Review by Karl Verhoven
Where do the beings from myths and fairy tales go if they’ve been injured or are feeling poorly? Why, the Creature Clinic of course. Run by Doctor Orc, there’s only the single exception to seeing to those in need because “The Creature Clinic does not treat humans”. That’s because they’re dangerous and have brought nothing but death and destruction to Myth Valley. The only thing is, the human that arrived trapped under a giant’s foot doesn’t look so dangerous to Kara Orc, daughter of the fearsome clinic owner and a doctor herself. She decides to help him in spite of her mother’s specific orders. Instead of dumping him in the forest as instructed, she treats him in her friend the janitor’s office.
Once Gavin Aung Than came up with the concept for Creature Clinic, the jokes must have tumbled into place. There’s the difficulties normal sized doctors have dealing with a giant, Medusa always turning people to stone, and as seen on the sample art, the vanity of unicorns. There’s also room for subtlety, though, with one nice pairing of illustrations showing Dr Orc junior is as prone to overwork as her mother.
The cartooning is great all the way through, very friendly with plenty for children to look at, silly when it needs to be, yet also able to convey the few upsetting moments. Than makes the most of injuries such as the unicorn with the wonky horn, a basilisk with toothache and the farting fairy, and the cast are designed to be appealing despite being totally mismatched.
Once Mitch has recovered he enthusiastically embraces everything the Creature Clinic stands for, and takes a surprising role, with suspense generated by his possible discovery. An endearing supporting cast help propel the story to a crisis point of a medical emergency that’s also visually inventive, if subverting a popular fairy tale. That leads to a real emotional dip, but Than’s not in the business of upsetting children, so it doesn’t last.
At face value Creature Clinic is a very funny story, but it’s also about tolerance and understanding toward strangers, the persecuted figure reversed to be a human. That, though, never overwhelms the entertainment. Given what’s set up, the ending is inevitable, but it’s the only point at which Creature Clinic falters slightly. Whereas the remainder is innovative, the ending is commonplace. The journey, though, is very much worthwhile.
