Issue: Abattoir #1
Creator: Darren Lynn Bousman
Concept: Michael Peterson
Writer: Rob Levin, Troy Peteri
Artist: Bing Cansino
Colors: Andrei Pervukhin
Cover Artist: Tae Young Choi
Publisher: Radical Publishing
Release Date: October 2010
Pages: 32
Price: $3.99
“After a brutal massacre takes place in a gorgeous house, real
estate agent and family man Richard Ashwalt is assigned the impossible
task of picking up the pieces and selling the property. As Richard
inspects the blood-soaked grounds, a twisted old man journeys to the
house with a sinister and terrifying purpose. Richard is about to be
drawn into a web of shadows, murders and massacres that will shatter him
to his very core!”
Artwork: 4.0 out of 5
This is easily the meat of this issue, I will explain later in the dying
breath. I have to say I am in love with a few things on that cover
alone. Yes it took me a little bit to really sit down and take a look,
but look at all that GORE! It’s like a freaking puzzle, can you find the
knife? Hahaha. Interiors are just as strong as the cover on this one.
Not a single page passed by my eyes where I wasn’t happy with the
results. And the creepy guy, oh man! What detail on his face alone.
However we run into a Driver for the Dead cameo art moment, when the boss at the Realty firm comes across as Gary Cole, or Bill Lumbergh (the boss) from Office Space.
Now sure it’s just a small thing to throw in, so I will see it as an
homage to the movie, but I don’t know it did kinda bother me a little.
Story: 4.5 out of 5
So if the art was the meat, then this is the potato of this story, again
I will explain in the dying breath. A strong, almost puzzling start to
this story just gets it off on the right foot. There was nothing not
interesting about what happened at this house. That had me interested
for sure. What follows that is a nice dialogue driven issue that just
gets creepier as it goes along. While I would say 3 “jump” moments
happen right in a row, they all come off as just fun situations. The
ending was the creepiest part in all honesty. I can not wait to see
where this one goes.
Dying Breath: 4.5 out of 5
So meat and potatoes, did ya get that reference? The artwork is the meat
of course, while it looks great and is filling, it’s not enough to
complete the meal. The potatoes are the real part, what sticks to ya,
and this story will stick to you. So why not use a food analogy, it
worked, your hungry now aren’t you? I know I’m hungry for more. So you
can easily expect this headless guy to be back at the Radical Cafe´when
issue #2 is cooked and ready to serve.
If you would like to buy or know more about Abattoir #1 you can find it at http://www.radicalpublishing.com/
