Saturday, August 29, 2015

REVIEW: Heavy Metal #274



Dear Screamers and Hurlers!

Alright, “Julia and Roem” is heating up.  I will wait to give a better idea after a few installments, but as always, lovely. And “The 49th Key” is moving along as well.

I liked “Things of Real Life” and its ironic ending.  Interesting how Christianity parallels what Christians I know would classify as witchcraft.  But attacks are easy. The artwork makes me think of Rick Veitch.
I liked the Gallery feature, despite my eschewal of titties in HM (remember “why does Johnny read HM?”). While I don’t want this to be an all female cosplay, I recognize the talent and effort that goes into these photos, and they are quality.

Tessandro’s and Lages’ “Homo Bonum Est” shows some talent; fine line, color and great fight scenes.  These are not easy; I’ve one friend who has worked several months to produce such choreography and these guys got the chops.  Yay for strong women and a merciful ending.

Despite some delightful grotesquerie, don’t get me wrong, I am still not in love with the Molen’s “Aftermath”. Maybe it will work out into a complete world build and I will be ecstatic, but so far, I just look for the pictures.  Again, though, same problem as Bisley. So it’s grotesque and has that same oily veneer you see in Glenn Fabry. So?
 
”Matriyoshka SA” is certainly typical HM fare, but the artwork here falls down a little. Could be taste; I often prefer more refined lines, but I sniggered anyway.

“The Last Laugh” (should I put all my HMs in my bunker to read again?) was a worthy short, though nothing to write HM about.  Although, I enjoyed Bagatzky’s vision of the aliens in Mary’s dream.

“Miss Necro” was gross.  I showed it to my girlfriend.

Kari Christensen’s Studio was great; not just pinups like so many HM covers.  I like the variety of subjects and creatures.

Branko Jelinek’s “Oskar Ed” is funny and reminds me of some of the Druillet strips from “back in the day”.  Hook him up with a writer for a longer work.

“The Initiation” seems to reference so many works that contain the same kind of rites: I am thinking of the initiation jump of the Dauntless  in Divergent

While hellishly obscure, or maybe meaning-ambivalent, “The Sadmen” has a distinct alien feel.  Its tone, both in story and art, hint at something much more complex and inscrutable behind the action of the story.  I would like to see more about the Sadmen, their origins and the world they inhabit.

I loved Ruotolo’s “Mia”! Great artwork and color, full and rich design, and a funny story with a bittersweet lesson and fantastic panel work.  Love the last pic of the lizard and redeemed man heading off panel.  I would love to see a lot more of Ruotolo.

“MI9” makes a great last page, and while not my favorite, it consistently delivers.
Overall, I give the issue a meh, but I have been reading since ’76. You keep publishing, I will keep buying.

Another review by Griffin, like the Monster.

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