The Dark and Bloody #6
Written by: Shawn Aldridge
Art by: Scott Godlewski
Cover by: Tyler Crook
All that fear and dread you’ve been feeling while reading this series? It’s all been building to this, the final showdown between one man and the girl who has come seeking revenge. Iris must not only confront Ayah and the brutal past they both share, but who he is deep down. Is it possible he could save his family from retribution and yet not save his own humanity?
The Sixth Gun: Dust to Dust #3
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Tyler Crook with Bill Crabtree
When the attempted theft of a power artifact goes south, Billjohn O’Henry finds himself at the mercy of the Immortal Girl. But Billjohn will do whatever it takes to save the life of his little girl, and he will call down the thunder on anyone who stands in his way.
Emmy always knew that the deep, dark woods surrounding her home crawled with ghosts, goblins, and zombies. But on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, she learns that she is connected to these creatures—and to the land itself—in a way she never imagined.
Harrow County #1 is a new southern gothic fairy tale from writer Cullen Bunn and artist Tyler Cook, and it kicks off with a creepy twisted start that makes me want to immediately read more. The story isn’t anything particularly new, a “witch” is burned by an angry mob and vows to return. The comic is a fairy tale, and that’s a pretty common way to start.
What’s interesting is how Bunn goes from there, focusing ahead on a young girl Emmy, and her discovery of her connection, and thus we as readers discovering that too. It’s a slow build throughout the first issue with the weird factor increased bit by bit, but not before Bunn succeeds in our connecting with Emmy and feeling a bit of empathy for her. As the cover quote says, the comic is charming and disturbing. It’s a great combination.
All of this is helped by Cook, whose style mixes that fantasy feel with real world creepiness. You never quite know why it all feels off, but the art is a big reason for me. Cook captures the unsettling vibe of it all. It helped keep me on edge and added to the ambiance of the story. Cook also knows how to do disturbing without crossing the line.
Harrow County #1 hits shelves May 13. I absolutely recommend checking it out when it does.
Story: Cullen Bunn Art: Tyler Cook
Story: 8 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy
Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
The Sixth Gun: Dust to Dust #2
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Tyler Crook with Bill Crabtree
Billjohn O’Henry’s quest to save the life of his daughter continues. There are powerful forces in the world… forces that could turn away the very hand of death. If Billjohn wishes to save the life of the person he holds most dear, he’ll need to seize those powers… such as the fabled Fourth Gun… for himself.
Abe Sapien: The Devil Does Not Jest #1 and #2
Abe Sapien: The Devil Does Not Jest #1 follows the interesting character of Abe Sapien as he travels to learn the fate of a demonologist thought missing. It’s a bit weird to describe the story, he travels to a house to investigate and then all hell breaks loose as he has to fight a demon. It’s a pretty straightforward first issue.
The story is fun and very entertaining, like you’d expect from Hellboy and the art is as solid as it comes. Dark Horse has again expanded upon the Hellboy universe with a great comic that’s absolutely worth the buy.
The second issue which is out this week is a fun follow up in this quick two issue story. Abe basically gets to let his hair down and kick some ass. The issue is fast paced and fills in a lot and the series probably could have benefited from a third issue to expand on the ideas set up a bit. But, like the first issue, it’s really fun.
These two issues are simple fun and an entertaining read. They could have benefited from a third issue or making it a graphic novel and expanding it a bit. Overall, a fun, entertaining read.
Story: Mike Mignola and John Arcudi Art: James Harren Publisher: Dark Horse
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy
B.P.R.D.: Hell on Earth Russia #1
While I know Hellboy, I’ve never read a B.P.R.D. comic. I figured I could expect the same tone and feel to it and I wasn’t disappointed, the quality is the same. Something funny is going on in Russia that involves the government to torch people in the streets and the B.P.R.D. is called in to investigate.
The difference to some of the other comics I’ve read is this first issue does retread a lot of what’s happened in the past. It’s fine, in that I get to learn a lot more about what’s happened before and what’s happened is interesting enough to get me to want to check it out in trades.
The same witty banter as seen in other series is here and the crazy character designs are there as well. Another new series for me from the brain of Mike Mignola and Dark Horse and another one I can’t wait to read the second issue of.
Story: Mike Mignola and John Arcudi Art: Tyler Cook Publisher: Dark Horse
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy
Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with FREE copies for review
