Comics
Review: ‘Sheltered’ #1
An intense and gripping first issue, “Sheltered” #1 will leave readers shocked with its chilling last page. Survival at any cost takes on a whole new meaning in this apocalyptic tale that explores the war between adults and their offspring.
WRITTEN BY: Ed Brisson
ARTY BY: Johnnie Christmas
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: July 10, 2013
Victoria has just arrived with her father to Safe Haven, a gated community away from the rest of the world. Safe Haven belongs to the “Preppers,” survivalists who are ready for the end of the world. The adults are well-stocked in food, ammo, and guns, while the teens are gearing up for their own apocalypse. As the danger mounts, the adults and teens don’t see eye-to-eye on how they are supposed to protect themselves. Who will Victoria choose to side with when the apocalypse does happen?
Writer Ed Brisson creates a believable and claustrophobic environment where paranoia has been heightened to the max. It’s the rebelliousness of youth versus the cynicism of adulthood; where both sides think they’re right. What I really liked is how Brisson doesn’t say why these Preppers locked themselves in Safe Haven. Are they running away from zombies, terrorism, or the government? We don’t really understand how they got there; we just know they created an illusion where the rest of the world is already gone.
Brisson presents Victoria as an outsider who doesn’t belong with the community. This is Victoria’s coming-of-age tale at the end of the world. She doesn’t really care what the media is telling her. She wants to make decisions on her own, even if it means being cast out. Her father just wants her to play nice with the other children. But, how can he raise her in a neighborhood where everyone has a loaded gun in their home?
Artist Johnnie Christmas creates a small world drenched in snow and an atmosphere clothed in isolation. With the rest of the world gone, there is only snow and mountains in the background. As paranoia sinks in, Christmas focuses on the close-ups of the teenagers. The teens look like they’re in pain, as if they are getting sick from hearing how the world is going to end. Because of her rebellious attitude, Victoria likes to get right into people’s faces.
When nighttime comes, notice how Christmas drapes the gated community in shadows. Because Safe Haven is away from the cities, there is little electricity in the woods. In the illustrations, the light source comes from the stars and moonlight. Christmas follows the narrative structure and paints his panels from morning to nightfall.
“Sheltered” #1 leaves readers with a surprising twist at the last page. I can’t wait to see what happens in the second issue.
4/5 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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