Comics
Review: ‘The Walking Dead’ # 114
Robert Kirkman kicks ‘The Walking Dead’ in the ass as he builds to “All Out War.” The stage is set, and the pacing has never been better. Rick’s quest against Negan begins this month and won’t let up anytime soon. Yet, Rick forgets that war and conquest bring casualties.
WRITTEN BY: Robert Kirkman
ART BY: Charlie Adlard
PUBLISHER: Image
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: September 11, 2013
The issue begins in the dire depths of hell. Rick believes Negan has finally gained the upper hand. Negan’s a confident bastard and makes sure to revel in this moment. His ego circles Rick, and we get slight insight into Negan’s warped mind. Kirkman brings a warped sense of morality to Negan that makes him irresistible to read, but so easy to detest.
Things seem hopeless. Jesus arrives, bringing Negan’s whole plan to shit. For the first time Kirkman allows another character to get the upper hand on Negan, and it is fucking fantastic. Jesus kicks Negan’s ass. Adlard’s art manages to make it look easy. Jesus dodges and counters Negan and his crew. The whole thing culminates as Jesus catches Lucille, gives Negan a mean right hook, and takes him hostage at gunpoint.
As if that wasn’t enough, the cavalry arrive. Finally Ezekiel feels like he is being used, and his absence in earlier issues completely pays off here. The residents of The Kingdom burst into the scene in one of the most riveting moments in the series this far.
Adlard’s art is some of the best he’s ever churned out. The sheer terror in Negan’s eyes as Jesus holds him hostage is perfect. His pencils transform someone we’ve seen as the embodiment of confidence to a scared child in one panel. It’s truly awesome stuff. Adlard gives us a taste of his skills in the midst of a giant battle, and I’m happy to report that “All Out War” has a lot to live up to. A new standard has been set.
The ramifications of this issue are not immediately clear. Negan is incredibly pissed off, and we’re about to head into a year of the largest conflict this comic has ever seen. This war will have many sides, it is clear that some believe in Rick, but not everyone.
My fear is that Negan’s demise will simply be the tip of the iceberg. Ezekiel is a powerful and wise man, and once all other threats are eliminated, where does the violence stop? Kirkman has built an incredible depth to this new story, and things are surely to get even more intense. It is clear that this next year is going to be something truly special. Hopefully this increased pacing keeps up, and the plodding nature of “The Walking Dead” can be a thing of the past. Plus has anyone seen any walkers lately?
Rating: 4.5/5 Skulls.
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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