HALLOWEEN: NIGHTDANCE – Issue #3
Devil’s Due Publishing
Halloween Comics
Written by Stefan Hutchinson Art by Tim Seeley
Ready for a shocker and not of the three finger kind? This issue rocked! There was some stumbling in the beginning with the flashback of the girl and boy getting locked into a basement, but everything else appeared to hit the dartboard and score big points. The subplot finally meshed well with the main storyline, and writer Stefan Hutchinson appears to have warmed up the slow-moving train of a story, creating a solid pace while keeping the drama down to a “just right” level. And no speak of silly stars! Woo hoo! Tim Seeley on art duty really scores big here as the climax really lays down the sentiment and shock value to this book. We really feel for what happens to a certain character’s demise all because of how it was drawn. Just the look on the kid’s face before the second whack lands on the back of his head really leaps off the page, not to mention no words in the moment as the reader feels that blunt instrument clearly. By far the most memorable and heartfelt victim at the hands of Michael Myers, if not, any other slasher moment in a comic book. And did I forget the boobs? No? I don’t forget boobs. There’s boobs in this book. Nice ones too. Well drawn, Mr. Seeley. So put down the shocker, and get out the titty twister because Nightdance has just scored a big invite to the “No Pants Dance”!
GRADE: A- CONTINUE READING? Roger that, good buddy.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER – Issue #13
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Drew Goddard Art by Georges Jeanty
It’s good to laugh with Xander, especially when he’s manservant to our Lord of Darkness himself, Dracula! This issue we learn how the vampire attack at the mansion happened with the strange but familiar powers, and it’s all because of a certain bloodsucker losing a bet in a card game! Huh… sounds like me. The comedy continues from writer Drew Goddard, and it’s a relief as most of the series has been quite dramatic. Finally, a wind of the first and second season humor comes back with Xander, Willow, and well, Andrew came later, but the kid is super funny in this one dressed up in his George Hamilton “Dracula” suit. The comedy is definitely back to fulfill that need fans have been wanting for awhile now, probably dating back to Season 6. And I always wondered why Dracula was a “one episode wonder” on the TV show as he seemed like a cool but humorous cat to hang around at times. But I can see with Spike firmly planted in that brooding role already, it was kind of hard. But hey… there was Angel too! I’m having a blast with Drew Goddard on writing duties, and by the end, I was begging for this to be a TV show again because it definitely felt like it. Georges Jeanty really pours on the pencils here, and it’s probably one of his best issues as the consistency of his art stays near or spot-on to the actors. The climax has a firm grip on my balls too, as the vampires figured out how to relieve all the slayers of their powers, and here crazy Buffy gathers ALL of the slayers to go fight them. And then you got Dracula pissed off, and ready to head to the fight as well. It’s gonna be a bloody mess, but a damn good one.
GRADE: A CONTINUE READING? I’m surprised I didn’t see this coming a mile away, but the writer of Cloverfield is bringing the Dawn to Japan, and there’s just gotta be some building stomping going on there!
SILENT HILL: SINNER’S REWARD – Issue #2
IDW Publishing
Written by Tom Waltz Art by Steph Stamb
This story continues to drive like a midnight ride with a hot lady in the passenger seat, only you’re going to Silent Hill for the payoff. It’s a very comfortable pace, even with all the time jumping that sometimes disrupts where you’re at, but still flowing enough to stick with it in one read. Tom Waltz has thought this one out pretty good, and I like where he’s taking us, keeping both the straight story and the stigmatic Silent Hill atmosphere holding hands throughout. This would make for an interesting video game as it leans more toward the linear aspect of Resident Evil than its Silent Hill counterparts. I like the hitman angle as well since we want to enter the town of Silent Hill strong for once rather than weak and uninformed. It’s a refreshing take on the ghost genre, so to go in guns blazing and see how tough you really are is a good setup technique. The art is very cool, modern film noir look by Steph Stamb, reminding me a little bit of The Evil Dead comic book, and sexy at times as the flashback to the boss’s wife and the hitman in bed had me riled up a little bit. I’m really impressed with this series, and I’m really looking forward to where this goes and how it ends. Just don’t screw it up like The Ruins, Mr. Waltz. Man, that movie better have an alternate ending on DVD.
GRADE: A- CONTINUE READING? Still kickin butt in the story department, and the art is really tasty too. Keep on driving…
SPOOKS – Issue #3
Devil’s Due Publishing
Written by Ryan Schifrin and Larry Hama Art by Adam Archer
This book is weird. After a dreadful second issue, the third one comes along and repairs some of the damage caused before. Kinda like band-aids with the healing cream, only for writers having trouble with dialogue. (Dialogue cream? Holy cow… I’m rich, bee-yatch!) That doesn’t make this book great though as it still strives for the Saturday morning cartoon audience and not something as believable as The Monster Squad. The half-witch thing is stretching it a bit as she uses her powers a lot, but the dumb soldiers around her just kind of shrug it off as a “That was weird” moment. Yeah…no. Not gonna fly. I liked Frankenstein’s monster in this issue as he was cool in his action star pose toward the end, and the half-witch from the neck down is pretty darn sexy. Why her face looks like a goofy Dharma that just burped is beyond me. But yeah, this series feels out of place for the most part, like it was supposed to come out when the X-Men cartoon was on the air. Hey, it’s still better than that Van Helsing movie, but not by much. So, yeah, there was a little war here as the humans shoot up vampires, werewolves, and a big non-STD crab, but I guess there’s more on the way, especially with a chopper full of “red” G.I. Joes. Hopefully the pacing slows down a bit and gives a more insightful approach to the characters than the action.
GRADE: C+ CONTINUE READING? I guess. Not dying for more though.
BENEATH THE VALLEY OF THE RAGE #4
The Scream Factory
Wowio Comics
Written by John Bisson and Robert Kurtzman Art by Stephen Thompson
Download this series and other Scream Factory books for free at Wowio!
When Fangoria Comics suddenly dropped off the map last year, I quickly went to the man running the show, Scott Licina, and asked about one of my favorite books of 2007, Beneath the Valley of the Rage. See, Fangoria Comics cut off issue four here when Fango called it quits on the comic books, so it was just sitting out there in limbo… until now. The Scream Factory has taken over most of the Fangoria Comics books, and as an added bonus, has put them all up on Wowio to read for free. Sweet deal if you ask me, especially for you folks out there hearing news about the new movie, Bump, based on the comic book by Mark Kidwell, starring Hellraiser babe Ashley Laurence, Sean Patrick Flannery, and Jigsaw himself, Tobin Bell. But back to Beneath the Valley of the Rage, which was a prequel itself to the movie by Robert Kurtzman entitled The Rage. That has made its way onto DVD, and I have to admit, the comic book blows it away. Maybe because the comic book was so damn good that I had very high expectations for the film, but I swear, if I hear another zombie vulture squawk like an irregular whistle, I’m gonna punch a baby and a puppy… and I won’t feel good about it! It’s weird when you read all four comic books that this all leads into the movie because I’d rather see the comic book as the movie. Mix Big Trouble in Little China meets Indiana Jones and a bit of Congo, but with tons of blood, guts and beheadings. Not to mention a kickass sidekick named Dirty Sanchez, this comic book series has it all. So I’m glad to have finally picked up the fourth book and finished the prequel. But Robert Kurtzman’s movie hurts this series now, and the ending to this issue sort of leads into the movie making it a little sour in the mouth, knocking it down a grade as well. Still, some solid writing from John Bisson and some great art by Stephen Thompson should easily sway folks into reading this gem of a horror series, and if you skip the movie, then you’ll be able to see the “A” grade it previously had. And how can you pass up a free deal? Check out The Scream Factory on MySpace for more details or go straight to Wowio and start downloading Bump and this series, and then thank me later. I like green paper, fast women, and ice cream. Thanks!
GRADE: B+ SERIES GRADE? B+
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