Category: Books & Comics

Werewolves set in type and inked in panels.

The C Wolf: The Vices of Power

More comics, this time from Chile! The C Wolf is a “vigilante anti-hero” comic with a stark, black and white illustration style that reminds me of Frank Miller or Mike Mignola. The werewolf design is very reminiscent of Rick Baker’s “Wolfman”, which I think works quite nicely with the art. There’s a lot of violence foreshadowed, so if the Miller influence persists we’ll probably see a lot of red mixed in with the black and white. What I’m trying to say is that The C Wolf looks real good, like a good comic should. Writer / artist Carlos Henríquez introduces his creation thusly:

C Wolf is the story of a werewolf who seeks to clean their of corruption and organized crime. Several politicians and mafiosi will go their way, but their power may hide supernatural secrets that only a creature of nightmares such as the C Wolf can fight.

The foreword and first chapter of “The Vices of Power” were released in Spanish, but the foreword has already been translated into English for the convenience of uncultured mono-language types like me. I’m also working my way through the first chapter with Google Translate, which is imperfect but sufficient to let me know that the werewolf is saying something totally bad-ass in the panel to the right.

You can follow the development of The C Wolf at the Paper Brain Comics blog.

Sep. 7th 2011

Book Review: Wolfsangel by M.D. Lachlan

Back in June, my copy of Wolfsangel sat unread on the coffee table, the topmost book in a stack that comprised my reading list for the summer. A visiting friend saw the references to Odin and Vikings on the back cover and proceeded to give me a thorough lecture on Norse mythology. I was charmed by his enthusiasm, but I was also secretly terrified: was Wolfsangel going to be just as convoluted and grandiose? Was I going to have to memorize a catalog of runes? Would I need a map of Yggdrasill the World Tree?

Now, on the other side of summer, having read the book and finally having the time to write this long-overdue review, I can tell you that Wolfsangel requires no note-taking or Wikipedia visits, but you may want to accessorize a bit before you read it. I recommend a boxing helmet and mouthguard, or maybe some body armour. This book will bruise you, and you will like it.

At its core, Wolfsangel is the story of Vali and Feileg, twin brothers separated as infants and raised under radically different circumstances to be as wolf-like as possible: Vali a warrior prince and leader of men, Feileg a feral “wolfman” with the body of a human and the mind of an animal. We know from the outset that one of these young men is destined to become an incarnation of Fenrisulfr, the giant wolf fated to kill the mad god Odin, but which of the two it will be and how his metamorphosis will come about remains a mystery for much of the book. (more…)

Sep. 5th 2011

Get A Double-Dose of Werewolves in Nix Comics Quarterly #3

The third issue of Nix Comics Quarterly came out on Friday, and I really do think you should check it out, especially if you’re a fan of

  • awesome independent comics
  • comics in which werewolves gleefully kill people
  • things that are Quarterly

This issue is loaded with good stuff, including two werewolf stories that would be right at home in an issue (or an episode) of Tales from the Crypt:

“Terror at the State Fair” by Nix owner / editor / writer Ken Eppstein and artist Bob Ray Starker will make you think very carefully about the consequences of fried Twinkies.

“Mrs. Peterson and the Wolf” is a nasty little gem by writer Rachel Deering (who’s also writing werewolves in Anathema) and artist Glen Ostrander (whose tribute to American Werewolf in London is my desktop right now). I love the werewolf design in this one, and the transformation is well-executed.

You can order the book on-line, and it’s also distributed nationally by Ubiquity Magazines Distribution. Your five bucks goes towards supporting a worthwhile independent comics initiative (for you philanthropists) and it gets you a hell of a lot of quality content. If you want to read the previous two issues for free, they’re available as annotated black & white PDFs. One of the two issues also has a werewolf story in it. I’ll leave it up to you to find it!

Sep. 4th 2011

Authors of “The Werewolf’s Guide To Life” to Live-Tweet “An American Werewolf in London” Today

David and Jack just before they discover why they should "beware the moon" on the Scottish moorsThe horror comedy classic An American Werewolf in London turns 30 today, and the authors of The Werewolf’s Guide To Life: A Manual For The Newly Bitten (read the Werewolf News review here) will be celebrating by watching and live-tweeting the film from @Werewolf_Guide at 9:00 PM (EST).

The movie is available on Netflix streaming, and authors Ritch Duncan and Bob Powers, invite any werewolf, horror, comedy or David Naughton fans to watch and tweet along using the hashtag #AWIL30.

Aug. 21st 2011

Own an original page of “High Moon” artwork

The creators of High Moon are giving fans a chance to obtain original artwork from the Eisner-winning graphic novel. Artist Steve Ellis and writer David Gallaher are selling assorted pages from High Moon through an Etsy shop, and for $100 US (or $200 for an action-packed panel like the one to the right) you can get your claws on an original. Each page is rendered in pencil, brushes & pen and india ink on bristol paper.

And because Steve and David love you just like I do, you can get free shipping by using promo code FULLMOON at checkout.

As of this post there are only 12 pages left, so you better get over there!

Aug. 12th 2011

Help Kickstart Epic Lesbian Werewolf Revenge Quest comic “Anathema”

 Okay, now that I’ve caught your attention with a sensational headline that appeals to your baser instincts, here’s a chance to redeem yourself by exercising your philanthropy and love of werewolves at the same time (philycanthropy?). Anathema is a horror comic project by writer Rachel Deering, artist Alan Quah Chris Mooneyham and colourist Jorge Maese.

The story focuses on a huntress named Mercy Barlowe, who falls in love with the daughter of a local reverend. When the romantic nature of their relationship is discovered, the reverend cries heresy and vows to see both women tried as witches. Mercy escapes, but the reverend’s daughter is sentenced to burn. The agony and torment of the burning lures wicked creatures from the darkness, who attack the village and steal the souls of the dying women. Mercy vows to track the evil beings to the ends of the earth and vanquish them to reclaim her lover’s soul, even if it means taking on dark powers of her own.

What sort of dark powers might Mercy take on, do you think? Hmmmmmmm. What web site are you on right now?

They are looking to raise $6,000 through Kickstarter by Friday September 2nd, which will pay for the first issue’s art and printing costs. That sounds pretty reasonable to me! As with all Kickstarter projects, the more you contribute the more sweet stuff you get in return. You were pretty quick to follow the link here, so you must be totally jazzed to help out, right?

Jul. 19th 2011

Great werewolf cover art for “Bela Lugosi’s Tales from the Grave” issue 3

Nothing too earth-shattering here, just some sweet art to check out on a lazy Friday when you should be working. Yes, you. No, Google Reader doesn’t count as work. Anyway. Dread Central has a sneak peak at the cover of Bela Lugosi’s Tales from the Grave issue #3, which comes out this October. To quote Kris Straub (who wasn’t talking about this, but I love how he says this line in TMH so whatever): you’re gonna like it.

Did you like it? I liked it. Billy, you’re fucked. I’m looking forward to reading this. Check out Monsterverse for more details on the “Tales from the Grave” series – their site is still showing issue #2, but hopefully they’ll update it soon.

If you’re curious, David Hartman is responsible for this deliciously malevolent cover, and I recommend you check out his site for even more excellent horror art (hint: frequent werewolves).

via Dread Central

Jul. 15th 2011

Comics Review – “Thicker Than Blood”

A three-issue miniseries sporadically published between late 2007 and late 2008, Thicker Than Blood is written by Simon Reed, with pencils/inks by Mike Ploog (known for being the initial artist on Ghost Rider and Werewolf By Night) and paints by Simon Bisley, perhaps best known for his work on 2000AD.

Given the artists’ pedigree, I was expecting good things from this book, and it didn’t disappoint. The story’s reminiscent of old-school horror, a feel which is aided by the Victorian setting, and the artwork complements the writing well; an exaggerated style is used for the human characters, verging on caricature, which gives a good visual description of their traits. While the plot’s not complex, revolving around two brothers, one of whom has become a werewolf through circumstances unknown and the other trying to cure his condition, it’s pretty well-executed. The werewolf is particularly notable as being perhaps the best-drawn aspect; of the half-wolf big muscular type (with no tail!), it’s a fairly standard design but the way he’s drawn really brings attention to the strength and ferocity of the creature.

After a strong first issue, the second part of the miniseries stumbles a little with a plotline revolving around one of the main characters becoming some kind of were-monkey; the art doesn’t seem as strong in this issue and the story is advanced little except at the beginning and end of the issue.

By the time of the third and final instalment, however, the art has reached its peak and, as I’m sure readers will be pleased to know, features the most werewolf action of the series. Much of the issue is very visually striking and it’s certainly the most memorable part. The dialogue and writing in general are also notably sharper in this issue, with the story building to a crescendo and featuring a neat little twist at the end.

Overall it’s one that I’d recommend, chiefly for the artwork though the story itself is perfectly servicable. It’s available from Reed Comics for around £9 ($15) plus shipping, with each issue available in two different covers. It’s very much a genre piece, pretty much adhering to the tropes and conventions of the classic horror style, but that’s not to be counted against it. I’ve got a number of reviews lined up that to one extent or another break the stereotypical werewolf mould, so keep an eye out for those.

Jun. 16th 2011

Today’s Great Showdown by Scott C.: “Wolfman’s got nards!”

If you don’t know about Scott C.’s ongoing art series The Great Showdowns, you should, and now you do. I was lucky enough to meet Scott at this year’s Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle, and my suspicions about him were confirmed: he is the happiest, most laid-back dude ever. Seriously. Follow him on Twitter and you’ll see what I mean.

Today’s showdown features a quote from a movie that was among my favourites when I was growing up: The Monster Squad!

http://greatshowdowns.com/post/5803021061/wolfmans-got-nards

Oh yeah, Scott did another one with a werewolf in it, too. Go check him out, he’s the best.

May. 24th 2011

Wereworld: A Fantasy/Horror Series By Curtis Jobling

US Cover

What does Bob the Builder have to do with werewolves? Plenty, if you’re talking about Curtis Jobling, production designer for Bob the Builder and author of the new fantasy/horror series for young adults, Wereworld.

The first book in the series, Wereworld: Rise of the Wolf, revolves around teenager Drew Ferran, a farm boy living in the mythical world of Lyssisa. After his mother is attacked by an enormous, fur-coated monster, Drew is forced to leave his family home and travel throughout the farthest reaches of Lyssia. Eventually he discovers the existence of the “Werelords,” a group of shapeshifters of various species. Drew himself learns that he, too, is a Werelord, and consequently, the last of the werewolves. During his journeys, he encounters Lady Gretchen the werefox and Hector the wereboar. As the only remaining werewolf, Drew and his new friends must work together to escape from, and ultimately defeat, the tyrannical werelion, King Leopold.

Due to the success of the first novel, Puffin Books has commissioned two more novels in the series by Jobling. The second book, Wereworld: Rage of Lions is to be released this summer in the UK and Canada.
The first novel, Wereworld: Rise of the Wolf, is already available for purchase in
Canada and the UK. The book will be released in the US this September in hardcover format.

As a bonus, an animated trailer has been made by Puffin Books.

May. 5th 2011