Comics
5 Skull Review: ‘Batwoman’ #13
Batwoman is, indubitably, one of the best looking books on the market and issue #13 is no exception. Special guest star Wonder Woman continues to fight alongside Batwoman in a team-up that dreams are made of. The creative team of Williams and Blackman keep pushing the at the boundaries of the medium to deliver a book that combines visual innovation with stellar story-telling. The latest issue of “Batwoman” is equal parts expertly paced plot, character study, and stunning imagery, the likes of which we don’t see often enough.
WRITTEN BY: J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman
ART BY: J.H. Williams III
PUBLISHER: DC Comics
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: October 17, 2012
Issue #13 picks up with Kate and Diana preparing to enter a place even Amazons would fear to tread: a prison, deep underground, that houses monsters deemed more dangerous than Wonder Woman herself. Elsewhere, Bette and her uncle are lost in their own thoughts as they deal with the fallout of Bette’s recent injury.
Each character is trapped in a prison, some literal, some of their own making. To call “Batwoman” moody and atmospheric would be an understatement. Williams’ explosive layouts and energetic lines convey the themes and emotions that lie at the heart of the book: anxiety, willpower, and most importantly, fear. Though the October issue isn’t necessarily Halloween themed, it’s easily one of the scariest issues Williams and Blackman have produced.
The beauty of this issue is that we get to crawl inside the heads of two of the most formidable female characters in DC’s lineup. Through their voiceover narration, we’re given a glimpse at each character through the eyes of the other. Batwoman reflects on Wonder Woman with a sprinkling of hero worship while trying to maintain her cool exterior in the face of threats that she worries are just out of her league. Likewise, Diana muses about Batwoman’s bravery and adaptability. Williams and Blackman have created an interesting dichotomy between two warriors, whose origins are quite literally worlds apart, but who have more in common than they initially realize.
“Batwoman” is such a brilliantly designed book that it’s hard to believe that it’s a monthly. The level of sophistication in the illustration and design are arguably unmatched and Williams seems to be constantly challenging himself to reinvent the wheel with every gorgeous splash page. While almost any of Williams’ two page spreads could easily be pulled out and framed, there is a particularly striking moment when text and images collide in an almost overwhelming orgy of visual stimulation.
If you only pick up one book this week, make sure it’s “Batwoman.” With unparalleled art, stunning design, and a masterfully paced narrative, it’s far and away one of the best damn comics I’ve ever read.
5/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – Melissa Grey
Comics
‘Curse of the Where Wolf’ Bites Into August Release With Trio of Werewolf Theatrical Screenings [Exclusive Preview]
Larry Chaney‘s hairy misadventures are continuing in the sequel graphic novel Curse of the Where Wolf from creative team Rob Saucedo, Debora Lancianese, and Jack Morelli, and its author is celebrating with a trio of horror’s greatest werewolf films.
The Curse of the Where Wolf hits shelves on August 7 from Encyclopocalypse Publications.
That coincides with the launch of a theatrical screening event in Houston, Texas, featuring a trio of seminal werewolf flicks turning 45 this year: The Howling on August 7, Wolfen on August 14, and An American Werewolf in London on August 21.
Each screening features a “werewolf in film” presentation as well as a book signing from Where Wolf author and River Oaks Theatre artistic director Rob Saucedo.
In the new graphic novel, “Being a werewolf sucks. Reporter Larry Chaney wanted to be a hero. Instead, he became a werewolf. Now, caught between incredible new powers and a desire to eat everything (and everyone) in sight, Larry must find a cure for his curse. Or die trying.”
“With Where Wolf, I wanted to tell a whodunit set in a furry convention, so the story was pretty contained within a very specific setting and genre. With Curse of the Where Wolf, I wanted to celebrate everything I love about the possibility of comic books. Curse of the Where Wolf is a funny book, in every sense of the phrase, but it’s also an earnest look at a person’s struggle to become a better version of themselves, especially when the alternative is to become a literal monster,” Saucedo says of Curse.
The original graphic novel was previously serialized as the first webcomic hosted on Fangoria before being collected by Encyclopocalypse Publications in 2023 and has already been optioned for film, podcast, and television development ahead of launch by producers James Fino (“The Freak Brothers” for Tubi, “Rick and Morty” for Adult Swim) and Charles Horak (First Date for Magnolia Pictures).
Expect Larry to find himself in even weirder situations in the 362-page full color sequel; Saucedo has provided Bloody Disgusting with exclusive art pages from the upcoming graphic novel that showcase lupine humor.
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