Comics
Review: ‘Monster & Madman’ #2
Steve Niles incredible tale of “Monster & Madman” continues to blow my mind. The first issue focused on the Monster while this one has seamlessly brings in the presence of the notorious serial killer of old. Damien Worm works works in tandem with Niles’ script to bring a stunning, dark, and twisted tale of elegant horror.
WRITTEN BY: Steve Niles
ART BY: Damien Worm
PUBLISHER: IDW
RELEASE DATE: April 2
PRICE: 3.99
Issue #2 takes off right where its predecessor left off; the monster awakens in a strange place and takes to the city, a thing he is most unfamiliar with, and curiosity is soon overruled by terror. It is at this point we are introduce to John Moore, but his friends call him Jack. This is where the story begins to open up as the monster seemingly stumbles upon a friend. As the story rolls on it becomes clear to the monster that this Jack fellow isn’t exactly what he seems, but knowing he could destroy the man at a whim, he chooses to let the chips fall where they may. As the book closes out we are finally given a brief view of the man who becomes the legend of Jack the Ripper.
Steve Niles has the ability to create empathy for the monster, giving him human emotions that the reader is able to identify with. Everyone has felt like an outcast at one point or another and this lonely feeling secretes from the pages. As the story unfolds it’s interesting to see how Niles depicts Jack the Ripper as seemingly a harmless man with curiosity that borders on psychosis. There have been many renditions of Jack the Ripper throughout the years, but this is a particularly interesting one, coupled with his interactions with Frankenstein’s monster we are really able to see the quirks of Jack’s character.
The story itself starts off quickly as the monster strolls through the crowded city streets but it tones down in pace once the interactions begin between the two characters. By the end of the book I could feel more kinship with the monster than the madman which really is the core of Frankenstein’s monster, even though he’s a creature of dark science, he is really more human than most people.
The art by Damien Worm is breathtaking. The images appear so sketchy and out of focus at times but then suddenly are clean and crisp as though they could leap off the page. This artistic style, dark and gritty, really adds to the overall feeling . When I reflect on the first issue I see many similarities between the two, but this book has something the previous issue did not. It feels as though Worm changes his style and I’m interested to see what he cooks up for the third installment.
Overall, a brilliant second issue to the story arc; both characters are developing quickly along with the plot. This is a must for horror fans.
4/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – GreenBasterd
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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