Comics
Review: “Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Bestiary” #1
Unsettling and gory to the core, “Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Bestiary” #1 is a thrilling continuation of the horror franchise that made Pinhead a household name. After so many lackluster sequels, this is a return to form for “Hellraiser.” In the right hands, “Bestiary” presents an anthology of shorts that definitely has some disturbing sights to show you.
WRITTEN BY: Mark Miller, Ben Meares, Victor LaValle
ART BY: Conor Nolan, Colin Lorimer, Carlos Magno
PUBLISHER: Boom! Studios
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: August 20, 2014
Reviewed by Jorge Solis
“Symphony in Red” takes at look at Hell from the person who knows it all too well, the Female Cenobite. Now that everything is where it should be, why isn’t she happy in Hell? In “Desert Fathers,” two thieves are about to learn, the hard way no less, what happens when you steal the Lament Configuration. In “The Hunted: Part One,” Pinhead finds himself in the middle of a gang war. Which side will win when everyone involved just wants blood?
Though these are separate storylines, all three tales share a common theme within. The narrative takes place right after the events from Brandon Seifert and Tom Garcia’s “The Dark Watch.” Eliot Spencer is back as Pinhead, the Pope of hell, harvesting human souls for his own amusement. I do miss Seifert’s witty sense of humor, especially since the tone now seems darker and harsher. It’s a minor complaint, since the shift in tone caught me by surprise, especially in Miller and Meares’ “Symphony in Red.”
Because I am a huge fan of “Next Testament,” I absolutely knew the Pinhead’s dialogue would be spot-on because of Mark Miller involved. After serving his time with humanity, Spencer is somehow crueler in his execution. Notice how Conor Nolan’s illustrations are awash in blood after Pinhead splits his victims in half.
In “Desert Father,” the security guards at the Desert Inn have become numb after what they have seen. The old man on the sixth floor loves it when his dominatrix visits, but he never expected her to steal his Lament Configuration. At a quick pace, Victor LaValle examines how being numb at your job makes you lose faith. Colin Lorimer delivers an intense battle between the guards and the Cenobite unleashed.
In “The Hunted, Part One,” the “Hellraiser” series explores topics such as racism and urban crime , which I believe hasn’t been done before. What Meares and Miller have brilliantly done is create a group of hardcore gang members who can stand up to the so called, “Devil.” Carlos Magno captures a distinct tattoo on the gang leader’s face.
Pinhead is back, even more twisted than before, in “Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Bestiary” #1. Get ready for some chilling nightmares after reading this issue.
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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