Comics
Review: ‘The Dream Merchant’ #3
With dreams come nightmares… but where do nightmares come from? That’s the question writer, Nathan Edmondson, and artist, Konstantin Novosadov, set out to answer in the third installment of their Image Comics series, “The Dream Merchant”. Having reached the halfway point in the narrative, Edmondson slowly builds upon previously established plot developments, without offering anything significantly new to the story.
WRITTEN BY: Nathan Edmondson
ART BY: Konstantin Novosadov
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $3.50
RELEASE: July 24, 2013
More of a character piece than a plot-driven story, Issue #3 of “The Dream Merchant” focuses on Winslow’s reluctance to deal with his role in the war the ‘regulators’ are waging against humanity. As a weak protagonist, the last two installments had yet to prove his believability as a potential saviour of mankind, but Edmondson develops his character in a way that attempts to rectify that. Through vigorous training provided by the Merchant, to help Winslow control and conquer his dream-states, part 3 follows his journey towards enlightenment and acceptance. Finally, by the end of the issue, readers will get to see Winslow take initiative in the fight to save his world.
In comparison to the previous issues, Edmondson steers away from the heavily dense philosophical material, and delivers just enough buildup to prepare readers for the rising action of the imminent invasion. Issue #3 definitely has that ‘calm before the storm’ vibe going on, and the story will only pick up from here.
The artwork by Novosadov is as consistent and visually expressive as ever; particularly impressive where the story calls for eccentric depictions of sleep states and illustrations of the regulators. It’s still very easy to distinguish between dreams vs. reality on paper, as his colour scheme of pinks and blues effectively allows for differentiation. What’s most interesting about his art in issue #3, is that he confirms that the regulators are corporal beings, as demonstrated through a panel showcasing one of them being physically hit by a truck.
Winslow, Anne, and the Merchant of Dreams will continue to gear up for the regulators’ invasion in the next issue, but their activities have caught the attention of local police and Homeland Security. It’s evident that Edmondson’s building up to something bigger than what readers previously anticipated. Hopefully, he delivers.
3/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – ShadowJayd
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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