Comics
Advance Review: “Five Ghosts” # 9
This month Barbiere further diversifies his main character through a flashback to Fabian’s origins as a treasure hunter. Fabian Grey is a hero plagued by the demons of his past and we witness the birth of his outstanding moral compass that time and again carries him to higher means amongst a cavalcade of questionable characters. “Five Ghosts” # 9 offers a sharp and revealing chapter with character driven thrills.
WRITTEN BY: Frank J Barbiere
ART BY: Chris Mooneyham
PUBLISHER: Image
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: February 5th, 2014
“Lost Coastlines” peels through the layers of Fabian’s history with every chapter. His past is as complicated as his present. He hasn’t afforded the best life, but among his scummy and villainous associates he still proves to have a moral compass. Yet, Barbiere reminds us that there is no honor among thieves.
The chapter begins with Fabian as a prisoner. His captor is angered about the past and is determined to destroy our hero. This creates a wonderful backdrop for a trip into Fabian’s origins as a treasure hunter. We get to see the birth of the dashing rogue we know today.
Mooneyham embraces the flashback with a parchment scrawl approach to the story. You feel as if you’re looking at first hand accounts in wild energetic pencil lines of the past as it’s happening. The origin feels organic and brought to life effortlessly by his work. Mooneyham brings his all to the action, showcasing muzzle flashes with a certain ferocity that owns a panel along with an impromptu sword fight that ends in one of the best deaths in “Five Ghosts.”
So we take a step foreword by taking a step backward. The momentum of the “Lost Coastlines” story does momentarily hit a bump because of it. This short sideline manages to add further depth to a protagonist already dripping with allure. For me this chapter was an incredible journey to the origins of what makes Fabian a true hero. There is something special here that has come to define the character amongst everyone else we have encountered in the book.
It may have been something we’ve known already, but it is nice to see the birth of the trait. In doing so Barbiere reminds us just who Fabian is, and why we are rooting for him. It also shows that he is brash and sometimes careless. Which makes him all the more fun to share an adventure with.
Barbiere and Mooneyham don’t let up for a moment, and “Lost Coastlines” manages to keep up the thrills while telling us more about the characters we’ve come to love. This is a delicate balancing act that most comics don’t seem to understand or care about, but everything about “Five Ghosts” screams that the men behind it are the biggest fans of the story they’re telling. Which tells me we’re in good hands.
“Five Ghosts” blazes a trail through what I like to call a pulp revival. There are so few comics out there that take us to beautiful locales, treat us to engaging complicated characters, and have thrilling adventures with larger than life supernatural elements. If you’re not reading it, well shit, I really don’t know what you’re waiting for.
Rating: 3.5/5 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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