Review by Frank Plowright

Starting with the surprising use of glow worms during World War I, Ben Towle presents a selection of short stories about how animals have been used in combat over the centuries. These range from mascots, through messengers to carriers of death. Some, though, save lives.

It’s a unusual topic and Towle finds novel ways to tell his stories over a dozen chapters, picking interesting historical examples. Who knew, for instance, that during the US Civil War there was once a prisoner exchange for a dog? Or seagulls have been identified as a method of detecting enemy submarines? Or how mines laid during the Vietnam war, which ended in 1975, still blight the country? Also surprising is the USA’s extensive military use of dolphins over the years, although much is officially denied. Dolphins are one of several examples dealt with collectively, cats carried on ships being another, and the research is deep.

Towle’s cartooning is extremely attractive, with tidy people and locations, and pages designed to supply maximum information, even when requiring technical specifications. His visual storytelling is exemplary, varying from traditional comics to montages via wordless sequences with explanations at the end. His black and white pages are tinted with grey to provide greater depth, but it’s delicately shaded verging on military khaki.

Perhaps recommending Four-Fisted Tales to animal lovers is a stretch, as many chapters deal with exploitation and even cruelty, and tales of survival are few despite some creatures beating the odds. However, particularly with what Towle’s covered about assorted cats, dogs and horses, there are some heartwarming stories in this informative selection.