📖 Overview
We3 follows three animals - a dog, cat, and rabbit - who have been transformed into cyborg weapons through a classified military program. After being augmented with armor, weapons, and the ability to speak in simple phrases, they function as a covert unit designated "We3."
The animals escape the facility and attempt to find "home" while being pursued by military forces intent on destroying them. Their journey across the American landscape brings them into contact with both threats and moments of connection with humans they encounter.
The graphic novel utilizes an experimental visual style that fragments panels to convey rapid movement and shifting perspectives. The sparse dialogue from the animal protagonists contrasts with their violent capabilities, highlighting questions about consciousness and identity.
The story explores themes of humanity's relationship with animals, the ethics of military research, and what constitutes personhood. Through its cybernetic protagonists, We3 examines the boundaries between natural and artificial life.
👀 Reviews
Readers connect emotionally with the story of three weaponized animals trying to escape and find freedom. The artwork by Frank Quitely captures both action sequences and quiet character moments.
Readers highlight:
- The minimalist dialogue that still conveys personality
- The innovative panel layouts during action scenes
- The balance of violence and heart
- The complete story told in just 3 issues
Common criticisms:
- Story feels rushed at times
- Price is high for the page count
- Some find the violence excessive
- Digital versions can be hard to read due to complex layouts
Ratings:
Goodreads: 4.16/5 (14,000+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.7/5 (300+ ratings)
Comic Book Roundup: 8.9/10
Reader quote: "Made me cry over a rabbit, which I didn't think was possible." - Goodreads reviewer
Many readers report finishing it in one sitting but returning to study the artwork multiple times.
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Pride of Baghdad by Brian K. Vaughan Based on true events, this graphic novel follows escaped zoo lions in war-torn Iraq as they navigate freedom and survival in a human world.
Watership Down by Richard Adams A group of rabbits seek a new home while facing the threats of human expansion and their own evolving nature.
The Plague Dogs by Richard Adams Two dogs escape from an animal testing facility and struggle to survive while being hunted by humans and confronting their laboratory-altered abilities.
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien Laboratory-enhanced rats with human-level intelligence help a mouse save her family while grappling with the responsibilities of their increased mental capabilities.
🤔 Interesting facts
🔬 The book's themes about animal experimentation and military research were influenced by actual U.S. military programs, including Project NIMBUS, which explored using animals for warfare.
🤖 Grant Morrison created We3 after being inspired by the death of his own cat, drawing parallels between pets' loyalty and the weaponized animals in the story.
🎨 Artist Frank Quitely developed a unique visual style for the series, using multiple small panels to represent the animals' heightened senses and fragmented perception of reality.
🐾 The dialogue for the animal characters was deliberately written in broken English to reflect their limited but evolving grasp of human language, creating a poignant contrast with their advanced cybernetic capabilities.
🏆 We3 won the Eisner Award for Best Limited Series in 2005 and has been praised for revolutionizing comic book storytelling through its innovative panel layouts and perspective shifts.