Delightfully absurd and disarmingly hilarious, Patrick Shand’s “Suckers” is one of those rare subversive genre comedies, that effectively balances its uneven mix of gags, guts, and human blood-pong glory. This four-part miniseries will read like a welcomed breath of fresh air. “Suckers” #1 is an unexpected gem of pure fun and ridiculousness, and with Patrick Shand and Ian McGinty behind the wheel, it’ll become an easy crowd pleaser.

WRITTEN BY: Patrick Shand
ART BY: Ian McGinty
PUBLISHER: Zenescope Entertainment
PRICE: $1.99
RELEASE: September 18, 2013

“Suckers” is a comedy that follows a pair of horror movie watching, blood pong playing, vampires named Chad and John. The former is your typical brawny vampirebro, while the latter is straight out of “Nosferatu” in appearance. More than a little miffed by mainstream media’s watered-down depiction of their kind in films like “Moonshade: The Tale of the Romantic, Redeemed Vampire”, the two embark on a hilariously violent — and self-documented — journey in hopes that their reality horror film will give vampires everywhere, their dark edge back.

The first issue thrives on Chad and John’s winning, and amusing, personalities as well as the unmistakeable chemistry that’s so evidently present between the characters. This type of buddy dynamic is only made believable through Shand and McGinty’s successful collaborative work. Both writer and artist play off each other really well. Shand, who was the voice behind Zenescope’s “Grimm Fairy Tales: Robyn Hood”, establishes an extraordinarily different tone for this series. His exuberant and strangely good-natured script, aims for laughs in hilariously inappropriate places, and more often than not, he gets them. McGinty plays a detrimental role in bringing that comedy to life through his vibrant illustrations, and renderings of Shand’s world.

With a cartoonish style that does nothing but add to the fun of the series, McGinty’s black and white contribution of just pencils and inks, manage to strike an even balance between playfulness, and modern-day horror comedy. The comedic panels definitely hold precedence, especially in the face of what should be considered horrific imagery, due to McGinty’s spirited style which doesn’t allow for much deep dwelling. Overall, he really suits the genre.

Some readers might think Shand’s “Suckers” premise to be a bit too goofy and meta, and to a certain extent, it is, but that doesn’t stop Shand and McGinty from delivering a number of genuinely funny comedic moments. There’s also some questionably distasteful (though still arguably amusing) plot developments. The final page is evidence of that, and sets up the remainder of the series perfectly.

4/5 Skulls

Review by – ShadowJayd