| Thicker Than Blood #1 |
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| Posted by Kris Bather |
07:53 AM Wednesday, 26 December 2007 |
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 I only read this because of Simon Bisley. The painter has always been a favourite of mine. In the 90s when the comic racks were filled with spandex clones and similar art styles his chaotic brush strokes, like Sam Keiths, stood out from the crowd. Bisley's work on DC's Lobo series was probably his high point. The Brit's work always suited the horror and comedy genres, with its scares and buckets of blood.He hasn't been as prominent as he once was, but painters like Bisley rarely are. Alex Ross being perhaps the sole exception. But his books are always worth the wait. Here Bisley is on ground he's walked before - monsters. He's not alone however, with Mike Ploog's slightly exaggerated pencils as the underlay. Both men's best work has been away from standard superheroes, with Ploog having worked on Werewolf By Night and Man-Thing, and Bisley, or Biz as his signature proclaims, on 2000AD's Judge Dredd and the barbarian Slaine. Ploog also co-created Ghost Rider for Marvel in the late 70s and now has a place in my heart as I discovered he also did design work on two of my fave childhood films - the Jim Henson productions, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth.
Full Circle is a relatively new publisher (they began in 2003) with a handful of titles, including Full Cirkle (yes, that's the correct spelling) also written by this book's author, and the company creator, Simon Reed. Their niche seems to be good quality mini series for mature readers in the sci-fi and fantasy realms. Thicker Than Blood is for those who prefer their horror old-school. I don't mean Nightmare on Elm Street and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre rather than Saw and Hostel. I mean this is a book for those that like their chills and thrills set in the dirty past of folklore and moonlight mansions. For lovers of the classic novels Dracula and Frankenstein instead of more contemporary "updates" such as Underworld. Thicker Than Blood is an apt title as much of it is spilled during this tale of two brothers; one of whom is a werewolf and one of whom is attempting to save him with scientific skill and much courage. Eric is also charged with finding a cure for opium addiction from some high and mighty types and is on a race to find the newly escaped Andrew as he tours the Scottish country side becoming angrier and hairier. This is a dirty book - lots of rain, muddy cobbled streets and people with dental hygiene as bad as their attitudes. The heavy paper and painted colours serve up a steaming pile of atmosphere and craft this centuries old world beautifully. This is a return to more adult fare after Ploog's last high profile work, the fantasy series Abadazad with writer J.M Dematteis for the short lived Crossgen Comics, and after their collapse, Disney. With diary excerpts, full pages of prose and wordless art Thicker Than Blood is a novel read. If you like what Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neil do with their inventive League of Extraordinary Gentlemen material, then this will be a welcome read. The next issue of this 3 ish mini is available in February. Sharpen your fangs now so you can sink them into this well constructed adventure. |
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