Comics
[5/5 Review] “Broken World” #1 Is Emotionally Captivating
In the days leading up to a “Deep Impact” style apocalypse 75% of the population has been evacuated from earth through space elevators. The rest have either resigned themselves to their fate as it is divine providence or have collected to violently protest their being left behind until the final moments. Elena is ineligible because of something in her past. Her family does not know this and she is able to obtain a fake I.D. that will allow her to leave Earth with her family just two days before Exodus. “Broken World” #1 is what those last two days on Earth will look like.
WRITTEN BY: Frank J. Barbiere
ART BY: Christopher Peterson
PUBLISHER: BOOM! Studios
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: June 3, 2015
Global catastrophe is the fair of many a summer blockbuster and one of the most universal fears there is. A disaster massive enough to threaten the entire world always an engrossing visual spectacle and narratively transcends all culture and language barriers. Giving anything away about this book would do you a huge disservice, but “Broken World” is not a big budget Disaster film. You may guess how this first issue will end, but I doubt that will take away from the exquisite emotional journey you will go on as you follow Elena through her final day on Earth.
This issue works completely as a one-shot, it’s so tight. I often give issues the accolade of being expertly plotted, but this #1 introduces characters, stages, arcs, and pays offs so impressively right now I’m calling it the best single issue of 2015. Now, it is not without its narrative crutches: the premise is established by a newscaster explaining everything in the first scene, and the Children of the Revelation, the cult that embraces the apocalypse, is explained to us via a class presentation. Perhaps there are craftier, less expositional ways to share this information. But I’m thankful it wasn’t crammed into the dialogue or explained in a forward. The alternative, which I see taken more often, is to leave out all exposition and let the audience peace it together themselves. That works about as often as it doesn’t, and I think Barbiere chose the lesser of 4 evils here by working it into the story in a way that doesn’t feel forced.
I was emotionally gripped by this book from beginning to end. The countdown was an effective device, constantly reminding us that this is a ticking time bomb, even when Elena is trying to keep it cool, go to class, cook dinner. I was completely taken by the ending and even let out an “oh shit!”, rare for me, but that is how sucked in I was reading this book. If I never read another issue I would be completely satisfied having read such a perfect first, but now I’m bought in, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
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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