Shanda The Panda

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Shanda the Panda #12 showing the central characters: Shanda is at the left, with her lovers, Terri (bottom) and Double R (right). Art by Terrie Smith

Shanda The Panda is an American slice of life comic book with furry themes created by Mike Curtis. It sometimes contains adult content.

Like its predecessor, Omaha the Cat Dancer, the book is set in a world largely like the real world except for the fact that the inhabitants are humanoid versions of various animals. In this series characters' species are compared to real world ethnicities. For example characters rendered as American Bison represent Native Americans.

The title character is Shanda Bruin, a Chinese-American panda originally from imaginary Riceland, Tennessee. She is the manager of a movie theater in a small city named Cedar Rabbits, Iowa. The series involves in part the personal and professional lives of Shanda, her family, friends, and her staff.

An important story arc is her romantic relationships with a Cajun raccoon named Richard (also nicknamed Double R) and her lesbian cricket bartender lover, Terri. The trio struggles to accommodate each others' needs. Another story arc involves their conflict with villainous Wing and the emotionally abusive and bigoted ex-spouse of Richard named Trixie.

The comic was originally published by MU Press with one issue — then numbered as "issue 1" but now referred to as "issue 0" — then began a regular series with Antarctic Press for issues 1 through 15. After that it was published by Vision Press for issues 15 through 21 before becoming the flagship title of Shanda Fantasy Arts from issue 22 onward. Each issue's cover is a parody of a movie poster.

In issue 48, JUMP START, the cast leaps ahead three years in time, where the storyline will remain after Shanda gets married in issue 50.