Action Lab Danger Zone 2017
Written by Shawn Gabborin
Illustrated by Daniel J. Logan
Coloured by Yann Perrelet
It’s puppet-on-puppet violence as the cult favorite Puppet Master puppets battle Anapa and his evil horde! As the battle rages, Anthony learns the truth about his destiny… and everything begins to change!
I didn’t know of Shawn’s work before I read the very first issue of Puppet Master and he burst onto the scene with this great point of view and skill for storytelling. Turns out later I would learn that he was behind a lot of books I’ve enjoyed from ALE but this was the series that I talked to him, okay messenger/email/chat but that counts as talking these days right, interacted with him in any capacity. I know that all good things must end and the fact that he’s been able to write the entire run is noteworthy for a myriad of reasons.
This arc is the final one from Shawn and it’s time for that huge knock down drag out fight between Anthony and Anapa. The story ends where it began as the hotel has become a battleground with both sets of puppets going at it as Anthony’s father rattles him with his role in things. While we knew most of the things he reveals it’s still a great shock to finally hear all out in the open. Also kind of exciting too because this is what Shawn probably intended from the get go.
The storytelling here is phenomenal and the characterisation to go alongside the plot development through all the twists, turns and revelations here are so exciting to watch unfold before our eyes. The structure of the book, it’s ebb & flow, is fantastic and the way these guys manage to blend the story and action together and separately together, yes you’ll understand what I mean when you read this, shows off an amazing talent and skill level.
I like that we see his father finally stepping up and revealing his true colours. He has been shadowing his son trying to catch up to him for a while now and I have to say it was well worth the wait! He has turned into a much more dangerous character than I would have originally given him credit for and I’m beginning to wish we’d seen a lot more of that. I really do appreciate the way Shawn is able to get the level of characterisation that does here.
Daniel’s interior artwork here is so gosh darn good. The attention to detail he brings to this is strong stuff and the creases, wood grain in the puppets not to mention human faces and the sheer amount of emotion and feeling we get from all of them is a wow factor. There are moments here that remind me of the old haunted house style comics of years gone by. The creepy and horror elements play nicely with all that we see. His use of page layouts through angles and perspective show a solid eye for storytelling and that he utilises backgrounds as he does only makes it better.
Shawn and action Lab have found ways from the beginning to make this feel like something so much more than the films could ever make it. We’ve seen the slasher elements that made it famous and they’ve upped that so we also get the serene tension of things about to happen and then they do and they don’t so it keeps us on our toes. This is the epitome of modern horror as it combines all the things that make a great horror franchise come to life and surpass the original source material.
This issue blew me away with how the boys work so well together here and after seeing a lot of the transformation that Anthony goes through I want an old school legitimate haunted house style creepfest! Welcome to the Danger Zone hope you survive your stay!