Showing posts with label Doc Macabre. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Doc Macabre. Show all posts

January 22, 2016

Doc Macabre - Steve Niles & Bernie Wrightson

As much as I enjoy scary movies (or comics), it’s always refreshing to come across a good parody such as Doc Macabre. Bernie Wrightson is regarded as the undisputed master of horror comics, and in 2010 he decided to collaborate with Steve Niles (famous for titles such as “30 Days of Night”, a magnificent reinterpretation of the vampiric subgenre). Niles and Wrightson turned their back on suspense and gore, and embraced a comedic approach for Doc Macabre (a 3-issue miniseries published by IDW, from December 2010 to February 2011).

With a good sense of humor and very amusing concepts, Niles and Wrightson revisited some of the classic elements of conventional horror stories, tweaking them when necessary. For starters, Doc Macabre, the protagonist, isn’t the typical hero you’d see in a supernatural saga. Doc Macabre is a 15-year-old kid, braver than anyone else, and he’s a boy genius too. He’s smart and a bit naive at times, he makes mistakes, but he’s never afraid to get back on track and come up with a solution to the problem at hand. 

Doc Macabre shares a few similitudes with franchises like “Ghost Busters”, except that instead of a group of middle-aged man, disenchanted with the world, we have an enthusiastic teenager, full of ideas and inventions to capture ghosts, neutralize vampires and kick zombies ass. But at the same time he’s a pragmatic youngster, so obviously he charges for his services. 

Lighthearted adventures, likeable characters and funny moments are the essence of Doc Macabre. In addition to the protagonist, we also get to meet Lloyd, a robot designed and built by the kid, a robot with a sparkling personality and completely faithful to its young master. Then we also have Detective Cooper (a private investigator who has recently returned from the grave) and the Ghoul, a creature similar to Frankenstein (let’s remember that Wrightson is a huge fan of Mary W. Shelley’s novel, adapting it as an amazing ongoing series titled Frankenstein Alive, Alive).  

Steve Niles’ script is solid and, like I said before, I actually laughed out loud a couple of times while reading Doc Macabre. However, the main reason I bought this miniseries was because of legendary artist Bernie Wrightson. With highly revered runs in Creepy or Swamp Thing, to name just a few, Wrightson has been one of the most important artists in the American industry for decades. So I knew I couldn’t resist the urge of checking out his current output. And I have to say I’m glad I did.
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Aunque me encantan las películas (o los cómics) de terror, siempre es refrescante encontrar una buena parodia como “Doc Macabre”. Ciertamente, Bernie Wrightson es considerado como el maestro indiscutible del cómic de terror, pero en el 2010 decidió colaborar con Steve Niles (famoso por títulos como "30 Days of Night", una magnífica reinterpretación del subgénero vampírico). Niles y Wrightson le dieron la espalda al suspenso y al gore, y asumieron un enfoque cómico en “Doc Macabre” (una miniserie de 3 ejemplares editada por IDW, desde diciembre del 2010 a febrero del 2011).
Science versus zombies / ciencia versus zombis
Con un buen sentido del humor y conceptos muy divertidos, Niles y Wrightson pasaron lista a algunos de los elementos clásicos de las historias de terror convencionales, haciendo los ajustes necesarios. Para empezar, Doc Macabre, el protagonista, no es el típico héroe que veríamos en una saga sobrenatural. Doc Macabre es un chaval de 15 años, más valiente que ningún otro, y también es un chico genio. Es inteligente y, a veces, un poco ingenuo, comete errores, pero nunca tiene miedo de volver al ruedo para solucionar el problema en cuestión.
Doc Macabre & Lloyd
“Doc Macabre” comparte algunas similitudes con franquicias como “Ghost Busters”, excepto que en lugar de un grupo de hombres de mediana edad, desencantados con el mundo, tenemos a un adolescente entusiasta, lleno de ideas e inventos para capturar fantasmas, neutralizar a los vampiros y darles una paliza a los zombis. Pero al mismo tiempo, él es un joven pragmático, por lo tanto, obviamente, cobra por sus servicios.

Aventuras desenfadadas, simpáticos personajes y momentos divertidos son la esencia de Doc Macabre. Además del protagonista, también conoceremos a Lloyd, un robot diseñado y construido por el muchacho, un robot con una chispeante personalidad y completamente fiel a su joven amo. Además, tenemos al detective Cooper (un investigador privado que ha regresado recientemente del más allá) y al Ghoul, una criatura similar a Frankenstein (recordemos que Wrightson es un gran fan de la novela de Mary W. Shelley, y ha hecho una asombrosa adaptación titulada Frankenstein Alive, Alive). 
Ghoul & Detective Cooper
El guión de Steve Niles es sólido y, como he mencionado antes, de hecho me reí en voz alta un par de veces durante la lectura de “Doc Macabre”. Sin embargo, la razón principal por la que compré esta miniserie fue por el legendario artista Bernie Wrightson. Con aclamadas etapas en “Creepy” y “Swamp Thing”, por nombrar sólo unas pocas, Wrightson ha sido uno de los artistas más importantes de la industria estadounidense durante décadas. Así que sabía que no podía resistir la tentación de echarle un vistazo a esta miniserie. Y tengo que decir que me alegra haberlo hecho.

March 15, 2011

February comic books / Cómics de febrero

My Februrary comics (from left to right) as per solicitations:


HELLBOY SLEEPING & DEAD #2 (OF 2)


Mike Mignola (W/Cover), Scott Hampton (A), and Dave Stewart (C) Hellboy is trapped in a dark basement littered with bones and small coffins, and the only way out is through the floating creature of death! For the first time, Mike Mignola teams up with artist Scott Hampton (Batman, The Sandman Presents: Lucifier) for this gothic tale. o Classic vampire horror! o The exciting conclusion! Hellboy: The Sleeping and the Dead™ © 2010 Mike Mignola.


KING CONAN SCARLET CITADEL #1 DARICK ROBERTSON CVR


Tim Truman (W), Tomás Giorello (A), José Villarrubia (C), Darick Robertson (Cover), and Gerald Parel (Cover) A thrilling new era begins, as Dark Horse launches its first miniseries devoted entirely to the trials and exploits of Robert E. Howard's King Conan! Timothy Truman, Tomás Giorello, and José Villarrubia-the monthly team behind the critically acclaimed Conan the Cimmerian run-jump many years forward in the barbarian's life to a time when he's already crowned himself ruler of Aquilonia, as they adapt the beloved King Conan story, 'The Scarlet Citadel.' With covers by fan-favorite Darick Robertson, this fast-paced, standalone miniseries is sure to please fans of breathtaking artwork and edge-of-your-seat adventure-and it's a great introduction to Howard's tales of King Conan! o The creative team behind the Conan the Cimmerian run launches Dark Horse's King Conan series! o Covers by fan-favorite Darick Robertson! o A thrilling adaptation of one of Robert E. Howard's most beloved Conan stories! 'Tomás Giorello and José Villarrubia's art is so great here that it's the ultimate selling point . . . it's just beautiful.' -Comic Book Resources King Conan © 2010 Conan Properties International LLC ('CPI'). CONAN, CONAN THE BARBARIAN, THE SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN, HYBORIA, and related logos, characters, names, and distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks or registered trademarks of CPI. All rights reserved.


DOC MACABRE #3 (OF 3)


Steve Niles (w) • Bernie Wrightson (a & a) After conducting experiments to detect artificial ghost hauntings, Doc Macabre and his robot pal, Lloyd, finally track down the culprit. With solid leads and advice from Dead, She Said's Coogan and The Ghoul, young Doc Macabre is ready to confront the Swami of Real Estate. Laughs and horrors abound! Features the concluding prose short by Steve Niles, too! FC • 32 pages


HACK SLASH ONGOING #1 SEELEY CVR (MR)


HACK/SLASH returns in all-new ongoing series by the creative team behind the hit HACK/SLASH: MY FIRST MANIAC mini! Cassie Hack, killer of killers, and her partner Vlad hunt a slasher who haunts a small town's Make Out Point. Meanwhile, Cat Curio, Former Teen Detective, searches for the man who put her in a coma and the murderous cult that employed him. What she finds will set up the biggest HACK/SLASH story yet. A great jumping on point for new readers! RETAILER WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES


KILL SHAKESPEARE #1 100 PENNY PRESS ED


Anthony Del Col, Conor McCreery (w) • Andy Belanger (a & c) Continuing our line of affordable reprints, making it easy for you to jump on and catch up with our greatest titles! Find out why everyone is talking about this brilliant re-imagining of the Bard, and his beloved characters. What Fables does for fairy tales, Kill Shakespeare does with the greatest writer of all time!


ECHOES #3 (OF 5)


(W) Joshua Hale Fialkov (A) Rahsan Ekedal (C) Rahsan Ekedal A Tale of Suspense and Psychological Horror! Detective Robert Neville has been helpful to Brian Cohn, who is finding himself a potential suspect in a missing child case. But when the opportunity presents itself to shift the suspicion to another person will Brian be able to do it? Particularly since he suspects that he may be a serial killer like his father? From acclaimed author Joshua Hale Fialkov (Tumor, Pilot Season: Alibi) and rising star artist Rahsan Ekedal (Creepy) a disturbing story of murder and mystery wrapped in questions of sanity. 32pgs, B&W/GS


WALKING DEAD #81 (MR)


“NO WAY OUT” continues! Desperate times call for desperate measures.


NEW YORK FIVE #1 (OF 4) (MR) Signed by Brian Wood!


MORNING GLORIES VOL. ONE: FOR A BETTER FUTURE.


JOHN BYRNE'S NEXT MEN #3


DOCTOR STRANGE FROM MARVEL VAULT #1


Written by ROGER STERN Penciled by NEIL VOKES Cover by MARIO ALBERTI A Marvel Masterpiece from deep inside the treasure vaults can now be told! For decades, Doctor Stephen Strange has worked as a practicing sorcerer out of the weird old brownstone at 177A Bleecker Street in Manhattan's Greenwich Village. But what eerie secrets does the building hide? What lurks within its walls? Is it … haunted? Now, at last, the full story of Doctor Strange's first night in his Sanctum Sanctorum stands revealed -- in a tale tastefully told by Roger Stern (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN) and dramatically drawn by those Masters of the Comic Arts, Neil Vokes and Jay Geldhof (UNTOLD TALES OF SPIDER-MAN: STRANGE ENCOUNTERS, The Black Forest). 32 PGS./Rated A


GARTH ENNIS JENNIFER BLOOD #1 (MR)


Jennifer Blood is a suburban wife and mom by day, and a ruthless vigilante by night! Every day she makes breakfast, takes the kids to school, cleans the house, naps for an hour or two, makes dinner, puts the kids to bed, and kisses her husband goodnight. This suburban punisher is ready to be unleashed in a story that can only be told by the legendary Garth Ennis!


MORNING GLORIES #7


Zoe has everything-looks, popularity, and a perfect GPA. But if you think you know all there is to know about her, think again. The secret she keeps sheds new light on the mysteries of Morning Glory Academy! 'Just as strong as Spencer's writing is Joe Eisma's artwork. Though the style of his art differs considerably from the striking work of the cover artist, Rodin Esquejo, Eisma's efforts in no way suffer from comparison. He utilizes strong, clean lines that provide plenty of detail.' -Ross Haralson, SilverBullet.com


LIL DEPRESSED BOY #1


'(SHE'S GOT A) BRAIN SCRAMBLING DEVICE' The cult-favorite web-series comes to print! S. STEVEN STRUBLE and SINA GRACE present a romance with style points, told with the same lovelorn charm of (500) Days of Summer. In this issue: (Li'l Depressed) Boy meets girl.


SHERLOCK HOLMES YEAR ONE #1


IRON MAN 2.0 #1


Written by NICK SPENCER Penciled by BARRY KITSON Covers by SALVADOR LARROCA Variant Covers by MARKO DJURDJEVIC & DHEERAJ VERMA Spinning directly out of INVINCIBLE IRON MAN! New mission! New armor! New Iron Man! Lt. Col. James Rhodes is War Machine…the single most advanced one-man weapon of conventional combat. But wars aren't fought?the way they used to be - and when Rhodey has to face a?mysterious enemy he can't shoot, can't bomb, can't even see, he's going to be forced to evolve…or die. Find out why War Machine becomes Iron Man 2.0 in the 3-part launch arc?of this all-new ongoing series! By breakout sensation Nick Spencer (Morning Glories, Action Comics) and the legendary Barry Kitson (INCREDIBLE HULKS, THE ORDER)! 40 PGS./Rated T+
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Mis cómics de febrero (de izquierda a derecha)


HELLBOY SLEEPING & DEAD #2 (OF 2)


Comentario: HELLBOY está atrapado en un oscuro sótano, cubierto de huesos y pequeños ataúdes.


KING CONAN SCARLET CITADEL #1 DARICK ROBERTSON *Special Discount* 75% off


Comentario: Cuando Conan ya se ha coronado a sí mismo como rey de AQUILONIA, deberá desentrañar el misterio de la Ciudadela Escarlata.


DOC MACABRE #3 (OF 3)


Comentario: Mientras el doctor conduce experimentos para detectar fantasmas artificiales, descubre que la casa encantada es una farsa.


HACK SLASH ONGOING #1 SEELEY CVR (MR)


Comentario: La asesina de asesinos ha regresado con su socio, listos para emprender un nuevo caso en un pequeño pueblo.


KILL SHAKESPEARE #1 100 PENNY PRESS ED


Comentario: Hamlet y Ricardo III unirán fuerzas con Julieta en contra de un taimado hechicero llamado Shakespeare.


ECHOES #3 (OF 5) *Special Discount*


Comentario: El detective Robert ha ayudado a Brian, actualmente un sospechoso en el caso de una niña desaparecida. ¿Será Brian capaz de inculpar a otro si la oportunidad se le presenta? ¿O él es el culpable de todo?


WALKING DEAD #81 (MR)


Comentario: En momentos desesperados se recurre a medidas desesperadas.


NEW YORK FIVE #1 (OF 4) (MR) Autografiado por el autor de la serie Brian Wood.


MORNING GLORIES VOL. ONE: FOR A BETTER FUTURE.


JOHN BYRNE'S NEXT MEN #3


DOCTOR STRANGE FROM MARVEL VAULT #1


Comentario: Por décadas, STEPHEN STRANGE ha trabajado como hechicero en Manhattan. ¿Pero qué oscuros secretos yacen en su morada? ¿Quién o qué acecha sus muros? ¿Está la vieja mansión habitada por fantasmas?


GARTH ENNIS JENNIFER BLOOD #1 (MR)


Comentario: En el día, Jennifer es una típica ama de casa de los suburbios pero durante la noche se transforma en una despiadada vigilante.


MORNING GLORIES #7 (NOTE PRICE) *Special Discount* Limit 2 at 75% off


Comentario: Ella tiene buena apariencia, popularidad y un promedio perfecto, pero guarda un gran secreto relacionado con los misterios de la Academia.


LIL DEPRESSED BOY #1


Comentario: El Pequeño Chico Deprimido conoce a una chica muy especial.


SHERLOCK HOLMES YEAR ONE #1


IRON MAN 2.0 #1


Comentario: WAR MACHINE regresa con una nueva misión y una nueva armadura. Pero los tiempos han cambiado, y cuando un nuevo tipo de amenaza aparece, el hombre dentro del traje deberá evolucionar o morir.