Comics
[Comic Review] “Hellbreak” #1 Is A Helluva Lot For $1
Reviewed By Eric Switzer. Someone realized that “hellbreak” sounds like “Jailbreak” and developed the concept for this series from there. “Hellbreak” #1 is about Project Kerberos, a team of scientists and mercenaries that have developed the means to break into hell and rescue the souls that are trapped there. Its one of those perfect ideas that I can’t believe isn’t already a series. If you’ve ever wanted to take a rocket propelled grenade up against the horrors that lurk in your nightmares, “Hellbreak” will be a cathartic experience for you.
WRITTEN BY: Cullen Bunn
ART BY: Brian Churilla
PUBLISHER: Oni
PRICE: $1
RELEASE: March 11, 2015
I would describe “Hellbreak” as an experience more on the side of the visceral and carnal rather than theoretical or metaphysical. I make the distinction to let you know that what you are about to get into doesn’t ask a lot of hard questions or present anything especially high concept, but this isn’t my way of saying “Hellbreak” is low brow either. This is a shoot first ask question later kind of book, and its really engaging and fast paced from beginning to end. There aren’t a lot of big ideas here to sink your teeth into, but in the end, thats just fine with me. “Hellbreak” is near the top of my “enjoy it for what it is” pile.
“Hellbreak” has the structure to be an incredibly imaginative and constantly changing book. There are thousands of different hells, and Project Kerberos will have to explore tons of different scenes from demon dinner parties to post-apocalyptic wastelands to “Predator 2” style Los Angeles; you name it and its a potential battleground in this book. The members of the special forces team that infiltrates these hells is introduced “Ocean’s 11” style with a close up, a quip, and their role listed under their name. None of them are particularly memorable or unique in the first issue, but they’re all pretty good at shooting demons in the face and I can get on board with that.
“Hellbreak” #1 is definitely more action than horror, and it will be interesting to see how dark and disturbing they decide to take things as the series progresses. At this point even if its just a hell-of-the-month exploration I’m way into that. You need a balance of light and heavy in your reading stacks, but that doesn’t need you have to sacrifice quality to get your action adventure fix. In that regard, “Hellbreak” delivers
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Eric Switzer 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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