
Full Moon Comix 2018
Available in person at SDCC then in stores Aug. 01, 2018
Out of the Box
Written by Shawn Gabborin
Illustrated by Daniel Pascual
Coloured by Simon Robins
Lettered by Micah Myers
Familicide
Written by Brockton McKinney
illustrated by Bridgit Connell
Lettered by Micah Myers
Dollman, a diminutive space-cop, is dead-set on destroying the overflowing evil creatures that inhabit his galaxy! First up? The Demonic Toys! It's a miniature maniac versus a toy box of evil in what could be the beginning of the end for the Full Moon Universe! Grab your popcorn, because the epic destruction begins here!
So the SDCC will contain a story that you won’t be able to see anywhere else so if you are going to be there I suggest you grab one while supplies last! Otherwise there are two stories going on here so we’ll hit them in order. Personally I like books like this as we get to see different teams take on the same lead character which then gives you that really nice work at how different people approach the same material with much different results, no the two stories are separate entities don’t worry the only constant is Dollman.
So first up is the Demonic Toys and it’s really demonstrates what I love about Shawn’s take on and writing of these characters. For the Master a group of kids kills someone whom they believe to be an innocent. This gets the Masters attention only ot exactly how this group of kids were hoping for. They thought a sacrifice would get them power and power comes alright just not how it was imagined it would be. This is the take that makes this a horror story, kind of cliché but done in such a way that it’s incredibly fun to watch unfold.
The interiors here are well done and yes Daniel and Simon get to live out one of those fantasy moments where they can show us how Kaylee’s underwear fits which I found totally unnecessary but hey fanboy moments and all that though let’s at least be equal opportunity about showing off. The linework and the attention to detail here is very nice to see and the utilisation of page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows off a nice eye for storytelling. Oh and the guys make these Demonic Toys creepy as hell so there’s that bonus effect too.
It’s a solid premise and story and reminds me why the first issue of Puppet Master pulled me in so completely. Actually this and the second story by Brockton keep showing us why Action Lab Danger Zone remains the best place for Full Moon to be represented because not only do they do the characters justice but they can bring them back to front and centre. There is no getting around how much these stories make you want to revisit the original source material.
Brockton’s turn at the story was kind of brilliantly done as well. I mean there may be 50 Ways to Leave your Lover but Dollman has more ways than that to kill you. This little feature has elements of the Saw franchise in how he goes about killing off the family while not letting anyone else know it’s happening. I think it’s creative, imaginative and downright scary at how effective a killing machine this guy really is. The story is told in such a way that well while we don’t know why the family was targeted that really doesn’t matter all you have to know is that they are or were dangerous.
Again the interiors and the attention to detail here is marvellous! The wallpaper is stunning to me and I'm pretty sure that was done solely in colour. The people, their deaths and everything we see actually has this air of believability to it that was surprisingly nice to see. Not comic book people but real life people that’s how the bodies come across, well except for that monstrous head, and it makes this much more fun and slightly more creepy.
This is why Action Lab Danger Zone rules the adult market and why Full Moon Comix decided to make a go of it for themselves! It has the kitsch we want and then that’s tweaked, updated and made ten times more creepy than the original source material. This is what FUN should be all about, you can do this kind of work and it comes out in a way that is pure entertainment that is undeniably enjoyable.