Comics
Review: “The Empty Man” #2
Across the nation people are killing themselves in horribly creative ways for especially disturbing reasons. Detectives Langford and Jensen investigate these strange suicides in an attempt to unravel the mystery popularly known as “The Empty Man Virus”. In “The Empty Man” #2, Jensen and Langford are finally confronted with one of the horrors that haunt the victims of The Empty Man. More players are introduced, and more mysterious are revealed. Trying to put all the pieces together is the real fun of this meticulously plotted horror mini-series, but for the faint of heart, its going to be a bumping ride.
WRITTEN BY: Cullen Bunn
ART BY: Vanesa R. Del Rey
PUBLISHER: BOOM! Studios
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: July 9, 2014
Reviewed by Epic Switzer
If the creators of “True Detective” on HBO had written the show on acid, they might have come up with something like “The Empty Man”. I’ve written a lot on the horror-noir genre recently, and this book is among the best of the best. It’s really quite impressive that Bunn manages to fill each issue with so many different things.
There is the central mystery of The Empty Man Virus, there’s the concept of psychic disposition or “extrasensory potential” as a scientific study, there at least two religious cults at play, and a host of complex characters with their own agendas and secrets. Its hard to believe in just four more issues all will be said and done, but I have the feeling its going to be extremely satisfying.
Premise is the hook, but character is the heart, and Bunn is building them out with expert pacing. As the plot progresses we learn just enough about what the characters are hiding to keep us intrigued. It doesn’t hurt that Del Rey’s characters emote genuinely without mugging, and are represented uniquely yet familiar. Speaking of the art, the panel work is subtle yet effective, which is something I always appreciate. Like film editing, layout is often best when it is invisible.
By way of critique, I was a little confused at the way Langford reacted to the spider monster. I realize he deals with gruesome death and wanton violence on an almost daily basis, but having never actually seen anything supernatural before, he was suprising casual about the encounter. There were a couple of panels during the fight in which it was difficult to figure out what I looking at at first, but all of this is nitpicky stuff because the bottom line is I really love this book.
It is exactly the kind of mind-fuck horror I’m interested in reading and its being done perfectly. This is going to end up being a gorgeous trade when its finished, so if for some reason you can’t snag issue one today, don’t forget to pick up the collection. “The Empty Man” just got moved to the top of my stack.
Epic Switzer AKA Eric is an aspiring filmmaker and screenplay writer living in Los Angeles. His work tends to focus on the lighter side of entropy, dystopic futures, and man’s innate struggle with his own mortality. He can be found on twitter @epicswitzer or reached via email at ericswitzerfilm@gmail.com.
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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