Comics
Review: ‘To Hell You Ride’ #2
An ambitious revenge/western horror hybrid, To Hell You Ride #2 continues to be a visually sweeping tale. This is a comic you will not be able to put down. After playing such memorable roles in film and TV, readers will discover that actor Lance Henriksen certainly has a knack for comics writing.
WRITTEN: Lance Henriksen and Joseph Maddrey
ART BY: Tom Mandrake
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: January 9th, 2013
After a sacred burial ground is disturbed, a deadly curse is set into motion onto a small town. The corrupt townspeople and the winter tourists are going to feel the wrath of the angry spirits if things aren’t set right. Vengeance must be served as their skin begins to burn and the flesh is melted off their bones. Feeling betrayed by his heritage and his community, Two Dogs ends up in jail after a long and bitter drinking spree. When he is finally sober, Two Dogs must make the most important decision of his life. He must decide whether or not to save an entire town that has fallen into sin.
What’s really impressive is how Henriksen and Joseph Maddrey deliver many well-written scenes without dialogue. The thought captions, especially from Two Dogs, serve as an eloquent flow of stream of consciousness. The writing reveals a lot about character motivations and back-story. Because he has been betrayed by everyone around him, Two Dogs is indifferent, angry, and rebellious – all at the same time. He doesn’t want anything to do with this corrupt Colorado town, but there is one particular person he truly holds dear.
While the narrative jumps back and forth in time, the flashbacks connect because of a major theme; what happens in the past has a horrible consequence in the future. The personal connection between Two Dogs and Jim Shipps reveals a long history of tragedy and abandonment issues. Because he couldn’t save his best friend, Shipps is doing everything he can to save Two Dogs from himself.
The artwork by Tom Mandrake is unbelievably brilliant. Because Henriksen is known for his movie roles, there is a major focus on portraying emotion in a theatrical manner. In the opening pages, Mandrake wants the readers to see a performance captured in the stances and facial reactions. There is such detail in the poses, especially in the way Shipps stands next to Two Dogs. The emotional burden is highlighted in the close-ups when Two Dogs attends a funeral. In the flashback, Two Dogs is just a child in mourning, but none of the townspeople want to console him because of their deep racism.
When the story heads into the direction of the supernatural, the panels are highlighted by a muggy fog. When the angry spirits arrive, they look like gusts of wind in the air. The pages are covered in white as a snowstorm hits the town, bringing in the unsuspecting tourists. The scene to watch is when one of the tourists ends up melting, right in front of a screaming crowd.
Readers will be mesmerized by the Colorado setting and the Native American culture in “To Hell You Ride” #2. This is an impressive display of Henriksen’s storytelling abilities. I am really excited about the “To Hell You Ride” series. I hope the writing and artwork continue to be like this in the upcoming issues.
4.5/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – Jorge Solis
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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