Comics
[Comic Review] “Neverboy” #1 Twists Fantasy Into Harsh Reality
Reviewed By Jorge Solis. A solid thriller with a clever twist, “Never Boy” #1 blurs the thin line between reality and fantasy. An interesting take, this is a dark tale that examines childhood fantasy and the harsh reality of being an adult. Capturing the reader’s attention by surprise, “Never Boy” starts out as one thing, but that twist takes it to a whole new level.
WRITTEN BY: Shaun Simon
ART BY: Tyler Jenkins
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: March 4, 2015
A young man helps his son rehearse for his big school recital. With his wife occupied with her daily routine, the father attempts to console his child, who has a bad case of stage-fright, and build up his confidence. Unfortunately, the parental figure needs his medication to think clearly and make sense of things. Down to his last pill, the young father struggles to figure out what is truly real and unreal.
Writer Shaun Simon focuses on the relationship between adults and children. Simon uses his main protagonist, who calls himself “Neverboy,” as an unreliable narrator who’s unsure what is reality. When the hallucinations start popping up during the narrative, Simon gives them double meaning, which works well because of the plot twist. Because the big surprise works the first time when you read Simon’s story, you start to see the connections the second time around.
Artist Tyler Jenkins has to illustrate two worlds, reality and fantasy, at the same time. In his character design, Neverboy is tall and grungy, as if he hasn’t matured past his slacker days. Using the coming-of-age themes, Jenkins depicts children with an innocent-like quality. Colorist Kelly Fitzpatrick enhances the surreal aspects of the narrative, especially when Neverboy’s hair loses its tone, due to the lack of medication.
“Neverboy” #1 kicks off to a great start due to its surprising twist. I’m really hoping that the “Neverboy” can keep advancing the story without the surprise factor.
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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