Scratch9
Scratch9 is an all-ages comic featuring an ordinary house cat who can summon any of his nine lives to help him out in his adventures. It was created by Rob M. Worley and first published in September 2010 by Ape Entertainment.
Publication history
Scratch9 debuted as a four-issue series in September 2010. The comic was written by Rob M. Worley with artwork by Jason T. Kruse and cover art by Mike Kunkel. The series was then collected into a trade paperback in June 2011.
The comic returned with publisher Hermes Press on May 5, 2013 as a Free Comic Book Day special edition, reprinting the original first issue with new bonus material. Hermes followed up with a two-issue series Scratch9: Cat Tails written by Worley with art by Joshua Buchanan, Shannon Eric Denton, Mike Roll, Justin Castaneda, Canaan Grall, Kruse, Joe Foo, Chris Houghton, Armand Villavert Jr and John Martin. Shane Houghton also contributed writing.
Characters
Scratch - A young, naive house cat living in present-day America. Garogga - An embattled smilodon, living in the wilderness of the ice age. Bektah - The Pharaoh's cat living in 1491 BC, Egypt invested with mystical abilities over the afterlife. Ichirou - A cat living in a Tibetan temple the 5th century. Master of martial arts. Writh - A witch's familiar living in Salem, Massachusetts, late 17th century. Practices green magic. D'Argent - A cat living in 18th century France, with powers of luck. Beeslebohm - The greatest mouser of the East London theater, circa late 19th century. Master of disguise and theatrics. N.3.K.0 - A cyborg cat from the 25th century. Various technological enhancements. Ix - A highly evolved cat from the "far, distant future." Various telepathic and telekinetic abilities.
The Supporting Cast
Penelope - Scratch's best friend, a young girl. Marco - A tiny Brussels griffon dog, with a tough attitude and a mistrust of humans. Pollo - A former game-fighting chicken, best friend of Marco. Squirrelly - A squirrel. Tejan - A clumsy cat, and friend to D'Argent. Carabas - A lonely man, and friend to D'Argent. Prince Menho - A young boy, destined to be king of Egypt, and friend to Bektah. Sarah Nunn - A witch practicing black magic, presumed master of Writh. T.I.C.K - A small, bug-like electronic companion to N.3.K.0. Meg'n - A protective wolf whom Garogga befriends. Tok - A wolf cub whom Garogga befriends.
The Villains
Dr. Schrödinger - Aged scientist, head of C.R.U.E.L., bent on transferring his mind into a stronger, more durable body. Strick - A cat with the ability to send Scratch back in time. The Cat Who Walks by Himself - An ancient, giant cat of supernatural origin, Strick's first aspect. Si Sawat - A treasure-hoarding cat inhabiting the mountains of old China. Strick's third aspect. Pluto - A one-eyed scoundrel of a cat, from London of the 1800s. Strick's sixth aspect. Orgul - Cat servant of Freyja, capable of generating winter storms. Strick's second aspect. Cat 13 - This cat is the subject of illegal genetic experiments, capable of self-cloning and mutation. Strick's eighth aspect. Aliento Ladrón - A warlock's familiar and black-magic practitioner. Strick's fourth aspect. Qitt - A cat with a mysterious third eye that is capable of seeing the future. Strick's fifth aspect. Za - A cat with an evolved brain from the far, distant future. Strick's ninth aspect. The Collector - A simple-minded freelancer who captures animals and sells them to C.R.U.E.L., not realizing they'll be subjected to experiments. Grizzbots - Large, bear-like, robotic henchmen of Dr. Schrödinger. Mecha-chims - Small, monkey-like, henchmen of Dr. Schrödinger. Amam - Mythic lion/crocodile/hippo hybrid demon of Egyptian mythology. Foe of Bektah. Gangtie Jutou - Chinese sun bear, invested with impenetrable armor. Foe of Ichirou. Astro Bat - Giant Bat-like creature from space. Foe of N.3.K.0.
Organizations
C.R.U.E.L. - Corporation for Research into the Ultimate Extension of Longevity - a scientific research corporation, notorious for animal-experimentation, headed up by Dr. Schrödinger F.E.R.A.L. - Free Earth Rescue Animal Legion - A 25th century global peace-keeping force composed of cybernetically enhanced animals.
Titles published
Scratch9 #1 - Sep 2010 Scratch9 #2 - Oct 2010 Scratch9 #3 - Dec 2010 Scratch9 #4 - Jan 2011 Scratch9 TPB - June 2011 Scratch9 #1 - May 4, 2013 Scratch9: Cat Tails #1 - July 2013 Scratch9: Cat Tails #2 - September 2013 Scratch9: Free Comic Book Day 2014 Edition - May 2014 Scratch9: Cat of Nine Worlds #1 - June 2014 Scratch9: Cat of Nine Worlds TPB - July 2015 Scratch9: The Pet Project & Cat Tails TPB - October 2015