Quick Review Pack

Featuring Mad Cave's Underworld and Dynamite's Space Ghost

One great thing about this being my new default for comic reviews; I can fit multiple request I get around the same time together.

I really gotta say this about Mark London: he’ll pick anything that strikes his fancy. And now I’m starting to see what went into deciding Mad Cave’s talent competitions.

Great to see Pepose getting around the way he is.

Hour of the Wolf #1

This one is a spin-off of the Wolvenheart series from years back. It was a very pulpy series to say the least, a bunch of ideas brought together like vampires and time travel.

When it comes to this Underworld universe that London’s been hyping up, this setting is probably the most obvious in terms of themes. Especially with the crossover Endless Night.

Personally, this doesn’t get my attention the way Revolution 9 does. It just doesn’t have that same level of presentation. But there were things I liked regarding the haunted painting and the effects it leaves behind.

As well as the way lead character Owen moves through time in shifting directions. It’s decent foreshadowing for how the widow of the painting’s victim is dealing with the painting. One moment you think something will happen, only for it to change to a suspenseful direction.

Only problem for me is, the pace goes a bit slow and there isn’t much to know about Owen to root for him.

7.5/10

Space Ghost #5

David Pepose has always been a delight to read for. His take on Space Ghost is no exception. He was nice enough to even send issues 1-4 to get caught up.

For just this issue, it’s nice to see the mantis alien guy Zorak as a genuine threat unlike anything else so far. Maybe that’s the art by Jonathan Lau and colors by Andrew Dalhouse showing off how deranged he is with how his eyes look.

Zorak’s homicidal cult and manipulation tactics make him one of the most dangerous enemies seen so far. And it’s not hard to feel why. Jan and Jace’s usual craftiness weren’t enough to get them out of a dire situation. And when all’s said and done, Zorak did more damage than overarching villain RoboCorp ever could. And he didn’t even mean to.

How or why? Every villain up to now at least had a realistic motivation like survival or profit. But Zorak showed what real evil with no motivation other than blind faith looks like.

For a kid who was prepared by his father to survive the worst, looking for reasons why he lost his home, got out many deadly situations by the skin of his teeth, putting his hopes in a powerful man and what his father left behind, and reacted to protect that powerful man from someone who wasn’t really out to get them all, it was just too much for Jack.

Yet RoboCorp is still out there and are more than likely to capitalize on this vulnerability. It leaves in suspense on what will develop.

9/10