Written by Robert Kirkman
Art by Jason Howard & Rus Wooton
Cover Art by (Uncredited – probably Jason Howard)
SUMMARY:
Released for Free Comic Book Day in May 2007, this origin issue begins with a mysterious attack on wealthy New York businessman Gary Hampton during a family camping trip in Montana. Rendered comatose, Gary’s wife is present when he revives in a New York hospital a month later. That night, a transformed Gary rampages across the city rooftops. Once fully recovered, Gary and his family return home. Another thirty days go by before there’s another nocturnal transformation. Security camera footage reveals the horrifying truth. A mysterious visitor surfaces to train Gary in his adjustment to the supernatural world.
REVIEW:
Badly hampered by rudimentary visuals (with the exception of a few terrific panels), writer-creator Robert Kirkman’s best asset is his tantalizing cliffhanger of sorts. Still, this closing sequence probably should have been delayed a few issues to more convincingly build towards that moment. It seems that Kirkman is needlessly hurrying to clue the incredulous Hamptons into Gary’s horrific alter ego. Though his revelation scene isn’t clichéd, Kirkman should have given readers more acclimation time with the lead character’s family before dropping such a fantastic bomb on them.
Even if Gary Hampton comes off utterly bland, at least Kirkman sets up a sense of ambiguity as to whether this ‘Astounding Wolf-Man’ is really a vile menace or not. Kirkman deserves credit for trying to revitalize horror’s werewolf genre, but the execution of this first issue, unfortunately, is deficient.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Kirkman provides a full-page letter to his readers. There’s a four-page preview of Kirkman’s Brit series (by writer Bruce Brown and artist Cliff Rathburn). The four-page Spawn: Godslayer # 1 preview includes two pages of black-and-white artwork (from Brian Holguin and Philip Tan). Lastly, the well-illustrated First Born: Conception is a mini-series preview providing four full-page portraits: specifically, Sara Pezzini / Witchblade; Jackie Estacado / Darkness; Magdalena; and Danielle Baptiste / Witchblade. The text is by Ron Marz, with artwork from Stjepan Sejic and Troy Peteri.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 3½ Stars
