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Review: “Drumhellar” # 2

Published

10 years ago

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Riley Rossmo and Alex Link follow their debut issue of “Drumhellar” with a more focused approach. The result is a story that is still deeply entrenched in the weird, but trying to make sense of it all. The dialogue absolutely pops with Harold being revealed as the sense of humor of the series. Meanwhile the incredible art by Rossmo weaves and bobs the reader through a surreal path on the pages.


WRITTEN BY: Riley Rossmo & Alex Link
ART BY: Riley Rossmo
PUBLISHER: Image
PRICE: $3.50
RELEASE: December 11, 2013

“Drumhellar” is not easy to classify, it blends genres with every page and defies conventional tropes. It’s completely refreshing and interesting to watch as the story pulls you alongside Drum, who is no better off than the reader. His intrigue propels him. He thirsts to know more about the strange world around him, and he does know more than the reader. He’s inherently familiar with a world under the surface, but it seems that more often than not, he’s flying by the seat of his pants.

The entire ordeal this month deals with some mysteriously slaughtered cattle. Drum needs to visit a friend from his past in order to make sense of what is going on. The result is a nosedive into the surreal that pushes the story and the art into overdrive.

At times this series feels like a drug trip. The art goes through this carousel of pacing that finds a beautiful rhythm at its most intangible. Rossmo is really able to shine her when his line work becomes more erratic and the color bursts and bleeds into the panels.

Harold as a character is beautifully written and illustrated. It’s clear that Rossmo has an absolute ball drawing this imaginary little guy, as his sweeping tail using pulls him playfully through panels. He serves as fantastic comic relief and constantly serves as a remainder of the weird nature of the series.

I’d be lying if I said I had any idea where the book was heading from here. This is an issue with a lot more focus, but the focus is still deeply entrenched in the world of the weird. My only hope is that we go deeper. “Drumhellar” really shines when it pushes its more surreal elements to create the sense of a larger more intangible world.

It’s beautifully written and depicted and nothing seems completely out of reach for Drum. The series feels like “Twin Peaks” with a little dose of acid to boot. That might seem a little overwhelming for some, but for most it will be the perfect combination. The story may not make a ton of sense as it stands here, but given time to make its own rules and explanations the series will absolutely flourish.

For the time being it’s a beautifully rendered detective story steeped in the world of the weird. The art is absolutely stunning, and toward the latter end of the issue you’ll find yourself whisked away by Rossmo’s stunning use of wild lines. “Drumhellar” is something special, you’ll feel insane while reading it, and even more so for missing it.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars.

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Comics

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

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1 day ago

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April 18, 2024

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Witchblade cover

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.

  • Cover A: Marc Silvestri and Arif Prianto (Full Color)

  • Cover B: Giuseppe Cafaro and Arif Prianto (Full Color)

  • Cover C: Blank Sketch Cover

  • Cover D (1/10): Dani and Brad Simpson (Full Color)

  • Cover E (1/25): Marc Silvestri and Arif Prianto, Virgin Cover (Full Color)

  • Cover F (1/50): J.Scott Campbell (Full Color)

  • Cover G (1/100): Bill Sienkiewicz. (Full Color)

  • Cover H (1/250): Line art by Marc. Virgin Cover, Inks (B/W)

Witchblade #1 will also be available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.

Witchblade comic panel Witchblade #1 cover image

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