Comics
Review: ‘Alabaster: Wolves’ #3
Caitlin R. Kiernan and Steve Lieber successfully continue an already thoroughly gripping tale in Issue #3 of Alabaster: Wolves. Darcy reflects on her past, and dreams of death and suffering. But will her memories be too much for her? Or will she finally be able to step further toward righteousness?
WRITTEN BY: Caitlin R. Kiernan
ART BY: Steve Lieber
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse
RELEASE: Out now
The story is flowing smoothly, with one issue seamlessly weaving into the next. This issue of “Wolves” opens with a chilling dream sequence. When Dancy Flammarion awakens, she realizes that she’s laying by a campfire with none other than her ghostly, lycanthropic friend. Throughout the rest of the issue, Dancy recalls another tale from the ashes of the burning hellfire that was her past. At the end of her reminiscence, she comes to a fantastic revelation that leaves things fairly open ended for the future.
Although this issue is a bit slow paced, it contains just the right amount of action to smooth it out. The flashback scenes contain plenty of excitement and, as usual, some awesome creatures to reel the reader in. Steve Lieber successfully brings Kiernan’s creative story to life. But as wonderfully detailed as the characters are, some of his best linework is definitely demonstrated on the creatures. Rachelle Rosenberg has a knack for capturing the mood with color, especially in the scenery. She sets the tone for every scene very well, sometimes using startling colors that may not work in other comics. I also have to give major props to Greg Ruth for the beautiful cover art; this issue’s was my favorite cover so far.
As supernaturally driven as this series is, the story remains very real. The script is raw and powerful, the characters are dynamic, with brilliant artwork to tie it all together. Kiernan’s new tale is sure to become a classic story of good vs. evil, with everything in between.
4/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – Kaity McAllister
IDW Dark and Paramount recently joined forces to launch limited comic book tales set in the worlds of Smile and A Quiet Place, and we’ve learned today that they’ll continue hanging around in those franchise universes with two brand new limited series tales.
Entertainment Weekly has exclusively revealed this afternoon that IDW Dark’s Any Given Smile debuts in September, while A Quiet Place: Rising Tides arrives in November.
First up, from writer Stephanie Williams and artist Pablo Collar, Any Given Smile puts a football-themed twist on Parker Finn’s successful Smile movie franchise.
The five-part limited series is “set in January 1995, during the American Arena League football championship game in St. Augustine, Florida. The rising superstar of the Sharks, backup quarterback Dupree, is feeling the pressure from his teammates, the fans, and also the city’s gambling underworld, to whom he owes a considerable debt. Meanwhile, a sports journalist investigates a string of suicides that may be connected to the big game. At the very least, they are connected to a sinister entity that preys on the minds of its victims.”
From writer Declan Shalvey and artist Luke Sparrow, A Quiet Place: Rising Tides will also be a five-issue limited story. The comic book tale “brings the creatures to the Florida Keys, where a father-daughter duo attempt to survive on water in a houseboat.”
EW further details, “This tense family reunion coincides with the arrival of the vicious creatures that hunt through sound. Grace and her dad find safety on the open ocean, but she’ll have to make landfall sooner or later; the father’s oxygen tank and their supplies are running low, while a hurricane swiftly approaches.”
Learn more about both comic books over on Entertainment Weekly.
You must be logged in to post a comment.