Terrible Lizard #3, Wrex in effect, in the city-with friends

Terrible Lizard is a 4 issue mini-series from Oni Press about a teenage girl Jessica Anders and her adopted T.  Rex.  Because of an accident in the laboratory, Jessica and Wrex have a bond that makes them understand each other very well.  When #2 ended we saw the military closing in on Wrex just after his battle with a giant ape.  This is an all ages comic that doesn’t skimp on the action and succeeds on another level too.

Recently all the rage in some comic book circles was people asking where are the female heroes?  I am all for strong women character in comics.  Stronger women in comic books means more young girls will read them, which is great news for publishing, literature, science, writing-basically any subject of study.  The lead character in Terrible Lizard is a female, typical teen with lots of moxy.

Jessica is strong, athletic and funny.  Her presence acts as a bridge to some girls who might not read comics because of the lack of female leads.  The dinosaur, Wrex is not second fiddle; he receives most of the panels in the book and also gets most of the action.

Terrible Lizard isn’t a girl’s comic because the lead human character is a girl.  That’s like saying Super Dinosaur is a boy’s comic because its lead human is a boy.  Both books are similar and have reasons to like one more than the other.

One thing that they both get right is the action.  The dino in Terrible Lizard is drawn sharper and more realistic than recent comics.  It’s packed with action and varies the art in the pages from full pages, quarters and art that covers two pages.

Terrible Lizard would still be a great all ages comic if the lead were a boy.  However, having the lead as a young girl give the comic an edge that I hope families or young readers (especially girls) latch onto.

After Wrex goes through the city he looks for a place to rest.  Of course a T Rex going through the city is a mess.  He stomps cars, bites traffic lights and leaves massive footprints in the street wherever he goes.  A squadron of police officers finally stops Wrex, but just when they do a wormhole opens up behind them and unleashes a series of rock type, rolly polly things that can’t be shot.

Wrex gives the ‘rocks’ a huge dino yell that seems to stop them.  However, it only wakes them up as they were some spiny rock monsters who finally expose their faces.

Terrible Lizard is a fun book.  The orange and black colors of Wrex are bright and contrast nicely with the dark city buildings.  It’s realistic art is appropriate for all ages, that means that young readers will dig it because the older kids can read it without it being too much for young kids.