Comics
Review: Clive Barker’s ‘Next Testament’ #3
In its third installment, “Next Testament” #3 delivers the roller-coaster ride that horror fans have been waiting for. Each page has been glued in with such sheer intensity and a crazy amount of eye-popping gore. Readers should be prepared to have their mind blown away by the “Next Testament” series.
WRITTEN BY: Clive Barker and Mark Miller
ART BY: Haemi Jang
PUBLISHER: Boom! Studios
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: July 31, 2013
After being locked away for thousands of years, a powerful god was unearthed from the desert wasteland by billionaire Julian Demond. To bring him up to speed about present-day technology and modern civilization, Julian presented Wick to his wealthy socialites and Hollywood producers. Tired of listening, Wick actually did what any god would do when they’re angry. With the snap of his fingers, Wick exploded the head of an elderly woman. Trapped in the room with Wick, no one at the dinner party has a chance to escape. Julian must decide if he should save his son, Tristan, or let him perish at the hands of Wick.
Clive Barker and co-writer, Mark Miller, let loose on all the bloody action and kill scenes. This is the issue where Wick becomes Jason Voorhees and wipes out the dinner guests one by one. Readers get a chance to see how deadly and unmerciful Wick truly is as an antagonist. Yes, he is the judge, jury, and executioner, much like Pinhead, but I think what makes Wick stand out is that he’s actually enjoying it. Wick is having fun watching the party-goers run and scream for their lives.
We also get a chance to see the protagonists, Tristan and Elspeth, in action. As death looms close, the couple is quick on their feet as they desperately try to find an escape from Wick’s slaughter. What’s great about Elspeth’s characterization is that she is not the damsel-in-distress. Elspeth reacts to the bloodshed like any normal person would, while keeping up with Tristan’s frantic pace. As Wick is on the hunt, the couple is only thinking about how they can save each other from him.
Artist Haemi Jang hits the shock value with a bang in her jaw-dropping illustrations. First, Wick waves his hand, forcing a skull to pop out of a dinner guest’s body. When another dinner guest attempts to fight back and argues with Julian, Wick shoves his fist right through the guy’s mouth. I loved the glowing rack-focus effect Jang uses in an over-the-shoulder shot. You just see the bright colors of the sirens, not the vehicles themselves, as the police cars steer towards the mansion.
My favorite of Jang’s bloody imagery is the two-pager, which is beyond impressive. As the dinner guests are trying to escape, they start throwing chairs at a large-sized stained glass window. Wick just flashes a smile as the entire window explodes into a million pieces. In the two-pager, you see all the shards of glass stabbing each of the dinner guests.
“Next Testament” #3 ends on a nail-biting cliffhanger that will leave readers wanting more. Readers will end up hooked with the “Next Testament” series by the time they reach the last page.
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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.