundwork for this new democracy.
The series is just the second creator-owned series from multiple Eisner-winning writer Tom King, more well-known for his extensive DC Comics work including Batman, Mister Miracle, and Rorschach. King’s other creator-owned work, Love Everlasting with artist Elsa Charretier, originally ran digitally on Substack before coming to print from Image Comics. It’s King’s first collaboration with artist Peter Gross, artist on Vertigo Comics series like Lucifer, The Unwritten, and The Books of Magic.
In a statement announcing the series, King and Gross expressed their excitement at teaming for the new series:
“Animal Pound is the most ambitious story I’ve ever told, and I feel like a fool for trying to do it,” said Tom King. “But the story came to me strong, and with Peter drawing, I know we’ll pull it off; we’ll make something as insane, stunning, and frightful as the times we live in.”
“Tom’s pitch for Animal Pound was the best pitch I’ve ever read (and I’ve read some great ones!). I was instantly on board and can’t wait to see it out in the world!” said series artist Peter Gross.
BOOM! executive editor Eric Harburn also expanded on the task of updating Animal Farm for a new audience and new form:
“Animal Pound isn’t just a comic book event – it’s a literary event, from four of our medium’s boldest storytellers,” said Executive Editor Eric Harburn. “Tom, Peter, Tamra, and Clayton know the gravity of following in the footsteps of Orwell, arguably the 20th century’s most prescient author. And let me tell you: they are up to the challenge.”
Look for Animal Pound #1 to arrive in comic shops and digitally on Wednesday, December 20th.
