Comics
Review: ‘Blackacre’ #9
“Blackacre” #9 functions as the midpoint in a number of plotlines within the series. The most obvious drawback to this is that there is no one plot that utterly captivates the reader’s attention in this issue, but all gradually build and develop throughout. While the payoff has to wait until next issue or later, this is still a solid piece of storytelling.
WRITTEN BY: Duffy Boudreau
ART BY: Wendell Cavalcanti
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE DATE: August 7th, 2013
For perhaps the first time in the series, the most compelling character in issue #9 is Sinclair. Sinclair has been brought before a council to determine the whereabouts of Hull, and to punish Sinclair for his previous failures to comply with inquiries. Instead of denying any involvement, Sinclair publicizes the existence of his covert operations program and declares it a necessity to protect the public good. He saves his strongest argument for next issue, but this is still an interesting gamble. And betting that his detractors may be cowed by his variation of the “national security” argument, despite his motivations being entirely self-serving and destructive, isn’t the most implausible of strategies.
Meanwhile, Hull continues to bond with peripheral members of, or rather converts to, the church of Sacred Yoke as he works with them on an outlying camp. Despite their rather fanciful notions of what lies behind the wall of Blackacre, Hull finds himself gaining more and more respect for them, and perhaps they see Hull as a means to escape the more familiar oppression Sacred Yoke brings. Greene, meanwhile, misjudges Lee and has to attempt to mend his already fragile relationship with her in order to bring about a significant vision he’s had. It’s difficult to tell where this will eventually lead; it certainly seems a little implausible that Greene receives visions from God. “Blackacre” is a little too pessimistic for that. But the tension between this skeptical tone and Greene’s fervent belief is one of the more interesting things about this series.
For all that though, there’s nothing terribly exceptional about this issue. It’s just good at what it does. But with Bird and Fauna closing in on Hull and Greene, and Sinclair about to sway his would-be vanquishers to his side, high drama seems just around the corner.
3.5/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – GeorgeShunick
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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