You see it all in comics: guys with claws, girls who can fly, guys who shoot webbing out of their palms. But what about the heroes who aren’t guys or girls at all? Well, technically they are, but not human ones. Today, we’re spotlighting animal stars in comics that even man’s best friend can enjoy.Beasts of BurdenEvan Dorkin & Jill Thompson (Dark Horse Comics): Starting out as short stories in Dark Horse horror anthologies, the series really came into its own with a 2009 miniseries. The cats and dogs of the small town of Burden Hill take it upon themselves to protect their owners from the supernatural threats that surround them. You can read all of their appearances so far in the Beasts of Burden: Animal Rites hardcover collection.Darkwing DuckIan Brill & James Silvani (BOOM! Studios): This popular 1990s cartoon starred an anthropomorphic duck who battled crime in the tradition of pulp heroes like The Shadow, The Green Hornet, and Sandman. In 2010, Darkwing Duck returned in the miniseries The Duck Knight Returns, which was so popular that the four-issue series was extended to an ongoing. That means that as soon as you finish the first collection, there’ll be more waiting for you.We3Grant Morrison & Frank Quitely (Vertigo): This comic, intended for mature readers, is an intelligent science-fiction story that brings humanity’s capacity for violence, our treatment of animals, and our drive for new technology into sharp focus. Three stolen pets, a dog, a cat, and a rabbit, are turned into cyborg killers by the militaryand then sentenced to be killed. Instead, their doctor lets them escape, and they attempt to return home. This violent, thoughtful book could have you in tears by the end.Duncan the Wonder DogAdam Hines (AdHouse Books): This new graphic novel also deals with animal-human relationsspecifically, how they would change if the two groups could communicate with one another. Apparently, some animals would “form a militant group in reaction to how humans treat them” (from the Product Description at Amazon). At 400 pages, you certainly get your money’s worth with this extensive collection.Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesKevin Eastman & Peter Laird (Mirage Studios): I didn’t know if I’d be including these legends when I started, but I decided that there probably were enough people unfamiliar with the origins of the franchise to make it worth a mention. Part of the problem could be that the old material isn’t collected often enougha reprinting of the first 11 issues along with side stories was issued in 2009 and is already out of print. If you can track down a cheap collection, though, do it. Initially a homage to the popular ’80s comics Daredevil, New Mutants, Cerebus, and Ronin, the series eventually turned into so much more.