Sinister Sweets: Decoding the Animal Army in Comics
The Animal Army takes center stage in Sweet Tooth Season 2, but with a refreshing twist! Brace yourself for a captivating world where feral dog children play a lesser role, making this comic adaptation an intriguing and unique experience
Summary
Sweet Tooth on Netflix takes a different approach from its darker comic source material, showcasing stunning visuals and a more positive atmosphere, particularly through the portrayal of Gus.In contrast to the bloodthirsty cult depicted in the comics, the Animal Army in the show is a tech-savvy group led by Bear, providing invaluable assistance to Gus as he embarks on his quest to reunite with his mother.
By altering the Animal Army and eliminating violent elements, the show maintains its tone and encourages greater interaction among the characters. This also helps to avoid any potential issues with age ratings. The Animal Army in Sweet Tooth, introduced to viewers on Netflix, has a charmingly whimsical nature that differs from its depiction in the comics. Viewers have praised Sweet Tooth for its stunning visuals and captivating storytelling, particularly applauding the series' protagonist - Gus, a wide-eyed and optimistic hybrid of a human and deer. Alongside his mission to locate his mother, Gus embarks on a journey that is filled with both friends and enemies, striking a balance between the harsh reality of a pandemic and lighter moments.
The Animal Army In The Sweet Tooth Comics
However, the jovial moments in the show somewhat create a disparity with the original source material, as the Sweet Tooth comic possessed a significantly darker tone compared to its Netflix adaptation, featuring more violence and gritty characters. This transformation applies to nearly the entire ensemble, with their backgrounds, motivations, and overall demeanor being subtly modified to infuse a semblance of hope into the overall narrative. These alterations encompassed changing Gus' father from a traumatized zealot to a compassionate paternal figure, molding Gus himself into a considerably more carefree persona, and - perhaps most intriguingly - transforming the Animal Army introduced by Sweet Tooth.
The Animal Army in Sweet Tooth comics presents a contrasting portrayal of this group. Rather than a benevolent leader like Bear, who eventually aligns with the protagonists, the faction is comprised of vicious cultists wearing animal masks. These individuals seem to venerate hybrid beings. In a departure from the comics, the group's leader is a man named Glebhelm, whose backstory is particularly chilling within the series. Glebhelm allowed his own wife to be killed by their pack of dog hybrids for sustenance. He then trained his savage offspring to serve as his ultimate weapon. Given such narrative alterations, it is understandable why Netflix's adaptation of Sweet Tooth chooses to rework the figurehead and the group itself.
Not only does this remove a significant portion of the violence and bloodshed in the series, but it also enables Gus to obtain a crucial clue from the group and advance his narrative. If the Animal Army of the Sweet Tooth comics had been included in the show, it would have posed an immense challenge for them to interact with Gus without completely undermining his optimistic perspective on the world. It is worth mentioning that their involvement in the comics often revolved around the child hybrids of the story sustaining severe injuries or even facing death, which would likely have conflicted with the show's twelve-plus age rating, thereby alienating a potential cornerstone audience.
Who Are The Animal Army?
In Sweet Tooth, the Animal Army is introduced as a group of tech-savvy teenagers dressed in animal costumes, reminiscent of the Hook-style. They were assembled under the leadership of Bear and play a crucial role in assisting Gus on his quest to locate his mother by providing him with her last known address. While the group once attempted to eliminate Jepperd by unleashing an actual tiger upon him, their primary purpose seems to be fostering a peaceful environment rather than engaging in warfare within the post-apocalyptic world. However, in the comic, the portrayal of this faction diverges significantly as they are depicted as a fanatical cult adorned with animal masks and possessing a thirst for violence, seemingly worshipping hybrids.
The decision to alter a significant portion of the plot is crucial for maintaining the desired tone of the Sweet Tooth series. Although the show is not overly optimistic, it also doesn't shy away from moments of darkness, strategically using them for maximum impact. The changes made to the Animal Army in Sweet Tooth demonstrate the meticulous adjustments made to create a unique narrative that still retains key elements from the original.
While this may have been unexpected for readers of the comic, it is not a negative change. In fact, these decisions streamline the story and arguably align better with the television format. With the first season covering only a fraction of the overarching plot, it makes sense to eliminate minor villains like Glebhelm. This allows for greater focus on the series' primary antagonist, Abbott, making him more formidable, while also introducing Bear as an additional ally for Sweet Tooth.
What Does The Animal Army Do In Sweet Tooth Season 2?
There was a notable contrast in the utilization of the Animal Army between Sweet Tooth season 2 and the comics. In the comics, Jepperd employed Glebhelm's Animal Army cult to launch an attack on Abbot's camp, enabling the hybrid children to flee. This resulted in a full-scale battle between the Animal Army and Abbot's troops. However, in the Netflix series, Jepperd opted to use the Air Lords to assault the Abbot camp, although the Animal Army eventually joined the fight to lend support. Nonetheless, the fate of the Animal Army in Sweet Tooth was ultimately tragic.
In the comics, the Sweet Tooth Animal Army was characterized by violence and lack of redemption. Conversely, in the Netflix series, the Animal Army consisted mostly of compassionate young individuals who wanted to aid the hybrids, evoking greater sympathy. In season 2, Gus and Jepperd reunited with the Animal Army, only to face a devastating turn of events. In the Sweet Tooth season 2 finale, Tiger disclosed to Becky that the Animal Army perished while battling the Last Men, and Tiger herself succumbed shortly after. Consequently, Jepperd, Gus, and Aimee were compelled to retaliate and successfully eliminate Abbot. However, the death of the Animal Army in Sweet Tooth on Netflix was a tragic occurrence, distinctly departing from the portrayal in the comics.
