DEE SNIDER’S STRANGELAND: SEVEN SINS – Issue #1
Fangoria Comics
Written Jesse Blaze Snider Art by Stephen Mooney
What a “strange” land indeed. Born from film and now continuing in graphic novel format, Dee Snider’s Strangeland is taking the opposite route to continue its story. Which is a good thing actually because I’m probably one of the few that thought the movie was good for a continuation, and I’m betting so did the Snider clan. So here we are, nine years later and Fangoria Comics unleashes Seven Sins to us, finding Captain Howdy in his basement still torturing men, women, and children. The question is, where can you take this character that so few can relate to and even fewer can like as an antihero? You create “The System,” and therein reveals the strength of this book. While the art by Stephen Mooney could use some tightening up in places, Strangeland shines in the writing by avoiding the common theme of “the outsider versus the cops,” or even “the misunderstood amongst society.” No, Captain Howdy is a victim of a system created by others like him. A structure that has no rhyme or reason even being a structure. It’s a surprising approach, and exceptionally set up and displayed by writer Jesse Blaze Snider. Though a bumpy start with the innocent party boy becoming an all-too-easy treat for Howdy, (known more by his real name here, Carleton Hendricks), it does have to connect from the film and is understandable to pick up from there. But after he violates the boy and establishes that he claims no rules in physical pleasure, Captain Howdy renews his sick mentality and Jesse Blaze restarts the engine for an intriguing character. A solid start for Strangeland into comic books, and a thrilling second chance for Captain Howdy to scare the crap out of those pesky internet users.
GRADE: B+ CONTINUE READING? I’m pretty interested to see what happens next, so yeah, definitely get issue #2
TERROR INC. – Issue #1
Marvel Comics
Written by David Lapham Art by Patrick Zircher
Another character reborn, and for good reason. Terror Inc. back in the 90’s was a bit off, unconventional, and maybe even ahead of its time now that I look at it, but strangely addictive and memorable nevertheless. So for this relaunch by the suitable section of Marvel Comics, MAX, a writer had to recreate an origin for Terror Inc. that wasn’t too nutty and nostalgic, but also edgy and violent. David Lapham was definitely the best choice. For a character that has lived since Roman times of 455 with a curse to replace any body part and never die, (a la The Creeper from Jeepers Creepers), Lapham relies heavily upon the outsider model in his writing and fits Terror’s origin story perfectly. The first nine pages are just amazing in storytelling, and will have any doubter for this relaunch think twice about putting it down once that first page is read. The setting for present day does cause a tad disruption to the medieval times badass “schreck”, but once Terror rips his head off to go undercover and then stand in a rainstorm of bullets, the book once again excites the reader to no end. Well, until issue two that is. If the Punisher had a brother that couldn’t die, and had more humor than hate, then Terror would be the man. Hell, Terror IS the man, in my book, after reading… this book. Terror Inc. is a true hybrid of horror and action, and David Lapham is looking at a new hit series if he plays his cards right with the character. I just hope we see more long glimpses of Terror’s past like this first issue showed because it’s probably one of the best openers I’ve read in a comic book, in very long time.
GRADE: A CONTINUE READING? Hell yeah! I might even get a pull list at the local shop just for this.
THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: BY HIMSELF – One Shot
WildStorm Entertainment
Written by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning Art by Wes Craig
I’m a fan of Leatherface and the TCM series. So much so that I actually enjoyed the remake and prequel to an extent of turning the brain off and watching hot chicks get sawed in half. So for me to read the comics, I’m happy to oblige. Even if one centers on Sheriff Hoyt, a spotlight stealer if you ask me from our beloved skin-swapping, saw man. For The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: By Himself one shot, it was not only a small task to recreate Sheriff Hoyt’s origin, but also to make it enjoyable and interactive. Writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning fail to accomplish these small feats with new material and create a wall in front of the reader with the antagonist blocking the protagonist. Hoyt’s character is basically R. Lee Ermy’s role from Full Metal Jacket if he had skipped the fatal shot from Private Pyle. So it wasn’t a stretch, but somehow, the entire book fell short of that small stretch. The art is not up to WildStorm standards either, a name synonymous with Jim Lee and great art. Wes Craig needs to explore anatomy and paneling pretty quickly if he wants to stay at WildStorm. Even the cover by the great Darick Robertson was bland and unappealing to me, but maybe that’s my second glance at it after reading the book. I basically bought it because I haven’t reviewed a TCM comic book yet. Now? I want my money back and wish this hadn’t been the first.
GRADE: D CONTINUE READING? Forget this book. Skip it. Don’t even look at it. It doesn’t exist.
THE FOURTH HORSEMAN Issue #1
Fangoria Comics
Written by Jeffrey Nodelman Art by Tommy Castillo
I was a little skeptical of this book, and for good reason. It didn’t seem like a horror book from the surface. Nothing wrong with that, but when you have Fangoria Comics on the front, you want that “Fango Taste” in your mouth. The Fourth Horseman doesn’t really have that taste. That’s not to say it’s a bad book, or a bad idea, just not fitting to the rest of the line Fangoria Comics has going right now. The story centers around a warrior named “Bear”, and as to what kind of a warrior is still in question. I assume he’s an American Indian, but there’s no specific detail in that origin. He just kills everybody and everything in his path, for he is the “white horseman.” Kind of ironic with him being Indian, no? The writing needs work from Jeffrey Nodelman, exploring the character’s actions more along with his history and roots, specific to the culture Bear is related too. The art is great in this, with some stylish death scenes from Tommy Castillo and blood being one of the main colors of the book. The sex scene made my jaw drop as a woman in a tent does the much adored “reverse cowgirl” position to invisible cheers from yours truly. Sadly, I wanted more from The Fourth Horseman in the writing department and it will be hard for the rest of the series to make up for that need with it’s structured “one-shots in a set”. But the story isn’t over until the last word is written, so maybe there’s something waiting for me at the finish line. I hope so. I really enjoyed that reverse cowgirl panel and hope to see the butterfly make an appearance.
GRADE: C CONTINUE READING? I probably will since it appears that each book will chronicle one horseman, but I’d rather have one book with all of them instead.
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