Tag Archives: Chris Samnee

Dead of Night: Devil-Slayer (2009)

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“They look like zombies. They’re dead, right?”

“No they are undead.”

“Oh yeah? Then let’s see if we can make the undead dead again.”

Dead of Night: Devil-Slayer #1 cover

This book collects the four issue mini-series which is one of three published by Marvel on their MAX imprint in 2008/9 featuring modern versions of horror characters from the Marvel Universe – the others featured Man-Thing and Werewolf by Night. This one was written by horror author Brian Keene with art from Chris Samnee. Keene is a new name to me but has written a library full of books on his own. Samnee’s work I know from Serenity: The Shepherd’s Tale and Thor: The Mighty Avenger – and he is currently doing art duties on Daredevil.

Dan Sylva is returning for a tour of Iraq after leaving the army but finding that his girlfriend had left him and that there were no job opportunities at home. His first mission is to investigate a site where a captured American soldier is possibly being held. Dan discovers the soldier, and a lot of the civilians who had also gone missing recently, prey to a bunch of demons – both in demonic form and masquerading as part of the mercenary Bloodstone unit. With the help of a magi, Isaac, Dan alone escapes and learns that some demons and angels are plotting to bring about Armageddon early using war zones to hide their ritualistic murders. Dan learns that his uncle was a devil-slayer and that he is the next in line to assume the mantle and prevent hell on Earth.

The blurb on the back of the book says:

A radical re-imagining of Marvel’s premier horror icon!

which is not a good start as I had never heard of the character before – which in a way is not surprising as I am much more of a DC/Vertigo fan than I am a Marvel one. I much prefer the DC/Vertigo take on horror, magic and the supernatural. The original character was created in 1977 by Rich Buckler and this series marks an updating and rebooting of the character. Gone is the cheesy superhero costume to be replaced by fatigues and shemagh.

It would appear that the reboot did not lead on to any further series which is a bit of shame as I quite liked this book. It still had a long way to go to match the rich Vertigo universe but it had some promise. I liked the grounding of the horror within the human conflict and the conspiracy between demons and angels, although well worn, could have legs if handled correctly. The last page in the book showed how the story could be expanded out to involve corporations, religious leaderships and governments – again familiar targets but full of potential if tied to current affairs. Perhaps a missed opportunity for Marvel to try and muscle in on some of DC’s action.

Thor (2010) – Part 2

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This is the second part of the round up that I am doing of the first issues of the recent avalanche of Thor titles published by Marvel. Like the first, this part consists of comics that feature Thor as the main character.

Thor The Mighty Avenger (cover date: September 2010)

The creative team on this comic is writer Roger Langridge and artist Chris Samnee. I don’t know the writer but Chris Samnee drew the recent Serenity book, The Shepherd’s Tale. Unfortunately I am not a big fan of Samnee’s art – it is too cartoony and unfinished looking for me. The story is fairly inconsequential – it is told from the point of view of Jane Foster who works at a war memorial museum. One day there is a disturbance and a man, Thor, is thrown out after trying to break a display case. Later on, after a meal with her ex-boyfriend, Jane comes across the man as he takes part in a bar brawl with a character called Hyde. Thor is left weakened and Jane takes him to the museum where his wish is to hold one of the artefacts which he smashes to reveal Mjolnir. This book is far too light for me. It looks and feels like a teen romance title and bears no resemblance to the usual incarnation of Thor. I would only read further if I had it on loan from somewhere. Apparently the paying public think so too as the title is due to be cancelled with issue 8.

Ultimate Thor (cover date: December 2010)

Marvel’s Ultimate universe is an alternative reality to the main Marvel line of comics that allows creators some freedom in re-imagining the characters. I have read a number of books set in this universe and they have been mostly fantastic. So my hopes were high coming to this title. Again the creative team is new to me (I must get out more or read more Marvel titles) – the writer is Jonathon Hickman and the artist is Carlos Pacheco. The story opens with a teaser scene of German Nazi soldiers and frost giants assaulting a ravished Asgard – can it get better than this? Next we have Thor incarcerated and under study as the failed attempt at a European super soldier. James Bradock calls in psychiatrist Donald Blake to evaluate the patient in a scene that deliciously points up some of the differences between Ultimate Thor and classic Thor. Next we eavesdrop on the machinations of Baron Zemo , in 1939 Germany, as he plans to lead an assault on Asgard. Then there is a sequence with Thor, Loki and Baldur in Asgard in a skirmish with some frost giants – with some of the nicest art in the comic. Finally we are left with Baron Zemo as he activates a portal to the seven realms and is about to begin his assault. This is a long overdue solo book for one of my favourite characters from the Ultimates (and the Marvel universe). A great opening issue with a number of plot lines that have to be brought together. It will be interesting to see where it leads – a must buy when it appears in TPB.

Astonishing Thor 1 (cover date: January 2011)

The final comic I am going to look at in this post is Astonishing Thor by Robert Rodi and Mike Choi. Rodi has written a couple of Vertigo titles but I don’t think I have read them. Choi has worked on some X titles for Marvel including Divided We Stand that I read in September. Sadly the story is anything but astonishing. While battling against some freak weather conditions, Thor is called to the remnants of a destroyed Asgard by Heimdall. Heimdall tells him of an appearance of a strange craft in the Solar System that is the probable causes of the disturbances and threatens the future of the planet. Thor sets off to investigate to find Ego the living planet and the Stranger. There is not a lot going on in this issue to get me excited. The art is nice but Thor looks very young. The story is just OK – there is not enough going on or dramatic tension to make me want to read any further. Another to borrow sometime but no loss if I don’t.