Comics
Review: ‘Curse’ #3
A horror story never gets better for anyone involved. Michael Moreci & Tim Daniel are very aware of that fact this month as they push all of their characters to the brink. The small town politics erupt into chaos and the mythology of the werewolf is uniquely developed in another chilling chapter of “Curse.”
WRITTEN BY: Michael Moreci & Tim Daniel
ART BY: Colin Lorimer & Riley Rossmo
PUBLISHER: BOOM! Studios
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: March 19, 2014
Finishing this issue actually had me utter the words “God fucking damn it.” I couldn’t believe how screwed things were for Laney, and how this guy believes he’s just trying to do the right thing.
Except he’s not. He’s a noble man with a seemingly noble cause, but he’s caught in his past. Moreci and Daniel remind us of this constantly. Yet, this month it becomes abundantly clear Laney isn’t acting with the best intentions. His motivations are selfish and blind. Within an issue of revelations the script makes an effort to put its own spin on werewolf mythology and succeeds admirably. I love the new approach and find it brings a new flavor something already so delicious.
The artwork is still dark, brooding, and gorgeous. In fact the hollow settings of the narrative actually pop off the page thanks to Colin Lorimer and Riley Rossmo. Again, Lorimer takes the duties for the bulk of the book, and manages to use hard angles to create a great sense of dread. His work in the latter half of the issue shows Laney in complete control and evokes a certain sense of domination. While Rossmo’s work in the past is completely different and stellar. He adds a layer of vulnerable reality to the character that I haven’t seen in a werewolf story. It makes the character of Anton a tragic and compelling asshole reminiscent of Cassidy.
“Curse” is one of the greatest looks at werewolf mythology there has even been. It doesn’t focus on the beast but instead opts to concern itself with the human side of the problem. The loss of being a werewolf coupled with the losses brought on by a werewolf and everyone in between. Within this balance it strikes a distinctly different chord with familiar stories and characters. It humanizes the beast and monsterizes the human.
You still root for Laney, but its becoming increasingly clear he’s not the best man that he could be. His mindless pursuit of the beast makes him unable to move on and care about the things close to him. He isolates himself in the cold in the name of some higher calling but he doesn’t manage to save himself or anyone else. It’s not even clear what his endgame is, it’s just blind pursuit at this point, driven by something he should have walked away from years ago. Yet, amongst all this he still remains compelling and sympathetic, because who among us would do anything different?
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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