Redneck #1by Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 7 The Bowman family are vampires trying to live and be left alone outside Sulphur Springs, TX. One Christmas Eve the "teenagers" head to town against the wishes of their elders and get in trouble. When their dad / uncle shows up to help, Father Landry shows up and things take a bad turn ....It's hard to create vampire stories nowadays that are unique and believable. I can even think of another comic with a family of vampires trying to live peaceably on their own outside of a town (Blood & Dust). The real question is, how does this story differ from the others? Redneck does a good job of nailing small town Texas, including attitudes and mannerisms as well as character design. Long-time rivalries between vampires and men of the cloth is standard issue, but this particular setup has the potential to get real ugly, real fast (especially since the Father seems rather ugly himself, and shady). By the end of the issue, the line into ugliness has been crossed. I can definitely appreciate the growing pains of the "teenage" (middle-age for humans) vampires, especially if they've been raised to never interact with anyone outside the family! I find it a bit hard to believe, however, that they would have a specific destination in mind if they've never gone to town before. The grandpa in the attic holds possibility for the characters returning to their roots, as it were. What grabbed my attention early was the similarities between the oldest and youngest members of the family, especially with their ability to read minds! I'm looking forward to how the child (and only girl) might be used -- especially as she definitely seems more mature than just about everyone else in the family and listens to what her grandpa says. The art is a perfect fit for the story -- the character designs especially, including how they're not pretty and not perfect. The coloring uses mostly blacks, blues, and reds, which are used very well to convey night, differences in settings, and light sources. This first issue does an excellent job of introducing the major characters and setting the stage for what's to come. It also has a bit of mystery that helps create a cliffhanger than has me quite intrigued. I'll be back for more! Written: July 7, 2017
|
|
|
Home | Features | Columns | Culture Vultures | Report Card Tart Store | Indicia | Contact | Archives © Sequential Tart, 1998 – 2020 |
