Perhapanauts Halloween Spooktacular #1

October 17, 2009

Perhapanauts Halloween Spooktacular #1 (Image Comics)
By Todd Dezago, Fred Hembeck, Rich Woodall, Craig Rousseau, Mike Ploog, Matt Pott & Francesco Francavilla

One of Image’s finest, but sadly least-prolific series returns with this Halloween special. Todd DeZago and a series of artists gives us three solid tales of the Perhapanauts. Fred Hembeck illustrates “Choopie’s Halloween,” a really strong, funny story about our favorite little monster going trick or treating and, naturally, stumbling into some trouble along the way. Rich Woodall‘s art graces “Nacht des Tazelwurm,” a decent little monster story set in the Bavarian Alps. This has some really strong art, although the story itself is my least favorite in the book — not because it’s bad, but because there isn’t really anything that makes it a Halloween story. Finally, co-creator Craig Rousseau returns for “Big in Brazil,” in which our Sasquatch buddy Big heads to South America to seek out one of the other legendary monsters. Depending on which cover you get, there’s also a phenomenal piece of art by Mike Ploog topping off the book. Anything with the Perhapanauts is worth reading, and this is even better than ever.
Rating: 9/10

Perhapanauts (2008 Series) #1

April 26, 2008

Perhapanauts #1 (Image Comics)
By Todd Dezago & Craig Rousseau

Ah, one of my favoriteist funky little miniseries makes its triumphant return, this time as an ongoing series. If you never read the two Perhapanauts miniseries or the annual, here’s what you need to know: Bedlam is an organization dedicated to investigating threats of a paranormal nature, and the Perhapanauts are teams of bizarre super-agents in their employ. Our team of Perhapanauts includes the leader, telepathic Arisa, the ghost Molly, the Sasquatch named Big, the mysterious dimension-slider MG, and Choopie. He’s a Chupacabra. Like most of their stories, this one picks up in medias res, with the team in a strange dimension they’re using to try to return a time-traveler to his own period, only to run afoul of the cosmic Mothmen who patrol the dimension. It’s as weird and freaky as it sounds, and it’s also damn brilliant. This is the sort of title that’s totally, insanely fun to read, and this book gives you everything you need to get right in. The “Choopie Goes to Church” back-up is hilarious, too. Go out, give it a shot.
Rating: 9/10

Perhapanauts (2008 Series) Annual #1

February 18, 2008

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Jersey Devil!

The team from Bedlam faces a demon from the depths of New Jersey!

Writer: Todd Dezago
Art: Craig Rousseau
Colors: Rico Renzi
Cover Art: Craig Rousseau (Cover A); Michael & Laura Allred (Cover B)
Publisher: Image Comics

One of the coolest new concepts in recent years is back in this special annual, leading into the new ongoing series that’s coming out soon. If you’re new, the Perhapanauts are agents of Bedlam, a secret organization dedicated to policing those parts of the world where the fabric between dimensions is thin and stopping the monsters that bleed through. And with a team that includes a telepath, a ghost, a Sasquatch, a Chupacabra, and a guy who utterly defies description, they’re just the guys to do it.

In this annual, both teams of Perhapanauts are sent in to do combat with a dragonlike monster that has entered our world near New Jersey. The beast is committing brutal slayings, and the pattern of his kills may be pointing to something Apocalyptic. Although this story technically takes place in-between issues of the miniseries Perhapanauts: Second Chances, it really stands on its own as a self-contained story. What’s more, it works very well as a jumping-on point. Dezago does a great job reintroducing us to each of the main members of the cast, helping us understand who they are as characters, and showing off just what twists make them unique among a rash of similar comics. We even get to meet some of the supporting characters and find a clue about the mysterious MG’s big secret.

From a storytelling standpoint, the only real problem is the ending. It’s not a bad ending, but it’s rather abrupt – the story is going at a rocket pace and then it just stops. There wasn’t quite enough room for the falling action here.

Craig Rousseau’s art really works here. He’s got a knack for designing monsters that can be hideous or monsters that can be cute, and he nails the facial expressions of the many characters. Rico Renzi’s color work contributes just the right touch to finish off the package.

If you’ve read the Perhapanauts before, during their run at Dark Horse, then you already know how good this can be. If you’ve never read it before, this is a great place to sample a really unique comic book.

Rating: 8/10