Belzebubsby Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 10 A black-metal family shares the struggles of raising a family, getting their band off the ground, summoning demons ... you know, normal family stuff.There is so much I love about this comic (originally run and continued as a webcomic). I love the characters for starters. These are personalities and humors and outlooks on life I identify with. The comic-strip layout keeps each page short and often with its own punchline, but can continue into the following page and build a larger storyline (along the lines of Garfield and similar). I love that there's a good balance between characters, including bandmates, family, and friends. I love that it's slice-of-life but from a unique viewpoint (like The Addams Family or The Munsters). I love how the parents flirt. I love how their daughter tries to flirt (the heart gift was epic), and the kiss scene for her with the guy catching on fire and saying his "heart's beating in 9 / 16". I love the monsters under the bed, and the reactions of the demons to being summoned (the trick-or-treat scene is my favorite). The tour of Hell has some wonderfully pun-ny names for shops and eateries that play on Lovecraft, black metal bands, classic literature, and more (I adore things like this and have art in my kitchen for similar, and now I want some of these made into little prints). I love how hardcore grandma is, too, especially when it comes to her dead husband (and her corpse paint oven mits!!!). I could go on and on, but it's better (and funnier) if you just read it yourself. There is some language, but I appreciate that they use it as natural emphasis rather than drowning us in it. There's one sex scene, which is hilariously handled with the monsters under the bed leaving to go find another bed! And that was on top of the too-funny role-playing the couple did as part of that! There's also a brilliant use of a blow-up sex doll, which meets the most metal of ends. The art is fantastic! It's quite expressive, lending itself to humor quite easily. And the black and white coloring amplifies the intended look and feel. I also love that those in corpse paint speak with black word balloons and with letters, as opposed to everyone else (and how this is used to show a purposeful change when Sam agrees with Lilith about being with her to audition for her dad's band). The Bob Ross spoof is also lots of fun! Even if you're not a black-metal-loving, corpse-paint-wearing kind of goth, this comic is still for you. For that little piece of goth in you. For that little piece of metalhead in you. For that bit of you that loves dark humor. And yes, for the part that's a fan of mockumentaries like What We Do in the Shadows. Of course, if you are full-on goth (corpse paint or no), you will die laughing as you identify with so much (and wish you could do some of the things in here, or did do some of the things in here!). I know I did! At $15 this is a steal. I want more. Good thing there is more! On Facebook. Plus, actual music by the band! The hardback comes out in March (and the album in February), and I highly recommend preordering. Written: January 13, 2019
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