My Cat Hates Me is the US debut of manhua artist Bai Cha. As one of China's most important self-publishers in the comic industry, Cha has won numerous awards. Now, his most popular work, My Cat Hates Me, has officially been translated into English. It blends comic simplicity with classic art to present pet behaviors and humor that cat-owners especially will begrudgingly love.
Bai Cha has won the Golden Dragon Award, the Nebula Award, and the Galaxy award. He was Asia Bookstore Forum's hottest comic author in 2018 and his IP brand centered on his dog and cat characterizations, Long Loaf the Emperor, was awarded "Chinese IP of the Year 2018" at the Licensing International Excellence Awards. His work has garnered a large following on Weibo and WeChat (Chinese social media platforms), and now it has been translated for comic readers to experience the simultaneously adorable and grotesque life of pet ownership.
My Cat Hates Me begins with an artistic presentation of adorable cats before embarking on a story of domestic adventure and cohabiting with animals. This graphic novel features a cat named Your Highness and a pug named Bubba Boo. The two have different ways of interacting with their owner, Kiddo, as well as with each other. This graphic novel uses brief comic groupings to simultaneously present three very different perspectives regarding what it's like when a cat, dog, and human share the same space - and food.
Cats, Dogs, and Comics Collide Beautifully in My Cat Hates Me
The first section, "Cute Kitties," provides a detailed look at the blended art style Cha excels at, but the more narratively structured comic stories begin with "Origins," continuing through numerous other selections. My Cat Hates Me presents cat mayhem, dog silliness, and a human struggling to enforce personal space boundaries. Over several decades, many comic creators have explored pet life - particularly where cats are concerned. From Garfield and the Marvel Meow digital comic starring Cat Loki (developed from the manga of the same name), to Chi's Sweet Home and the illustrated adventures of internet star, Grumpy Cat, cats have always had a place in comics. My Cat Hates Me is the latest story to present cat home life, and it does so beautifully.
The humor of the story varies from typical cat antics like sleeping in hilarious positions to grotesque bewilderment as a human becomes accustomed to the responsibilities involved with owning a litter box. However, this graphic novel isn't only about humorous pet behavior. Two bonus stories are also included, one of which focuses on the hardened exterior that hides a bittersweet and soft interior within a feline side character.
Each story also stands out thanks to the art, which portrays Kiddo in a simplistic comic form, while Your Highness and Bubba Boo are classically illustrated This artistic blend is incredibly compelling despite not being typical, setting the story apart from many other cat comics while also highlighting the presence of cats in humans' creative lives. The Chinese hit comic My Cat Hates Me by Bai Cha is now available from Brown Books Publishing Group.