Comics
Review: ‘Extermination’ #1
When I think about superheroes and villains I always think about it as endless struggle between the forces of good and evil, and how good will (almost) always prevail. Rarely do I even broach the possibility of alternate relationships between the two factions. Well that old theory of mine was blown the F*** up with Boom’s Extermination #1. Sometimes your worst enemy becomes your best friend when a race of interstellar, dimension warping, aliens decide that they would like to wipe humanity off the face of the Earth.
WRITTEN BY: Simon Spurrier
ART BY: Jeffrey Edwards
PUBLISHER: Boom! Studios
In this first issue there are 2 protagonists but one is, in essence, the antagonist. Nox, the Nocturnal Knight and his arch nemeses The Red Reaper, have teamed up to fight an alien force that is literally trying to destroy everything both of them hold near and dear. That’s the story in a nut a shell and a further explanation would only confuse ya! From the get go,, this is a sheer thrill ride. By using flash backs, Simon Spurrier is able to advance the plot while still forging a back drop on the unlikely pair, which allows for quick story progression and character development.
“Extermination” is treading into new territory as far as I’m concerned. It’s not unlike the zombie apocalypse style of “The Walking Dead”, in the sense that the old world is gone and a new one forged. The duo’s survival depends on them changing who they are (as the flashbacks illuminate) in order to adapt to the new and dangerous world. This is especially the case for the righteous hero, Nox, who is forced to rethink his moral code in order to survive.
Blond does a splendid job on colors; lots of contrast between light and dark which dazzles the eye, at times I even had to readjust my focus to really get a sense of what the frame was depicting. However, The artwork is also where the fault lies for this issue. the artwork is very smooth and clean, it’s almost too perfect for the world it’s attempting to portray. For the most part, it’s just a classic superhero art that doesn’t compliment the grievousness of the book. On the other hand, I appreciate that it takes place in a superhero universe yet manages to stay away from relentless splash pages and heroic poses.
“Extermination” #1 is quick and fun read that brings something new to the superhero genre. BOOM! has something on their hands with this one and it will be a treat to see how the characters compromise their respective codes and give into their survival instincts.
4/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – GreenBasterd
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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