Lions, Tigers and Bears (comics)

Lions, Tigers and Bears
Cover of the first issue (2005 series)
Publication information
Publisher	Image Comics Hermes Press
Genre	Action, supernatural
Main character(s)	Joey Price
Creative team
Created by	Mike Bullock
Artist(s)	Jack Lawrence Paul Gutierrez Michael Metcalf Mike Wieringo Bob Pedroza

Lions, Tigers and Bears is a comic book series from Image Comics and Hermes Press, created by Mike Bullock with artwork by Jack Lawrence, Paul Gutierrez, Michael Metcalf, Mike Wieringo and Bob Pedroza. The phrase "Lions, tigers and bears" is from Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (1939).

The story features the adventures of a young boy named "Joey Price" who discovers that his stuffed animals can come to life to protect him from The Beasties, monsters who come out of his closet to get him in the middle of the night.

"A child’s instinctual need for the comfort of a stuffed animal is rooted in a reality long forgotten by the adult world. The hidden truth is that these companions have been defending children since the dawn of time. Follow young Joey on the adventure of a lifetime as he travels through the Stuffed Animal Kingdom, a journey that puts the fate of all the world's children in his hands and brings him face to face with his destiny."

Joey Price. The main protagonist Joey is an eight-year-old boy who lives with his single mother. Joey is very daring and adventurous, but like most eight-year-olds, can be easily frightened by the larger world around him. After moving away from the house he grew up in, his Grandmother gives him the boxed Night Pride, a set of four stuffed animals, who will later come to life to protect him from the evil Beasties.

Courtney Donlolley. Courtney is the nine-year-old daughter of Abner Donlolley, maker of the Stuffed Animal Kingdom stuffed animals. As such, she's often the target of Beastie schemes. Courtney and Joey have rapidly become close friends and are often found together.

Ares, the Bengal tiger . Ares is the muscle of the Night Pride. His personality is more dynamic than Pallo’s, as he lets his semi-sarcastic sense of humor seep into his dealings. Regardless of his seemingly, less serious outlook, Ares is just as duty bound as Pallo and will stand beside Pallo until the very end, no matter the cost. By the end of volume I, Ares is Joey's new best friend.

Venus, the Bengal tigress. Venus is second-in-command of the Night Pride. Her strong will and sense of purpose are tempered by her caring heart and empathic nature. Her affection can be seen when she is with another member of the Pride or one of her many friends in the Stuffed Animal Kingdom. Her strength shines through when dealing with the Beasties or other threats to her charges. Every animal in the Kingdom knows of her kind heart and every Beastie fears her name.