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Dick, That’s An Interesting Name: 5 Things To Love About Dick Tracy

Collection of IDW Dick Tracy books

The announcement of a new Dick Tracy comic coming out from Mad Cave Studios is an exciting one, especially for me. I’m a big fan of the Dick Tracy property, and the general scarcity of material fuels that obsession more than dampens it. When out in old book shops or antique stores, my eyes are constantly peeled for anything Dick Tracy related. It’s not often that you find something, but—occasionally—a sweet little gem shines from behind a mountain of old steel and chipped glassware. Is that a die cast 1990s scale model of the Dick Tracy movie car? Don’t mind if I do. Is that Dick Tracy Volume 1:The Collins Case Files hidden on a shelf of Marvel Essentials books? I think we’ll liberate that.

In essence, I look for Tracy everywhere. (Phew, managed to avoid a double entendre there.)

The problem, from a fan perspective, is that there has been very little new product featuring the American Detective. A new daily comic strip is still there, available to read. The current storyline involves a murderous magician with a cast of extras all apparently named after Doctor Who actors. But new comics, books, or other media are few and far between. The thought of an actual brand new comic is exciting, especially as the talent involved, and the preview material currently doing the rounds, appears to embrace the Dick Tracy look and tone.

There have been a couple of comics over the last few years, starting with Dick Tracy: Dead or Alive written by Michael and Lee Allred and drawn by Rich Tommaso. The colouring by Laura Allred was possibly the most interesting part of the comic, as the style and the tone of the comic seemed to stray too far from what makes Dick Tracy exciting. It’s important to experiment with a format, to push boundaries and try new things with old characters, but the flip side of experimentation is that not everything works. In my opinion, Dead or Alive was one of those that failed.

Dick Tracy Forever #4 Published by IDW Publishing

This was followed up by Dick Tracy Forever published by IDW, and written and illustrated by Michael Avon Oeming. Favouring a more traditional Tracy style story and presentation, Dick Tracy Forever had a very nostalgic feel to it. Each issue was packed with little extras that added a fun dynamic to the comic while also setting the tone. Ultimately, the mini-series ran out of steam, and the denouement was quirky but unsatisfying. Oeming, however, did demonstrate a love of the character and an understanding of the long history of the comic strip.

And then there was the Archie Comics Dick Tracy reboot written by Alex Segura and Michael Moreci. Except there wasn’t. A new monthly series from the writer of Roche Limit and due to be illustrated by Thomas Pitilli was devised and even announced but never saw the light of day, thanks largely to a legal dispute between the Tribune Company, home of the Dick Tracy comic strip, and Warren Beatty, who shouldn’t need an introduction. The court case ruled in Beatty’s favour, putting a stop to a whole host of Tracy related plans.

One of the reasons that I am such a fan of Chester Gould’s creation is that, despite the limited amount of material available, there is still a wide range of products to get your teeth into. The original comic strip started in 1931 and is still going, having been helmed by a number of different writers and artists, each giving their own stamp to the comic. Several film versions and a number of comics add to the stack of interpretations that you can digest and discuss. So, with that in mind, here are five things that I love about Dick Tracy. After all, everyone loves a listicle, don’t they?**

Painting of the Dick Tracy Rogues Gallery from the late 1940’s

The 40s Villains

When Chester Gould first created the comic strip, originally named Plainclothes Tracy, it was a little rough and ready. The story elements were there from the very beginning, as were a number of the characters who barely changed over the decades. However, the art and the storytelling was inconsistent, and some of the stories lacked momentum, which is especially noticeable when reading in a collected format. One strip per day over several months might have managed to hide some of these initial teething problems.

However, when Gould found his stride, the stories were magnificent. He created a wonderful cast to keep Detective Tracy company, and the villains… oh the villains. The last 90+ years of comic strips has produced the best rogues gallery of any comic, better than any superhero you care to mention. And it was in the 1940s where Gould’s brilliance for creating villains really came into its own. Most of the adversaries that people will know, and who appeared in the 1990 movie, came from this decade of the comic strip. Nicknamed “the grotesques,” the characters’ physical attributes mirrored their crimes or elements of their characteristics. This gave birth to a host of putrid, perfectly designed characters who chewed the panels up better than any hammy actor. Their appearances were disturbing but also compelling. It’s difficult to pick a favourite as they all have something going for them, either in design or narrative. However, if pushed, my personal favourites are Flattop, BB Eyes, Littleface Finney, the Mole, Crewy Lou (technically from the 50s). And we can’t forget Mumbles, a character designed not to be understood but given long conversations on a small, three panel comic strip. The audacity.

If you want to read Chester Gould at his best, read a chunk of the strips from the 1940s. You won’t be disappointed.

Dick Tracy (1990) Movie poster

The Best Comic Movie Ever

If you’ve read many of my previous posts, you may have come across some of my writing on adaptations, especially comic-to-film adaptations. And while everyone is talking about superheroes and anime, I will argue that 1990’s Dick Tracy is the best comic book adaptation. While others may translate the narrative of a comic to film more faithfully, the Warren Beatty Dick Tracy movie adapts the formal qualities of the medium from page to screen in a compelling, almost beautiful, way. The outcome is a movie that employs the properties of a comic while still maintaining the aspect of cinema.

Most movies try to provide the audience with a recognisable interpretation of reality. The images are based in photography, capturing the world as it is. Comics are based on reduction. The images are distilled and reduced to the bare minimum to tell the story. Every line matters, and nothing is superfluous. This is especially true of the comic strip where space is limited. What Warren Beatty does is take that limited space, that reduction of image, and create a cinematic version of it. Situated cameras that don’t move, limited colour sets and props, and a distinct lack of detail in the scenery. All of these things are inspired by the comic strip. Beatty bends over backwards to give the audience the experience of reading a comic.

For some, the film is a failure. They become hung up on the simple, fast-paced plot and seeming lack of character, but they miss out on the true spectacle of the movie. The attention to detail in the presentation and the design work on the sets, props, and make up is outstanding. The music is excellent and the actors are loving the opportunity to ham it up. Al Pacino is in his element, as are Beatty and Madonna. The cast list is superb, playing their parts as comic strip characters. I mean, one of the central characters, played by Dustin Hoffman, is designed not to be understood and he is given the talkative part of stool pigeon, ratting out the rest of the criminal organisation to the hard working police department. The audacity.

Max Allan Collins

Max Allan Collins

In the late 1970s, when Chester Gould decided to retire from writing and drawing the Dick Tracy comic strip, he passed the duties on to his then-assistant, Max Allan Collins. Collins immediately made the strip his own. He returned it to its heyday ethos of character-driven violence and adventure. He removed the links to Gould’s experimental space-age narrative in a single swift, brutal, strike: killing off Moon Maid, Tracy Junior’s wife, and daughter to the moon people’s Governor. This allowed Collins to write out the off-worlders, never to mention them again.

From there, Collins delved into the history of the comic strip, bringing back those villains who managed to avoid a violent death, or family members of the deceased, out for revenge. He streamlined the cast and put right the narrative mistakes of Gould’s later years.

Although the strips are harder to come by (here’s hoping that IDW can come to some sort of arrangement for publishing the Collins Years) they are worth finding. But, if you can’t, there are a number of other Collins scripted comics and novels worth reading. Any of the Road to Perdition comics or books are a must, and his collaborations with Mickey Spillane are wonderful.

Dick Tracy introduced me to Max Allan Collins, and for that I am eternally grateful.

A Script for the long running Dick Tracy Radio Play

A Face for Radio

I’m a fan of radio drama, and the blame for that rests with The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. But of course, over the years, I’ve listened to—and enjoyed—the Dick Tracy Radio Show. The ability to capture the flair and spectacle of a visual medium like comics purely with sound is fascinating to me. There is something in the way that the visual characteristics are transformed into audible ones, and the reduction of the image translated into limited sound, that makes the adaption of a comic strip to radio intriguing and almost a natural step. Even more so than film or television, which is a strange thing to say. The two mediums complement each other and there is little concern for visual fidelity, which often hampers movies.

I don’t think that it is a coincidence that most of my favourite comics are just one part of a multimedia franchise. Planet of the Apes, Tales from the Crypt, Doctor Who, and of course Dick Tracy, all spread their wings across multimedia, transforming and growing with each iteration, The flow is very often never one way either, like with superhero comics, but each version feeds off the others, with design, narrative, and stylistic choices influencing future projects. There is one big, melting pot of a franchise where no part is more important than another. I rub my hands in excitement just at the thought of it all.

A Young Ned Flanders making friends in The Simpsons

My Favourite Simpsons Gag

In one of the earlier series of the hit cartoon The Simpsons, there is an episode that examines Ned Flanders’ childhood. The audience are introduced to Ned’s hopeless, beatnik parents who can’t bring themselves to discipline their child, who in turn runs riotous rings around them. In one scene a video is playing, it shows a young Ned run into a room and start to beat up the other kids, who were quietly playing:

“Whee! I’m Dick Tracy. Bam! Take that, Pruneface. Now I’m Pruneface. Take that, Dick Tracy. Now I’m Prune Tracy. Take that Di-”

The simple ones are the best.

New Dick Tracy from Mad Cave Studios

The Purpose

Anyway, the purpose of this post, and the impetus behind it, is that Mad Cave Studios are putting out a new Dick Tracy comic later this year. And from what has been released so far, it looks magnificent. Another spoke in the wheel that is Dick Tracy, and one that I can’t wait for.


*The article title is a quote from Now I’m Following You by Madonna

**No. No they don’t. Listicles are a lazy internet gimmick used to hide bad journalism behind click counts.

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Marvel Comics Exclusive Preview: SENSATIONAL SHE-HULK #5

sensational she-hulk marvel comics exclusive preview

SENSATIONAL SHE-HULK #5 hits your local comic book store on February 7th, but thanks to Marvel Comics, Monkeys Fighting Robots has an exclusive three-page preview for you!

About the issue:
She-Hulk, Hell-Cat and CAPTAIN MARVEL were supposed to have a nice night out at Hell-Cat’s favorite bar… …but it’s the Marvel Universe and in the Marvel Universe, we can’t have nice things. With their very souls at stake, Captain Marvel asks She-Hulk a question that could have absolutely HUGE consequences.

The issue is by writer Rainbow Rowell and artist Ig Guara, with colors by Dee Cunniffe, and letters by Joe Caramagna. The main cover is by Jen Bartel.

Check out our SENSATIONAL SHE-HULK #5 preview below:

sensational she-hulk marvel comics exclusive preview

sensational she-hulk marvel comics exclusive preview

sensational she-hulk marvel comics exclusive preview

sensational she-hulk marvel comics exclusive preview

sensational she-hulk marvel comics exclusive preview


Are you reading Marvel’s SENSATIONAL SHE-HULK? Sound off in the comments!

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Review: MORNING STAR #1 – A Cosmic Campout

From writers Tim Daniel & David Andry and artist Marco Finnegan comes a cosmic sci-fi mystery with family at the center in Morning Star #1. Featuring color art by Jason Wordie and lettering from Justin Birch, this opening issue focuses on setting up a strange science fiction puzzle around the deep woods of Montana – with a bereaved family trying to put pieces back together after a devastating loss. With a sharp, confident script and stellar genre-specific art, Morning Star is off to a very strong start.

“1956. Kootenai National Forest, Montana. When smokejumper Nathan Garrett perishes in a raging wildfire, his surviving family’s hopes and happiness turn to ashes. Now, one year following Nathan’s death, wife, and mother of two, Jolene Garrett, takes her crumbling family to the Morning Star lookout seeking solace through closure–to scatter her husband’s remains. But something far beyond the reach of their wildest imaginings awaits the Garrett family in the Montana wilderness–something more powerful than their anguish and torment. Something that transcends space and time. No telephones. No electricity. No transportation. No escape.”

Writing & Plot

Tim Daniel and David Andry make a smart decision with Morning Star #1 by presenting the sci-fi element of the story in a vague manner, while focusing on the family connection in the story. The issue opens with Nathan Garrett trying to survive a wildfire, only to discover the strange fate that has befallen the rest of his crew. Some unnatural entity has fallen on Kootenai National Forest, and it claims the lives of Nathan and his crew in an unspeakable manner. Some time later, Jolene Garrett, Nathan’s wife, takes their two children on a camping trip to the same forest to try and get some closure. On their first night out there, weird things begin to happen right on time to take us into the second issue. The horror and mystery of what’s happened and is still happening to the Garretts is fascinating due to how little is given about it. Even visually the reader cannot really tell what is happening to Nathan and his crew, only that they have died(?) in some inexplicable way. The cosmic element is actually more hinted at through the eyes of Nathan and Jolene’s youngest son. This quiet kid is enamored by the Silver Age sci-fi of his day, and constantly daydreams about fighting giant monsters and exploring distant planets. While Jolene and the older daughter are relatively well written, we only get surface level examinations of their characters compared to the son. They’re still all compelling though, with their grieving process and their decision to stay in their home and remember their husband and father their own way being relatable. The son having zero dialogue in favor of just his unique, very much childlike view of the world and how he escapes into fiction just makes him the best character in the story thus far. There’s a sense of classic wonder to this issue, with tonal influences coming from 80’s Spielberg genre films and classic science fiction comics alike.

Art Direction

Much of the comic influence of Morning Star #1 comes from the style used by penciler Marco Finnegan. His thin linework and detailed character design is reminiscent of what you found in the Silver Age comics this story is so influenced by, but with modern touches. The simple but strange visual approach to the phenomenon that killed Nathan and his partners is frightening, but doesn’t rely too much on body horror or gore. Again, there’s the spirit of 80’s PG genre movies that people of all ages could be thrilled and frightened by. Finnegan’s sequential direction evokes the feeling of suspense as those films do, along with the character-driven story elements. We care about the human characters in these stories because we get to see them living like we do – and handling stress and loss just like us. Finnegan’s character work and direction in this regard is great, but it’s the daydream sequence that is Morning Star’s real visual treat. The illustrations of giant sea beasts and visiting aliens come across as pure comics magic, bringing to life the imagination of a young boy and his comic books. Jason Wordie’s color art nails down the rest of the visual experience, with a period-focused use of flats that mimic comics of the time period. There’s a sort of pop art filter over the entire book that plants the reader into the era and tone that Morning Star is paying homage to. The whole reading experience is topped off by Justin Birch’s lettering, which also emulates that Silver Age approach. The hand drawn, slightly italicized font appears more modern thanks to digital aids, but has the reflexive changes and bolds that place the reader in the headspace of each speaking character. Overall, Morning Star is a very thoughtful example of visual storytelling that pays homage to a certain era and genre while staying original.

Verdict

Morning Star #1 is a fantastic opening chapter to this mysterious science fiction series from Mad Cave Studios. Tim Daniel and David Andry only hint at the cosmic forces at work here in this first issue, choosing instead to focus on the human characters and make the audience care about the people involved – and they succeed in spades. The visual work of Marco Finnegan and Jason Wordie pays homage to the Silver Age comics this story’s time period takes place in while still utilizing their own unique, modern style. Be sure to grab this first issue when it hits shelves on March 27th!

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Exclusive Interview: Ron Marz on GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD TWILIGHT

MFR got the chance to sit down with Ron Marz, writer of the earth-shattering “Emerald Twilight” event that turned Green Lantern Hal Jordan into the villain Parallax. Marz talks about what it takes to give a story stakes, why Hal Jordan was the perfect character for such an event, and how he thinks Parallax isn’t really a villain. We talk about everything that went into creating a character like Kyle Rayner, and which other superhero Ron would pick to give the Parallax treatment to.

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Dark Horse Comics Exclusive Preview: COUNT CROWLEY: MEDIOCRE MIDNIGHT MONSTER HUNTER #2

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COUNT CROWLEY: MEDIOCRE MIDNIGHT MONSTER HUNTER #2 hits your local comic book store on February 7th, but thanks to Dark Horse Comics, Monkeys Fighting Robots has an exclusive five-page preview for you!

About the issue:
In spite of her rising popularity as a horror host, Jerri Bartman is trying to resurrect her career as a legit journalist. Meanwhile, a local scientist is trying to resurrect the dead through some less-than-ethical methods. One of these people is getting results and it sure isn’t Jerri. Meanwhile a creepy spook in an old truck is handing out free Halloween disguises to children in Beloit. Remember, kids, never take candy (or a mask!) from strangers!

The issue is by writer David Dastmalchian and artist Lukas Ketner, with colors by Lauren Affe, and letters by Frank Cvetkovic. The main cover is by Ketner, and the variant cover is by Christine Larsen.

Check out our COUNT CROWLEY: MEDIOCRE MIDNIGHT MONSTER HUNTER #2 preview below:

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dark horse comics exclusive preview count crowley mediocre midnight monster hunter

dark horse comics exclusive preview count crowley mediocre midnight monster hunter

dark horse comics exclusive preview count crowley mediocre midnight monster hunter

dark horse comics exclusive preview count crowley mediocre midnight monster hunter
Cover A by Lukas Ketner
dark horse comics exclusive preview count crowley mediocre midnight monster hunter
Cover B by Christine Larsen

Are you up to date on the adventures of Count Crowley? Sound off in the comments!

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Marvel Comics Exclusive Preview: MIGUEL O’HARA: SPIDER-MAN 2099 #4

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MIGUEL O’HARA: SPIDER-MAN 2099 #4 hits your local comic book store on January 24th, but thanks to Marvel Comics, Monkeys Fighting Robots has an exclusive four-page preview for you!

About the issue:
BEWARE – TOMORROW’S TERROR INCORPORTED! TERROR returns to his horrific roots! SPIDER-MAN must go up against THE NEW TERROR INC. – body parts will fly! Can SPIDER-MAN get TERROR to finally change his ways?

The issue is by writer Steve Orlando and artist Chris Campana, with inks by Jonas Trindade, colors by Jim Campbell, and letters by Cory Petit. The main cover is by Nick Bradshaw and Rachelle Rosenberg.

Check out our MIGUEL O’HARA: SPIDER-MAN 2099 #4 preview below:

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marvel comics exclusive preview spider-man 2099 miguel o'hara

marvel comics exclusive preview spider-man 2099 miguel o'hara

marvel comics exclusive preview spider-man 2099 miguel o'hara

marvel comics exclusive preview spider-man 2099 miguel o'hara

marvel comics exclusive preview spider-man 2099 miguel o'hara


Are you reading MIGUEL O’HARA: SPIDER-MAN 2099? Sound off in the comments!

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COBRA COMMANDER #1 Explodes The Universe!

COBRA COMMANDER #1 Explodes The Universe!

COBRA COMMANDER #1 hits your local comic book shop today from Skybound and Image Comics. The book is written by Joshua Williamson, with art by Andrea Milana, Annalisa Leoni drops the colors, and you will read Rus Wooton’s letter work.

Check out my full review below:

About the mini-series:
The Rise of Cobra begins here. In a world where the Cobra organization hasn’t formed, one man’s sinister plans to utilize the mysterious alien substance known as Energon sends shockwaves across the globe. Who is Cobra Commander? Where does he come from? And what horrors is he planning to unleash that will rock the world-and maybe the universe-to its core? Red-Hot writer Joshua Williamson (Superman, Duke) and artist Andrea Milana (Impact Winter: Rook) kick off the second of four action-packed miniseries that will introduce the best and worst humanity has to offer in the Energon Universe.

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Review: AVENGERS: TWILIGHT #1 is Destined to be a Classic

Three pages into Marvel Comics’ Avengers: Twilight #1, you’ll realize something: You’re watching comic book history as it’s being made. Writer Chip Zdarsky, artist Daniel Acuña, and letterer Cory Petit pull us into the tired, old future of the Marvel Universe. Something about it all feels startlingly real. While we get glimpses of things we’re familiar with, Avengers: Twilight‘s stomping ground is almost entirely new. Zdarsky, Acuña, and Petit are boldly original in their worldbuilding, and beautifully understated in their storytelling. They’ve created an unassuming masterpiece that is sure to be an instant classic.

Variant cover with art by Daniel Acuña and design by Chip Zdarsky

Writing

It’s so tempting to go into the details of what makes this story so compelling. Zdarsky’s use of the Marvel mythos is masterful yet restrained. But to talk about these things would be to rob readers of the quiet realizations and connections that pop up in these pages. What I can say, is that Zdarsky’s sense of rhythm here is unparalleled. As we follow an old, retired Steve Rogers, he takes on life with gusto and energy. The panels are filled with caption boxes and word balloons, showing how much he’s trying to engage with an environment that mostly seems to have left him behind. But when he’s hit with a wave of nostalgia, in all its guilt-tinged glory, the panels empty out of thoughts and words. Zdarsky leaves Steve in the heavy silence, free of any welcome distractions.

Every character feels like a full-fledged human being. When Steve debates a younger man — who at first seems entirely cruel and self-serving — you want to be on Steve’s side. But the young man’s final words leave you with a lump in your belly and the quiet realization that he actually makes a valid point. And yet Steve also isn’t just an old man who’s refusing to accept that times have changed. He’s trying his darnedest to be a good man in a world that feels more and more foreign to him. His pals who don’t want to move on from the glory days aren’t curmudgeons either. They’re trying desperately to hold onto their morals, and doing their best to stave off bitterness and fear. At one point, enraged by a TV special, Steve says, “Nobody cares about the truth anymore…” As we read on, it becomes clear that Steve is wrong about that. People do still care. They’re just too overwhelmed with information to know what is true anymore. It’s moments like these that we see that Zdarsky’ is writing about more than just superheroes. He’s writing about us.

Artist

It feels like an incredibly daunting task to talk about Acuña’s art. The painted texture of it, the lighting, the colors, the acting of the characters… it’s all spellbinding. In every panel, Acuña has added to the story with wonderful details and flourishes. Steve Rogers’ world is dull and grey compared to the brightly colored image of his younger self. The brave face he puts on for everyone else seems to be one of tempered rage. His brow is forever bunched up into a knot and his mouth is in a permanent scowl. It’s the defensive wall he puts up, though we occasionally see through some of its cracks. When we do, Steve limps along with a worn out gait and a subtle expression of sad capitulation.

So much of the worldbuilding happens through Acuña’s colors. When Steve walks down the street, he’s surrounded by fluorescent, futuristic billboards that hover about the place. He and his pals choose to meet up in Central Park, bringing us back to a more natural color scheme that is only occasionally interrupted by the garish stain of consumerism. With this simple choice, Acuña tells us volumes about these old souls. Wherever they can, they try to find oases from the luminescent hell that seems to have become mundane to everyone else. At the end of the day, they seem like they just want a break from it all.

Of course, Acuña’s work goes well beyond these few things. His artwork is simply some of the most astonishing work you’ll ever see in comics. It’s moody, stylish, and atmospheric. But it’s also clearly driven by the story itself, expertly drawing out each beat of the script in stunning ways.

Variant cover by Frank Miller

Lettering

Petit’s lettering blends into the panels of this comic so seamlessly. As you read, you feel you’re experiencing each scene with the characters, rather than reading about it on a page. There are little moments that stand out as ingenious details that help you to really hear the words. When Steve is in his debate, the young man interrupts him with a word balloon that has smaller a font to it. The quiet, impatient exasperation is immediately obvious. When they next interrupt, any feigned politeness is gone. Their words are just as big as Steve’s as they wrest control of the conversation from him, leading him to yell back in big, bold font. Petit shows us each step of this argument escalating, but in such low-key ways that he doesn’t break your attention away from what’s happening. Petit’s work is subdued and serves the story brilliantly.

Variant cover by Felipe Massafera

Conclusion

This isn’t just a fantastic new comic. This is the next Kingdom Come. It’s Watchmen. It’s The Dark Knight Returns. This is the first issue of a comic that we’ll be talking about for decades to come. It’s the start of a ground-breaking new move in superhero comics, and Marvel won’t be the same when it’s over.

Zdarsky, Acuña, and Petit have taken our modern anxieties and infused them with a mythological grandeur. When you read Avengers: Twilight #1, you’re quite simply reading the next step in the evolution of superhero comics. Avengers: Twilight #1 is out today from Marvel Comics, and you certainly don’t want to miss it!

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Review: Adult Horror With HELLBLAZER: DEAD IN AMERICA #1

Hellblazer: Dead In America #1 Credit: DC Comics

Wanted for all kinds of wrongdoing, on the run with his son Noah and his bodyguard Nat, and a prime candidate for a remake of The Walking Dead, John Constantine finds himself in desperate need of help. And where does a cantankerous, walking corpse like Constantine go when he needs help? America, of course, where the magic goes to die. John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead in America #1 is out today from DC Comics.

In 2019, Simon Spurrier and Aaron Campbell launched a new Hellblazer series for DC’s Black Label imprint. It was instantly obvious why the series was released on that imprint, because of the darker tone of the comic, the language used, and the grotesque images dripping with blood and gore. This second mini-series is no different, jumping straight into the horror on page 1, followed quickly by cheeky quips and bad language. There is even some slapstick thrown in. This is the only possible way that this creative team could bring back everyone’s favorite anti-hero.

John Constantine Hellblazer: Dead In America #1
Credit: DC Comics

Dead In America follows John Constantine as he searches for a way to absolve his son and free Noah from the same fate as himself. He also wants to clear their names of a murder charge and, if possible, find a cure for his current state of death. Being the living dead is not his cup of tea, and Spurrier fills the pages with jokes and asides letting the reader know this. In fact, one of the stand-out elements of this comic is the constant humour. There are plenty of jokes, but in true British fashion, they are not necessarily to everybody’s taste. Dad jokes, bad puns, and play-on-word gags spill from the mouths of the characters throughout, breathing an air of relief into what would otherwise be a deeply dark tale. Spurrier does not hold back on his criticisms of certain sections of American life, starting difficult conversations with sequences such as a gun-happy policeman who admits to stopping a vehicle because the driver was black. To be fair to Spurrier, he did this in the last run, tearing into England and its own screwed up politics—however we English are more used to openly criticising our country. There isn’t quite the same level of national pride that is often associated with America, so it is possible that this kind of lambasting may meet with a sterner audience now that the location has changed. Although, the readers who pick up a Hellblazer comic should know what to expect.

This opening issue has a number of guest appearances. Some new characters, hinting at the larger world that Constantine inhabits, and some more familiar faces, although you may not instantly recognise them. This linking in with the greater Sandman Universe not only allows for the use of other characters, but also gives Campbell a chance to play with the layouts, bringing a different visual magic to the comic. His characters inhabit the space on the page but not always the locations within the panels. They are larger than life and have the air of myth or legend about them. Because of this, Campbell treats their representation in a similar manner, glorifying their appearances while maintaining the horror themes that are the backbone of the story.

John Constantine Hellblazer: Dead In America #1
Credit: DC Comics

One of the ways that the horror aesthetic is retained is through the gorgeous colour work by Jordie Bellaire. The opening pages have a dry, burnt orange colouring, making the locations uncomfortable, despite the obvious humour. Throughout the comic, the colours shift to create the atmospheres for each scene, but there is a darkness to them all, shadows that push against the panel borders and occasionally fill the gutters. The same sense of dark humour that dwells in the speech is present in the colours. The Cookie-girl, a character who clearly has significance for the future, is surrounded by swirling pink lights but it’s not comforting or pleasant. The way that Bellaire applies the colour is somehow sinister and disturbing.

There is a lot of character in Dead in America. This comes through in the script, and through Campbell’s rough, expression-driven figure work. But one of the strongest assets of this comic is the lettering. Aditya Bidikar’s exhausting attention to detail is an absolute joy. His work, not just here but across his comics career, is sublime. One of the first rules of lettering is that lettering shouldn’t be noticed, but in Dead in America, it leaps from the page. The variety in speech balloons, the intensity of the outlines, and constant changing of font size, all create the sense of character that comics like this need. Every nuance of the speech is captured in the way that Bidikar visualises it on the page. Often you can take the lettering away and still have some idea of how a character is feeling. Here, the reverse is true. You can instantly tell the volume, the tone, and the inflections of each word as if you had heard it spoken. If the rest of the comic was garbage (which it isn’t) it would still be worth reading just to see the lettering.

John Constantine Hellblazer: Dead In America #1
Credit: DC Comics

There is something about this creative team working on this comic that seems to gel. It’s as if they are made for each other—a well-oiled team working on their favourite property to produce the best work that they can. And yet, it’s easy to see why some may not like it: the casual dropping of the C-Bomb, the harsh realities of racism, the not subtle attacks on national pride… The creators’ politics are built into the story and it shows through the narrative and the design work. If you are looking for politics-free comics, you’ll have to look elsewhere. Although, I am not sure where you can look.

Dead in America is a resounding success as a Hellblazer comic. It captures the early spirit of the comic, back when it seemed punk and outrageous, a real slap in the face for bright coloured superhero comics. Although the current market has much more diversity, and the ability to shock or standout has greatly diminished, this iteration of Hellblazer still has something to say and is going to do so in a combative, full frontal way.

Constantine is dead; he has nothing to lose. And this comic carries that attitude with glee.

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Review: HOUND Explores The Beasts In War

Hound Cover Credit: Mad Cave Studios

There are many stories about the First World War. Narratives filled with soldiers marching, fighting, dying. And every genre has been mixed into the war story over time, in order to give different accounts of one of the worst periods in human history. It’s difficult to believe that there are still new stories to tell. But of course there are, and—as the new graphic novel Hound from Mad Cave Studios demonstrates—there are still some very powerful tales to draw from the horrific conflict.

So, sit back, put on some haunting music, possibly by the late great Ennio Morricone, and fall into the unnerving and moving world of Hound. It’s not what you expect it to be.

Hound Interior Art
Credit: Mad Cave Studios

In 1917, a fresh faced young Private named Barrow is enlisted to join a select team of soldiers because of his unique work experience in the sewers of London. The elite squad, known as The Hounds, work in the worst parts of the battlefields, separate from the army and surrounded by the empty, poisonous gas ravaged wastelands. Once away from the commanders, in isolation, Barrow begins to learn that war can change a person. What is accepted as normal behaviour no longer applies and the distinction between Man and Beast becomes hazy and almost lost.

One of the first things that you notice about the comic is Rodrigo Vasquez’ art style. The cartoon characters, with their exaggerated features, inhabit expressionistic worlds made of colour and shapes. The sets are built from these shapes, locations indicated at by the colours. The depth of a forest is symbolised by the density and shade of greens just as the violent battlefields are illustrated by the darkening purples and misty greys. As the comic progresses, the atmosphere is created by the shifts in colour, the locations become dangerous because of the darkness or the uncomfortable shapes of red and purple.

Vasquez’ style is very European, and the images in the panels resemble a classic Bande Dessinee such as The Adventures of Tintin and the work of French cartoonist Tignous, whose illustrations for the card game The Grizzled have a very similar aesthetic. The characters have exaggerated features making them instantly recognisable from page to page, but the beauty of Vasquez’ work is that even as the characters change, they retain an element of themselves. For example, when we are introduced to the young Barrow in a flashback, he is instantly recognisable on the page, before any of the text is read.

Hound Interior Art
Credit: Mad Cave Studios

Another aspect of the art work that lends itself to this particular comic is the emotions that Vasquez builds into each of the characters and their physical appearances. This allows the emotional aspects of the narrative to be more impactful. As a reader, you are pulled into this disturbing and desolate world of war along with Barrow, feeling the fear that he feels—the revulsion and the trauma. Barrow’s experiences are life changing and the impact is portrayed on the page. The impact of the narrative is so strong, I audibly gasped at several points while reading.

Hound has a powerful voice, one that unravels through the narrative but is visualised by letterer Justin Birch. The lettering is an important element of any comic, but Birch goes above and beyond here. The diary entries have a large part to play, and they look and read like handwritten words. They create a connection between character and reader, one that heightens the emotional bond that you have with Barrow. But this is just one element of the lettering. The sound effects, the guttural screams, and the different languages and accents are all treated with the same care and precision as the diary entries. When a character whispers, you can tell they are whispering, when they scream, their voice shrieks from the page.

Hound Interior Art
Credit: Mad Cave Studios

Writers Sam Freeman and Sam Romesburg have between them captured a disturbing impression of war and laid it at the readers feet, warts and all. They show the horrible effects that conflict can have on people, innocent and guilty alike. Every character suffers in this comic and this makes the poignant moments even more moving. It is a tragedy written in poetic language, like a description of a dying flower. The horror makes the moments of beauty more memorable and the central character’s journey of self discovery is as enriching as it is disturbing.

The title, the cover, and even several moments in the comic, lead the reader to expect a certain plot twist, an emergence of a supernatural element. But the twist, if that’s what it can be called, is so much more delicious than expected. It is more disturbing and the rest of the story is better because of it. The reader’s expectations are warped and suddenly your understanding of the comic has changed. It is no longer safe, no longer predictable. You enter real horror territory.

I do not have enough praise for this book. I picked it up on a whim, planning to skip through the first few pages, but became enraptured by the story, the art, and the sheer beauty of the storytelling. The pacing throughout is perfect with each page acting as a stanza in a war poem. Some of the highlights of the comic are the silent sequences, devoid of text and speech but as powerful as any of the words. It is a magnificent comic, and one that is dying to be read.

Hound from Mad Cave Studios is due for release in comic shops on February 28th, 2024.

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