A team of paranormal investigators poking around Burden Hill disturb the graveyard where the ”Master” lies, setting off a chain of events that will have serious consequences for the animal defenders of the haunted town.

Beasts Of Burden is one of those properties that will immediately grab my attention whenever I see it on the racks at my LCS, or in the preview images. I was first introduced to the Wise Dogs when I was subtly convinced I needed to read the hardcover book collecting the first set of stories by the owner of the shop, and promptly fell in love with the characters, writing and artwork.

The Presence Of Others introduces us to some new (human) characters and reintroduces us to some old friends – but don’t worry if you’re new to Beasts Of Burden, you don’t need to be intimately familiar with the backstory to enjoy this book because the point of view characters are the newly introduced ones which allows Evan Dorkin to ease new readers into his world.

And it’s such a brilliant world.

The supernatural underbelly of our world guarded by magic wielding dogs from the evil of rats, demons and other denizens of the underworld. It’s a concept that I really enjoy, and have devoured any form of Beasts Of Burden since I was introduced to the series. The Presense Of Others is another cracking entry in the story, and one that I wholeheartedly recommend to any who like their comics without the superhero flavoring.

If you want to read something unique this week, with some great water color style artwork, then you can’t go wrong with this comic.

Story: Evan Dorkin Art: Jill Thompson Letters: Nate Piekos
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.7 Overall: 8.6 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review