Scratch9

Scratch9 is an all-ages comic featuring an ordinary house cat who can summon any of his nine lives to help him out in his adventures. It was created by Rob M. Worley and first published in September 2010 by Ape Entertainment.

Publication history
Scratch9 debuted as a four-issue series in September 2010. The comic was written by Rob M. Worley with artwork by Jason T Kruse and cover art by Mike Kunkel. The series was then collected into a trade paperback in June 2011.

The comic returned with publisher Hermes Press on May 5, 2013 as a Free Comic Book Day special edition, reprinting the original first issue with new bonus material. Hermes followed up with a two-issue series Scratch9: Cat Tails written by Worley with art by Joshua Buchanan, Shannon Eric Denton, Mike Roll, Justin Castaneda, Canaan Grall, Kruse, Joe Foo, Chris Houghton, Armand Villavert Jr and John Martin. Shane Houghton also contributed writing.

The Nine Lives

 * Scratch - A young, naive house cat living in present day America. (first appearance Scratch9 #1)
 * Garogga - An embattled smilodon, living in the wilderness of the ice age. (first appearance Scratch9 #1)
 * Bektah - The Pharaoh's cat living in 1491 BC, Egypt invested with mystical abilities over the the afterlife. (first appearance Scratch9 #2)
 * Ichirou - A cat living in a Tibetan temple the 5th century. Master of martial arts. (first appearance Scratch9 #2)
 * Writh - A witch's familiar living in Salem, Massachusetts, late 17th century. Practices green magic. (first appearance Scratch9 #3)
 * D'Argent - A cat living in 18th century France, with powers of luck. (first appearance Scratch9 #3)
 * Beeslebohm - The greatest mouser of the East London theater, circa late 19th century. Master of disguise and theatrics. (first appearance Scratch9 #3)
 * N.3.K.0 - A cyborg cat from the 25th century. Various technological enhancements. (first appearance Scratch9 #2)
 * Ix - A highly-evolved cat from the "far, distant future." Various telepathic and telekinetic abilities. (first appearance Scratch9 #4)

The Supporting Cast

 * Penelope - Scratch's best friend, a young girl. (first appearance Scratch9 #1)
 * Marco - A tiny Brussels griffon dog, with a tough attitude and a mistrust of humans. (first appearance Scratch9 #1)
 * Pollo - A former game-fighting chicken, best friend of Marco. (first appearance Scratch9 #1)
 * Squirrelly - A squirrel. (first appearance Scratch9 #1)
 * Tejan - A clumsy cat, and friend to D'Argent. (first appearance Scratch9: Cat Tails #1)
 * Carabas - A lonely man, and friend to D'Argent. (first appearance Scratch9: Cat Tails #1)
 * Prince Menho - A young boy, destined to be king of Egypt, and friend to Bektah. (first appearance Scratch9: Cat Tails #1)
 * Sarah Nunn - A witch practicing black magic, presumed master of Writh. (first appearance Scratch9: Cat Tails #2)
 * T.I.C.K - A small, bug-like electronic companion to N.3.K.0. (first appearance Scratch9: Cat Tails #2)

The Villains

 * Dr. Schrodinger - Aged scientist, head of C.R.U.E.L., bent on transferring his mind into a stronger, more durable body. (first appearance Scratch9 #1)
 * The Collector - A simple-minded freelancer who captures animals and sells them to C.R.U.E.L., not realizing they'll be subjected to experiments. (first appearance Scratch9 #1)
 * Grizzbots - Large, bear-like, robotic henchmen of Dr. Schrodinger. (first appearance Scratch9 #1)
 * Mecha-chims - Small, monkey-like, henchmen of Dr. Schrodinger. (first appearance Scratch9 #3)
 * Amam - Mythic lion/crocodile/hippo hybrid demon of Egyptian mythology. Foe of Bektah. (first appearance Scratch9: Cat Tails #1)
 * Gangtie Jutou - Chinese sun bear, invested with impenetrable armor. Foe of Ichirou. (first appearance Scratch9: Cat Tails #2)
 * Astro Bat - Giant Bat-like creature from space. Foe of N.3.K.0. (first appearance Scratch9: Cat Tails #2)

Organizations

 * C.R.U.E.L. - Corporation for Research into the Ultimate Extension of Longevity - a scientific research corporation, notorious for animal-experimentation, headed up by Dr. Schrodinger (first appearance Scratch9 #1)
 * F.E.R.A.L. - Free Earth Rescue Animal Legion - A 25th century global peace-keeping force composed of cybernetically-enhanced animals. (first appearance Scratch9: Cat Tails #2)

Titles published

 * Scratch9 #1 - Sep 2010 (Ape Entertainment)
 * Scratch9 #2 - Oct 2010 (Ape Entertainment)
 * Scratch9 #3 - Dec 2010 (Ape Entertainment)
 * Scratch9 #4 - Jan 2011 (Ape Entertainment)
 * Scratch9 TPB - June 2011 (Ape Entertainment)
 * Scratch9 #1 (Free Comic Book Day Edition) - May 4, 2013 (Hermes Press)
 * Scratch9: Cat Tails #1 - July 2013 (Hermes Press)
 * Scratch9: Cat Tails #2 - September 2013 (Hermes Press)