Comics
[Comic Review] “Plunder” #3 Defines The Terror
“Plunder” #3 builds off of the reveals from the last two issues to open with a load of exposition. Luckily this only lasts two pages and within it Swifty Lang treats readers to understanding more about the horror on the page. Sometimes added definition can hinder a horror story, but here it only serves to take the terror to new depths.
WRITTEN BY: Swifty Lang
ART BY: Skuds McKinley
PUBLISHER: BOOM!
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: April 29, 2015
The arrival of a new character privy to all sorts of information that the heroes seek can be a difficult storytelling device to tackle. Last issue “Plunder” introduced the mysterious girl survivor, and here she spouts all kinds of knowledge about the creature hunting our pirates. Bahdoon doesn’t waste much time in this knowledge since he knows the creature is dangerous and should be avoided. Although the other pirates don’t really seem to care.
It’s interesting to watch characters who are unconcerned with the origin of the evil grapple with the explanation. They don’t want to know, nor do they care. Instead, the impetus for the story is survival. Skuds Mckinley really hits his surreal stride in this issue. Thanks to some fantastic hallucination scenes that truly command the page in a unique way. He’s tremendous at bending reality around the panel. It creates an intimidating threat on the page that almost consumes the reader.
His backgrounds elsewhere leave a little to be desired. They are basic color swatches that do nothing to define the environment of the ship. They are often too tight and restrict the sense of scope for the story. There are also a couple messy panels when the action gets thick. The pacing on the page becomes a little bit of an issue towards the end. It’s nothing too distracting, but a real shame when compared against the more surreal set pieces in the narrative.
Bahdoon seems to grow into a leader here. His motivation grows from a time of innocence and a tone of inspiration. The real shame though is that there really isn’t enough time spent with him. He’s been the center of the book since the beginning but often the colorful supporting characters stand out in most scenes.
Despite these issues, “Plunder” #3 proves to be another excellent chapter in this unique horror series. The characters on the page are unlike anything you’ve seen in comics before, and the threat is incredibly realized and terrifying. For the most part you’ll find a lot to love with “Plunder.” Sadly the depth of storytelling doesn’t penetrate quite like the deep seas, but the horror is very very real.
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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.