Comics
Review: ‘Crawling Sky’ #2
Back with their second installment of Crawling Sky, Joe R. and Keith Lansdale take a backseat to Brian Denham’s talents in visual storytelling, as their reliance on expository dialogue reaches unsatisfactory heights. With a script that’s carried by its artwork, “Crawling Sky” #2 doesn’t deliver as magnificently as its series opener; but considering this is merely a five-issue miniseries adapted from a gratifying novella, a gratuitous amount of build-up is to be expected.
WRITTEN BY: Joe R. Lansdale, Keith Lansdale
ART BY: Brian Denham
PUBLISHER: Antarctic Press
PRICE: $4.99
RELEASE: January 13th, 2013
As previously mentioned, this issue’s main problem is that it takes a winding, but perhaps necessary, course through explanatory territory, making it quite clear that the series is adapted from a prose narrative. On its own, it wouldn’t be a great hindrance, but for a visual medium such as comics, a single issue that meanders towards its final panel with only one significant plot point is slightly off-putting.
Issue #2 continues with Reverend Mercer following Norville back to his isolated cabin, ready to face the demonic spirit that’s lurking in a nearby well. Seeming to understand the gravity of the situation, he slowly begins to piece together the growing mystery surrounding the savage creature, as they find a secret tome called The Book of Doches. Working quickly before night falls, Mercer instructs Norville to build a protective barrier inside the cabin, while he studies the contents of the spell book. Stopping the demon from returning to the source of its power is their main objective, but it must be summoned first.
Though not nearly as riveting as the first installment, the Landsdale’s infuse the narrative with some fleeting instances of humorous asides, which Denham illustrates wonderfully. For example, when it’s revealed that the cover of The Book of Doches is made out of skin, he renders an image of Norville amusingly wiping his hands on his clothes in distaste. Denham remains artistically consistent, excelling where the scenes call for excessive shading and darkness.
Overall, “Crawling Sky” #2 suffers for the pacing of its narrative, but Brian Denham effectively pushes the story along with his pencils. Admittedly, the final panel leading into the next installment is thrilling, as readers are offered a glimpse of the monstrous demon that Mercer and Norville will be facing in Part 3.
3/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – ShadowJayd
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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