Comics

Review: Monocyte #1 and #2

Published

12 years ago

December 26, 2011

Monocyte is a densely gothic work of science fiction that will grab you by the throat and refuse to let you go until the last page. For a book that seems to intentionally disregard all major tropes in mainstream comics today, it is without a doubt a book that will find a large number of fans, and deservingly so. After issue #2 it is certain that IDW has another hit horror book on their hands, one that brings something completely novel to the table, one that works adamantly to re-imagine the horror genre. It’s bleak, dark, absurd, complex, poetic, and it remains steadfast in its use of elevated language and beautiful artwork. The creative team certainly has a wonderfully dark vision, and to let us into their minds is an absolute treasure that you would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. Read on for the skinny…

WRITTEN BY: Menton3 & Kasra Ghanbari
ILLUSTRATIONS BY: menton3
PUBLISHER: IDW
RELEASE: Issue #1 available now, Issue #2 Dec 28

As far as the story goes in Monocyte, it’s quite complex, which makes it slightly intimidating at first glance. Set in a very distant future, humanity has simply been brushed aside by two feuding immortal races, the Olignostics and the Antedeluvians (each with their own backstory). Though the near-eradication-of-humanity plot has become quite the popular subgenre, it usually involving zombies or robots. Monocyte on the other hand, brings about two unique and twisted races from realms beyond that really do not compare to anything else (except perhaps Cenobites). Humans, which remain to be seen in the first two installments, are simply being used as slaves, though in very different ways, by the two fighting races.

Enter Monocyte: a one-eyed, all-powerful necromancer summoned by some metaphoric version of death to annihilate both immortal races. Turns out, they are not so immortal as they thought and Monocyte tears through them like a kid in a candy shop. The story becomes increasingly multifaceted as the narrative develops, and it may take a few read-throughs before having a firm grasp on the rich chronicle the team has created. Monocyte gives you the feeling that the creative team has a lot more in their twisted minds than you actually get to see, and this is often makes for the best stories.

The first issue functions, for the most part, as an introduction to the weird and wild futuristic universe. Monocyte is depicted as a god-like entity that towers over his prey, easily disposing of the supposedly immortal Olignostics. Menton3 almost always shows the title character towering above the “immortals”, making their gothic guise seem innocent in contrast to his gigantic, weathered alien body.

The first issue leaves many questions to be answered, the complexity and enigmatic nature of the book leaves your mind in shambles, questioning, “what the hell did I just read?” However, issue #2 completely immerses you into the world of Menton3 and Kasra Ghanbari. Issue #2 begins without missing a beat and progresses the plotline far beyond what I imagined would be accomplished in the one issue. With all the backstory out of the way, the motives of the two clans become clear, and the treachery that ensues complicates the plot further.

Monocyte speaks for the first time in the second issue, and in contrast to his disturbing and large stature, he speaks with eerie elegance and scarcity, quoting the words of Hamlet, which, oddly, fit well within the context of the plot. By the end of the second issue, it’s totally unclear where the writers will take the story, and it’s that unpredictability mixed with the disturbing visuals that makes Monocyte so engaging.

Particularly what blew me away with the second issue is the page of Moses deep in meditation. The text, which surrounds the character in a semi circle, can be read beginning from either end with equal elegance. This is something that if ever, has rarely been done in comics, and it’s extremely refreshing to see someone play around with graphic storytelling.

As you can probably tell, Monocyte really stands out from other popular comics due to its use of high language and unconventional narrative structure. Menton3 and Kasra Ghanbari are totally unafraid and unabashed to delve headfirst into poetic prose, elevating this story to a certain plateau where it is largely untouched by any other popular comic. For those of you that still have friends who believe comics are merely for the dull-witted, show them this book, but warn them that they may never sleep again. Though I admit I do not fully understand all that is going on, I’m totally involved in everything this book represents. Nonetheless, it must be said that the elevated use of language and the complicated universe is not be for everybody. The density of the story, and the convoluted writing style will turn some readers off.

I shouldn’t even have to mention how good Menton’s artwork is. Menton’s artwork is seriously unparalleled. There is nobody else in the industry, or elsewhere for that matter, that I could even begin to compare him to. It is so utterly different from any other professional artist in comics today, and the bleak and grim style of his work fits the book perfectly. He mixes sketchy charcoal style drawings with painted backgrounds that add a real sense of depth and emotional lighting to the pages. He has an obvious affinity for symbols and emblems, which he throws in every now and then which make this look as though it could be centuries old. Menton3 has the goods, and he’s not afraid to pull out all the stops with Monocyte.

The combination of atypical prose, the deeply metaphoric, and the artistic style make this book so much more terrifying than any currently running horror book. Monocyte may just be the next big thing in horror, going beyond our imagination into the realm of the unknown. There is a certain pseudo-Lovecraftian vision that comes out of Monocyte with its cosmic level of terror, and I feel, or perhaps hope, this will really pave the way for a new kind of horror. The back-stories that come with the issues (specifically Riley Rossmo’s) really pull it together, displaying how vast this world really is. If you’re looking for an offbeat absurdist tale that mixes austere sc-fi, religion, poetry, philosophy, and horror, then run to your comic shop and pick this up.

4.5/5 Skulls

You can check out the free 8-page prelude to the series here

Related Topics:Comic Review Horror IDW Issue 1 Issue 2 Menton3 mondo cane the jesus lizard

Lonnie Nadler

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Comics

‘Witchblade’ is Getting Resurrected This Summer in New Comic Series from Top Cow and Image Comics

Published

7 days ago

April 18, 2024

Meagan Navarro

Witchblade, the popular comic series that initially ran from 1995 to 2015 and launched a TV series, is getting resurrected in a new comic series from Top Cow and Image Comics. It’s set to unleash heavy metal, black magic and blood this summer.

Look for the new Witchblade series to launch on July 17, 2024.

In Witchblade #1, “New York City Police Detective Sara Pezzini’s life was forever fractured by her father’s murder. Cold, cunning, and hellbent on revenge, Sara now stalks a vicious criminal cabal beneath the city, where an ancient power collides and transforms her into something wild, magnificent, and beyond her darkest imaginings. How will Sara use this ancient power, or will she be consumed by it?”

The series is penned by NYT Best-Selling writer Marguerite Bennett (Animosity, Batwoman, DC Bombshells) and visualized by artist Giuseppe Cafaro (Suicide Squad, Power Rangers, Red Sonja). The creative duo is working with original co-creator Marc Silvestri, who is the CEO of Top Cow Productions Inc. and one of the founders of Image Comics. They are set to reintroduce the series to Witchblade’s enduring fans with “a reimagined origin with contemporary takes on familiar characters and new story arcs that will hook new readers and rekindle the energy and excitement that fueled the 90’s Image Revolution that shaped generations of top creators.”

Bennett said in a statement, “The ability to tell a ferocious story full of monsters, sexuality, vision, and history was irresistible.” She adds, “Our saga is sleek, vicious, ferocious, and has a lot to say about power in the 21st century and will be the first time that we are stopping the roller coaster to let more people on. I’ve loved Witchblade since I was a child, and there is truly no other heroine like Sara with such an iconic legacy and such a rich, brutal relationship to her own body.”

“The Witchblade universe is being modernized to reflect how Marguerite beautifully explores the extreme sides of Sara through memories, her personal thoughts, like desire and hunger, in her solitude and when she is possessed by the Witchblade. So, I had to visually intersect a noir True Detective-like world with a supernatural, horror world that is a fantastic mix between Berserk and Zodiac,” Cafaro stated.

Marc Silvestri notes, “This is brand new mythology around Sara, and I can’t wait for you to fall in love with her and all the twists and turns. Discover Witchblade reimagined this summer, and join us as we bring all the fun of the 90s to the modern age and see how exciting comics can be. I can’t wait for you to read this new series.”

Witchblade#1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 17th, for $4.99 for 48 pages. And it’ll come with multiple cover variants.