Calico: Unwanted Men (Sigma Comics, 7/2026): Writer H. H. German and Artists Renato Pinto and Mithun Roy send the animal rights vigilante on two missions to stop a cat-for-food collector and an online puppy stomper. Filled with strong art and a clear sense of purpose, Calico fans will have a lot to like. Verdict: Not for the squeamish, but a must for Calico fans.
Credits:
- Writer: H. H. German
- Artist: Renato Pinto, Mithun Roy
- Colorist: Ichsan Ansori
- Cover Artist: Garnabiel (cover A)
- Publisher: Sigma Comics
- Release Date: July 2026
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover Price: $17.00
- Page Count: 58
- Format: Triple-Sized Voluem
Covers:
Analysis of Calico: Unwanted Men:
First Impressions:
Cleaner, tighter, and a tad more focused. Calico: Unwanted Men gives the vigilante two clear missions to reinforce his reputation as the city’s most violent animal protector. Still, the subplots, which serve as the connective tissue, don’t quite connect.
Plot Analysis (SPOILERS):
The Volume opens with Calico tracking down reports that a man named Wee Li Hung is catching and killing cats for sale to local restaurants. When he finds the cat killer in question, Wee Li Hung and the entire staff of his restaurant meet a bloody end.
In the second half, Calico receives word of a streamer who crushes puppies with her high heels for obscene amounts of cash. Calico knows exactly where to look. When he finds the hefty puppy killer, he makes sure her crushing days are over for good.
Intermingled with the two cases, the local police chief reaches out to Calico to help solve a series of cop killings where the killer targets crooked cops. The volume ends with Calico considering the plea for help and Kingman calling on the Rats for a new job.
How is the story in Calico: Unwanted Men?
H. H. German isn’t shy about gory violence in the name of protecting animals. If you know that going in, you know exactly what to expect, and for his part, German’s style during the individual missions is solid. The narration and dialog are authentic, and there isn’t an ounce of flow to bog down the pacing.
Where the volume struggles is in the subplots that fill Calico’s world with diverse happenings that don’t appear to connect to anything or serve a central plot. In effect, there is no central plot at all, so the subplots carry on in the background for no apparent purpose other than to set up something for Calico to do in a future volume. That writing model works if you’re invested in the future of Calico comics, but readers dipping their toes may find the experience disjointed.
How is the art in Calico: Unwanted Men?
Renato Pinto and Mithun Roy bring their A-game to this volume with moody atmosphere, super-clean line work, and kinetic action. The death scenes – a gory staple of Calico stories – are a bit more subdued than usual, but they work well enough to keep Calico’s reputation for gruesome payback intact.
Characters
Hector Gil, aka Calico, is the primary focus of the volume from start to finish. He doesn’t embark on a journey of growth or change, which gives him a recognizable appeal, but the cliffhanger ending could lead to interesting new places when he’s asked to intervene on the part of humans instead of animals. That growth potential doesn’t pay off in this volume, but as noted above, readers invested in reading future volumes may see that potential come to fruition.
Originality & Concept Execution
On its face, Calico comics are an original standout among almost all indie publishers for sheer brutality. Animal abuse is typically met with arrest, fines, etc, so it’s wild to see a cat killer meet a gruesome end. Furthermore, German has donated proceeds from the sales to support animal protection charities – a worthwhile consideration.
Pros and Cons
Art Samples:
The Scorecard:
Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): 2.5/4
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): 3/4
Value (Originality & Entertainment): 1/2
Final Thoughts:
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
Calico: Unwanted Men delivers a diverse collection of sordid goings-on in New York City when Calico hunts down a cat-for-cooks operation and puts an end to a puppy-stomping streamer. H. H. German’s focus on an extreme vigilante is as clean and brutal as ever, and the art team delivers their A-game. That said, new readers may struggle with jumping into the collection of disconnected subplots.
Related Posts:
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.
