Comics
[Comic Review] “The Fly: Outbreak” #1- Revives “The Fly”
“The Fly: Outbreak” is a continuation of “The Fly” series that started with the 1986 Cronenberg film. This series picks up after the events of “The Fly 2” and follows Martin as he attempts to cure Anton of his mutant condition. Adaptation and continuation is one of my favorite things about comics. Unlocking the unlimited potential of storytelling is an incredible ability this medium has, and it is no more epitomized than in this continuation of a 1989 sequel. Fans of “The Fly” may rejoice, no matter how limited your ranks may be: there is nothing not to like here. 
Written By: Brandon Seifert Art By: Menton3
Publisher: IDW Price: $2.99 Release: March 18, 2015
I love comic book continuation. “Buffy Season 8” was actually what first got my into comic book in high school. There are no budget constraints, actor availability issues, and, in this case, public demand doesn’t seem to be a major factor either. Not to bash on “The Fly”, it is a classic sci-fi horror film that I enjoyed quite a bit. But I also haven’t thought about it in years and I’m willing to bet you haven’t either.
Now the story gets to continue, and I reminded of all these characters and the tone of style of the films, translated beautifully and eerily by Menton3, and I’m delighted to read it. It reminds me that any story can live on infinitely, and in comics there doesn’t even need to be a huge buy-in from a studio or a fan base. One quirky publisher known for continuations can revive something even as obscure as “The Fly 2”.
Martin has so baggage about his unnatural origins. Why he continues to work on Anton’s condition, other than the pursuit of science, I’m not entirely sure. But we find him in the lab doing experiments on the creature and discussing his vasectomy with his assistant. After a bit of BDSM with his girlfriend Martin returns the next day to find that the creature has powered up and is currently on a rampage through the facility melting people’s faces off. Martin catches up to Anton who uses a smart phone to call him son and tell him to confess that he turned him into a monster. Anton escapes and everyone that was exposed to him is put into quarantine.
It is all fairly straightforward so far, but what struck me Menton3’s creature work. I loved what he was doing in “Monocyte” a few years ago, and I’ve seen a few other IDW books he’s done recently, but I really loved his monster here. It was sort of inconsistent in representation, but I think that really added to the twisted reality bending horror of it. I would love to see him do something with “The Thing” in the future.
If you like “The Fly” you’ll like this. If you don’t like or know “The Fly” you shouldn’t bother with this. But you should appreciate that it exists either way, because some day your super niche cancelled tv show or B-horror movie can become a comic book, and that’s a real joy for me.
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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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