Connect with us

Comics

Review: Victorian Undead #2

Published

14 years ago

on

When Wildstorm started their 6 issue one shot ‘Victorian Undead’ back in December they were met with the enthusiastic embrace of the hyped up masses ready to see Robert Downey Jr in another blockbuster film, and legions of deadheads everywhere. Now the team is back with issue 2 to try and stave our hunger. Read on for the full review.

The story again finds us in an alternate Victorian universe where charismatic Detective Sherlock Holmes, and his quick-witted sidekick Watson are dealing with their most puzzling mystery yet: zombies.

The entire issue this month, for all intents and purposes, takes place during one battle between Sherlock & Watson and a hoard of the undead in the underbelly of the city. Sherlock has hatched a theory that the magistrate must have some involvement in the resurrection of these corpses, and so he decides to return to ‘the hole’ to investigate.

The issue is another solid installment to the fledgling series, with some pretty exciting twists and turns. The main issue “Victorian Undead” suffers from is that it seems to buckle under the weight of its dialogue. At times it feels a bit corny or over exaggerated, and your mind begins to wonder towards the beginning of the issue. Which is not a good point to lose interest in any story much less one that is only in its first few pages. But Edington makes up for this stumble with some very interesting plot points, such as how he tries to tie in the Victorian cities history with the zombies, or how the military has chain guns and rocket launchers within their possession.

Besides that I am still not a fan of the character design for the comics’ hero, who seems to be doing his best Harry Osbourne impersonation. But for that artist Fabbri can’t be faulted, it is what it is, I would have just preferred to have seen a more traditional Holmes for this story. But then again traditional isn’t in the vocabulary of this series now is it?

All in all “Victorian Undead” #2 is a fun little ride that you just might find enjoyable if you take it. Its not going to break down any barriers (“The Umbrella Academy”) or start you into mind provoking thought (“The Stand”) like other titles out there, but it will entertain you. And for Sherlock Holmes VS Zombies I think that’s fair enough.

Rating: 3 out of 5 Skulls

Related Topics:
Advertisement
Click to comment

Comics

‘The Toxic Avenger’ Returns with Cover Artwork for First Issue of New Comic Book Series [Exclusive]

Published

7 days ago

on

May 13, 2024

By

With a remake on the way and a new 4K restoration of the original classic now streaming, it’s a good time to be a fan of Troma’s The Toxic Avenger. Additionally, Matt Bors — the founder of The Nib and a political cartoonist who has twice been named a Pulitzer Prize finalist —and acclaimed artist Fred Harper (Snelson) are collaborating on an all-new 5-issue comic book series starring the satirical superhero of the Troma Films cult classic films!

TOXIC AVENGER #1 will land in stores on October 9, 2024.

While you wait, you can exclusively check out the issue #1 cover art from Fred Harper below, along with a set of emojis designed by Harper for the extremely online teens of Tromaville.

“The Toxic Avenger delivers what Troma fans want,” said AHOY Comics Editor-in-Chief Tom Peyer. “The series has violent action, gross mutations, bursting pustules, eye-popping visuals, and trenchant humor.” 

“If there was ever a superhuman hero for these toxic, miserable times, Toxie is the one!” said Lloyd Kaufman. “Only AHOY Comics and Bors & Harper could pull this off…er…mop this up! Toxie and the Troma Team can’t wait ‘til you read -no, experience – the art and stories that the Toxic Avenger Comic Book will explode in your brain, your soul, and your heart. Above all, remember – Toxie loves you and so do I.”

“This series will combine elements of the original films with the Toxic Crusaders cartoon and characters in familiar ways, updated to tell a story of environmental devastation, corporate control, and social media mutation,” said Bors. “The Toxic Avenger is first and foremost an environmental satire, one about a small town and its unremarkable people trapped and transformed by circumstances they don’t control. The story Fred Harper and I are telling is about people frustrated by authorities telling them not to worry about their life, that things are fine, even as their dog mutates in front of their eyes. And at its core it is about a powerless boy, Melvin, who finds out he can be incredibly strong, hideously mutated, well-admired, and incredibly heroic… but still ultimately powerless over human behavior.”

In The Toxic Avenger, teenager Melvin Junko helps run his parent’s junkyard in Tromaville, a small town in New Jersey where nothing much ever happens — until an ill-timed train derailment of toxic waste transforms Melvin into a hideously deformed creature of superhuman size and strength: the Toxic Avenger!

Under a media blackout imposed by Biohazard Solutions (BS) and their PR-spewing Chairwoman Lindsay Flick, Melvin emerges as a hero fighting against BS and the mutated threats that keep popping up around Tromaville.

Eventually Melvin uncovers a vast conspiracy more far-reaching than he could have ever imagined — but he knows if everyone is simply made aware of the crisis, they’ll act to stop it. Right?

Continue Reading