Four-Fisted Tales: Animals in Combat

"Four-Fisted Tales is a highly entertaining and informative book.... What really makes these tales work is the masterful artwork that portrays various species not only with accuracy but also feeling, as well as detailed depictions of vehicles, buildings, landscapes, and other realistic features that make the environs of each panel live and breathe. Consequently, Four-Fisted Tales invites multiple re-readings, as it is easy to breeze through the whole book due to its fascinating subject matter and clear storytelling, but it also features intricate artwork that can be pored over again and again. Additionally, the war stories are compelling in and of themselves, without sugar-coating so even the more whimsical tales remind readers of the grim realities of battle." --Graphic Novel Resources

"Four-Fisted Tales features some ... of the times animals have been used to assist in times of war. Beautifully written and drawn by Ben Towle, this needs to be remembered. Every story is entertaining as hell, but also informative. I told my kid some of the stories in here, I told co-workers, I've sent links and photos to friends and family members. You don't have to be a comic or military history lover to get something out of this book." --Masked Library

"Four-Fisted Tales is well drawn and full of enjoyable short stories." --John's Notes

"This is a great book for pet lovers, fans of history, kids, or even just comic fans. So curl up with your favorite fur-baby and check out Four-Fisted Tales: Animals in Combat - and while your dog may not be as cool as Jack, you can assure yourself that if something bad were to go down, I'm sure they would heed the call and protect you at all costs. Animals, the real unsung heroes of the war." --ArcadiaPod

"Four-Fisted Tales is a stellar graphic history whose art is exemplary, capturing action, humor, and poignancy alike." --Foreword Reviews

"In Four-Fisted Tales, Towle tells stories that are cruel and absurd as well as frequently funny and even inspiring, and it's important to acknowledge that it's all part of the war experience." --SOLRAD

"Whether you're a fan of history, animals, or just enjoy some great artwork, I'd recommend giving this book a read. 5 out of 5 stars." --Forces of Geek

"An engaging comic book that is educational! And just because it's fact-based and in graphic format, don't assume it's just for kids (although it is perfect for a middle school library). As an adult who has been reading a lot of military history and military historical fiction lately, I found it fascinating, and animal enthusiasts will likely find the content interesting and inspiring as well." --The Fandom Post

"Four-Fisted Friends: Animals in Combat captures the heroic efforts that animals performed during wartime that saved lives and changed the outcome of battles and wars.... With each story, we begin to understand the importance of animals and how they have collaborated with soldiers during warfare. The graphic novel, much like the Animals in War Memorial, serves as a reminder that throughout history animals have fought next to humans and should be recognized for their service. Many wars would have been far bloodier and brutal without them beside us." --Popanimecomics

"Four-Fisted Tales is definitely a book that will appeal to lots of readers. Not only because of the attractive graphic novel format, but also because of the many interesting facts evoked throughout the book. As such it would also be perfect to use at school, covering different time periods, geographical places, interesting animal trivia, and much more." --World of Tau

"Four-Fisted Tales is an excellent comic; accessible, even, and exquisite." --The Stop Button

"Towle does beautiful work in a monochrome olive that suggests combat in more ways than one. Beyond the typical association of the color with the army, the muted tones provide shadow and depth in keeping with the risk of death involved in battle. He draws both animals and people extraordinarily well, capturing their movement and motivations.... The stories are about sacrifice and determination. It's an effective introduction to a great variety of military battles over history." --School Library Journal

"Possibly the first military history that could be described as adorable, this episodic graphic novel from Towle recounts the animal cohorts of human warfare.... Towle's rigorously detailed art evokes the kind of spot illustrations found in old-school children's encyclopedias. (Even the pagination is shadowed with paw prints.).... This undeniably captivating book is nearly too cute for its own good." --Publishers Weekly

"Ben Towle's writing and illustrations provide a great medium for honoring the roles of animals throughout military history.... Whether you are interested in military history, animals, or just enjoy interesting anecdotes, I recommend Four-Fisted Tales. I not only enjoyed reading it, I learned much and gained a greater appreciation for the relationships between humans and animals forged in the crucible of conflict." --GeekDad

"Recommending this book for anyone who'd like a short info-packed read about animals-in-war." --Midu Reads

"A fun and amazingly informative graphic novel I found hard to put down, Four-Fisted Tales is chock full of fascinating stories about animals that have fought-and died-alongside soldiers throughout history, all complemented beautifully by Ben Towle's classic Roy Crane-esque cartooning." --Jake Tapper, CNN anchor

"Four-Fisted Tales brings you animal stories you had no idea you needed! From time immemorial to the Gulf War and beyond, each animal, each story makes you say, What? No way! All brought to vivid life by the artistry of Ben Towle!" --Jeff Smith, writer and illustrator of Bone

"They had no choice and sadly neither did the majority of the men who fought. Despite the battle being a human one we would have known no victory without the support of the animals." --David Backhouse, designer and sculptor of the Animals In War monument, Park Lane, London