I expected Cat Man by Parari to be totally different from what it was and exactly what it was. However, I assume that it would be a one Cat story. Meaning, there would only be one cat character trying to make it in the human world. The one character who is an “oddball out” or the one who feels like they don’t fit in and wants too, while everyone else seemingly has their litter boxes in order. The main character I assumed would be a cat character who is equal to a human character in a coming of age story. Instead it is how literally Cats and Humans (all shapes and colors of cats, and mostly typical manga looking humans) lives intertwine but there is a hierarchy with humans on top.
Parari’s creation is a unique story of equality, personalities and respect. Reminiscent of other stories of people who are “other than” the “traditional norm” (fill in the blank) and how they are treated (less than, but also celebrities, play things, pets, property) with the twist of being a cat. The “extreme opposite” characters (as we as humans do see cats as pets/our property/for our pleasure in both the real world and this alternative reality) helps the reader take a step back and realize how our actions can be taken. Even those people who are well meaning and even trying to better themselves.
When I started reading I felt that some plot points referenced being trans, then later was seeing (cats) characters who have social anxiety and/or other issues, and towards the end, how we treat different bodied people (one cat has a burn mark on his cheek). There are a couple of scenes that I would call sexual assault due to a mans fetishizing cats (he gropes the tail of two cats) and later someone grabs a female humans’ breast. And while I felt it was handled decently, it was as creepy as it should be. There is more going on and you can find your own connections. This is due late April 2025, read via an online reader copy.