Fur and Teeth

Fur and Teeth
The newly designed logo for Fur and Teeth, as it appeared in Forest Revival #1. Art by Stevie Bee. (2017)
Publication
Publisher	QUACK! Comics
First Appearance	Fur and Teeth #1
Created By	Mason Albright Istas Panieho
Formats	Comics
Character Information
Alter-Ego	Coulson Wagner Ranatokheton Smith
Species	Human
Place of Origin	Viscuito City, Cetacea Megatridimensional Order
Team Affiliations	ICEC Knights of Life Metamorphosis League Crook Casters
Associates	Lisa Wagner Clint Wright Brad Stotter
Abilities	Transforms into dog Super speed Super agility Super strength Fighting and hunting skills
Enemies	Haythamator Sally Lemon, aka Bright Terror

Fur and Teeth is the name of two fictional superheroes appearing in numerous comic book series published by QUACK! Comics. The original Fur and Teeth, Coulson Wagner, held the mantle from the 1980's to 2009, when Ranatokheton Smith took up the mantle, until 2017 when Coulson Wagner once again became Fur and Teeth. Fur and Teeth is based in the United States of Quentin, but also goes on missions in the Megatridimensional Order and Telembria. The hero was designed by Mason Albright and Istas Panieho, and first appeared in the 1989 series Fur and Teeth #1. Coulson Wagner, the original Fur and Teeth, is one of the only Quentinian Asperian tribal characters, growing up with her grandmother Lisa Wagner in the Megatridimensional Viscuito City. After learning the ways of her ancestors, who were members of the Viscuito Tribe, Coulson soon discovers that her grandmother wields mystical powers granted to her by their Viscuito ancestors, which allow her to transform into a falcon and gain many superhuman abilities. She only discovers this after her grandmother is killed on a mission, however, and as she is dying Coulson promises to take up the mantle, adopting the name Fur and Teeth.

After moving to David City in the USQ, Coulson begins her exploits as a superhero, while also maintaining her alternate identity of Coulson Wagner, working at a cargo dock in the city. Ranatokheton Smith also works at the same docks in the city, as Coulson, which is how the two meet. Coulson's powers as Fur and Teeth include her ability to turn into a dog, which grants her super speed, agility, and strength, as well as a good bit of stealth as well. These powers come from her ancestors, who also come to the hero in visions to warn of future danger, or advise on different matters. Ranatokheton has similar powers as Fur and Teeth, but has super jumping as well. When not transformed, both heroes are also adept with a bow and arrow, and have numerous melee weapons for quick fights or takedowns. Coulson transfers the mantle of Fur and Teeth to Ranatokheton in 2009 due to her disillusionment with the role after an incident she feels responsible for. Ranatokheton accepts the mantle, as he is an Asperian tribal of the Terronian Nation. In 2017 Coulson returns after the capture of Ranatokheton by Haythamator, regaining the role as Ranatokheton settles down after marrying Red Wasp.

In addition to the hero's ancestors, Fur and Teeth has many allies and supporters. During Coulson Wagner's time as Fur and Teeth, she has constantly sought advice and partnership from Ranatokheton, and vice versa. The two also ally with the commissioner of the Interdepartmental Committee on Extraordinary Crime (ICEC), Clint Wright, to take down villains and cooperate with other heroes. Finally, Brad Stotter is the mayor of David City and later a member of the Quentinian Congress who helps Fur and Teeth as well. Major enemies of the hero include Haythamator, a main enemy of Raven's Assassin as well who attempts to rule the world, and also has a hatred for racial minorities such as Asperian tribal people and jumange people. Sally Lemon, also known as the Bright Terror, is another enemy of the hero who is a member of the House of Bureaucrats. Though her intentions seem honorable, attempting to make peace with the Megatridimensional Order, Lemon attempts to start a war between the two countries, and use the chaos for her own personal gain.

When originally published in 1989, Fur and Teeth received critical acclaim, as she was the first QUACK! character of Asperian tribal origins. Her fighting style was also popular, and both her fashion and hairstyle quickly became extremely popular with the public. Despite this positive reception of the character herself and her style, Fur and Teeth comics were not read as much in the 1990's as the comics of other heroes. Into the 2000's QUACK! attempted to use Ranatokheton to mix up the narrative, however the change was badly received by fans, and comic sales for the character declined. Eventually, in 2017, Coulson Wagner was reinstated, and amidst a wave of approval from fans, Fur and Teeth sales increased greatly, today rising to about 11th among heroes.

Characterization

Two different heroes take on the role of Fur and Teeth throughout the course of the comics, those of Ranatokheton Smith and Coulson Wagner. Each of these characters have different personalities and depictions.

Coulson Wagner as Fur and Teeth is nearly always depicted as a woman of Asperian tribal ethnicity in her late 20's or early 30's. Her skin tone is medium, like most other Asperian tribal people, and is well known for her dreadlocks-type hairstyle and her accessories, which include jewelry. She often wears traditional tribal clothes when not transformed into a dog, consisting of fur and leather garments as well as moccasins for shoes. When not engaged in hero work, she will wear mainstream Quentinian clothes, and while a dog she is purely black-colored. She comes from the Viscuito Tribe, and is dedicated to the preservation of her tribe's history and culture, as well as their values. She is often one of the more reclusive and reserved heroes in the series, being a member of the Crook Casters group, however she has no aversion to working with others, unlike Raven's Assassin, and will do so when necessary. Aside from being very reserved, Coulson values trust between her and her partners, as well as conservation of the environment and justice. She follows the tribal religion of the Viscuito people, and is strong in her devotion to family, including her ancestors.

Ranatokheton Smith as Fur and Teeth is usually depicted as a man in his 20's, also of the Asperian tribal ethnicity. His skin tone is slightly darker than that of Coulson's, being of the Terronian Nation and not of the Viscuito, however his skin color is lighter than those of the Zwakanav or even Jumange ethnicity. Ranatokheton's hairstyle is not dreadlocks like Coulson's, but a mohawk. Ranatokheton's accessories and clothes are similar to Coulson's, except he does not have jewelry and instead has a number of charms and a keepsake from his parents attached to his bandana, which he sometimes wears and sometimes does not. Ranatokheton's dog is dark brown, not black as Coulson's is, however while not working as a hero he wears mainstream Quentinian clothes as well. Ranatokheton is adamant about protecting his people's rights to their culture and history, and is also a major conservationist, however often accepts mainstream Quentinian and Megatridimensional culture more than Coulson does. This is due to the fact that he emigrated from the chaotic United Villages of Southia instead of the Megatridimensional Order, and recognizes more frequently the blessings of living in the USQ. He is committed to justice and his allies, and is even more committed to Red Wasp, who he marries in 2017. His children, Black Flower and Calm Steward, are a crucial part of his life after he retires the role of Fur and Teeth.