Comics
Review: “Monster & Madman” #3
Review by – Bree Ogden
“Monster and Madman” finished its 3-issue arc this week with a terribly depressing ending, but the only ending that seems fit for the Monster. This unique story that details the life of Frankenstein’s Monster after Victor dies, gives us exactly what we subconsciously want and need from the mythology—for the Monster to be alone. Anything else would feel insincere.
WRITTEN BY: Steve Niles
ART BY: Damien Worm
PUBLISHER: IDW
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: May 21, 2014
As the Monster patiently awaits his new bride, Niles and Worm show us snippets of the all-around repulsive situation he is in. The panels move swiftly through a montage of horror in which we see newspaper clippings about the Whitechapel murders, images of prostitutes being hacked up, and the Monster sitting alone as he must endure long, tedious procedures conducted by Jack.
Things settle into place when Jack swings open the door claiming that he now understands Frankenstein’s creation only to blow up into a frenzy again when he sets about to make a bride out of all the hacked-up prostitutes.
Although the Monster has been wary of Jack’s general character from the start he actively chooses not to pursue that negative train of thought. And even though all signs point to Jack as being the Ripper, it’s not until a slab of female body parts is sewn together, electrocuted into the Bride, and starts screaming about Jack being her murderer, that the Monster finally accepts that truth.
This issue moves considerably faster than the previous two. Issues #1 and #2 were a grand, slow burn buildup to the final pages in this issue that carry the full weight of horror when the Bride is awakened. And it’s then that the Monster and Jack’s lives are truly intertwined: the Whitechapel murders and The Bride become one, creating a mess that the Monster must clean up.
It’s a mess that probably could have been avoided had the Monster followed his initial feelings about Jack. This is a new path for Niles. He’s always written a highly sympathetic Monster. But the Monster that he and Worm create is the first one that’s truly fallible. They address the things we can’t deny: he’s a killer, his devotion can be somewhat skewed, and he will do just about anything to get his Bride. Now that he’s paired up with reality, we can clearly see this.
Theoretically, this comic is outstanding. The concept of mixing fiction’s greatest horror icon with reality’s greatest horror mystery is absolutely superb. It wasn’t until this final issue, however, that I saw how the execution of this plot was just as outstanding as the theoretical concept. It’s not just about mixing fiction and reality. It’s about using fiction to explain reality.
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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