Comics
5 Skull Review: “Curse” #4
Michael Moreci & Tim Daniel craft an ambitious conclusion for their story that mirrors it’s dark beginning. Their ultimate solution is seeded in a certain darkness that becomes warped with opportunistic idealism that plays with the expectations of the genre. Through a brilliant sleight of hand the real monster is revealed as “Curse” pulls off a masterful and beautiful conclusion.
WRITTEN BY: Michael Moreci & Tim Daniel
ART BY: Colin Lorimer & Riley Rossmo
PUBLISHER: BOOM! Studios
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: April 16, 2014
If I were being perfectly honest I’d have to admit that the idea of another werewolf story had me roll my eyes four months ago. I was sure there was nothing new to be said, and nothing about the beast that could surprise me. Michael Moreci & Tim Daniel have successfully tweaked mythology, defied convention, and humanized the beast. Proving that I couldn’t have been more wrong.
At it’s core “Curse” was never about the werewolf. It was about Laney and his blind pursuit to get what he wanted. What first seemed like desperation evolves into a cold and calculated solution to a no win scenario. I was genuinely surprised by his resolution. It was the perfect damnation for the character. Horror thrives in destruction, and over the past four issues we’ve seen Laney taken apart and put back together again. It’s devastating and near repugnant to watch, but you can’t look away. The actions Laney commits here were long part of his character arc, as soon as he realizes it himself you understand that this was the only way the series could have ended. You should have seen it coming; it was all there from the beginning.
Much like the fantastic and delicate balancing act the artists have pulled off. The interplay between cold human cruelty and the visceral beast behind the curse is mesmerizing. Colin Lorimer is able to frame a scene in such a way that removes all warmth and comfort from the people involved. He makes the chilling atmosphere pop, and does his best to make Laney a menace as he towers over his trophy. As the issue hits its climax the incredible and primal work of Riley Rossmo takes over. He cuts a hole through the page and makes for a pulse pounding battle that will leave you bewildered. It’s perfectly paced and leaves you breathless going into the conclusion.
The final pages manage to dovetail all of the plotlines with relative ease. The whole story converges on a certain point, and ends in a youthful voice that seems both optimistic and threatening. It’s a bold choice that will resonate with readers for some time to come. It really struck me, and confirmed my worst fears.
“Curse” is truly something special. As a supernatural horror story that focuses on the evil of man, rather than the beast it stands alone. It cuts into the core of what it means to be human and defies convention and expectation on every level. It’s thrilling, horrific, and oddly appealing. The beautiful balance of dark humanity with the supernatural creates a unique and captivating story that comes to define the werewolf mythos in a new way. I couldn’t be happier with the conclusion but I’m truly saddened to see it go.
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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