I really love Templesmith's art (here, in Fell, in the peeks I've taken at 30 Days of Night). It's like doing mushrooms, then listening to Tom Waits while reading HP Lovecraft. But neither Fell nor Wormwood really have a story or characters worthy of the pictures. ( )

What a wonderfully bizarre and hilarious book. I love the bold colors he uses and the distinctive look of each character.

The thing about Ben Templesmith's style is that even when you know something gross is happening, you aren't really grossed out because you're kind of shielded from it by the art. Wormwood and his sidekick Pendulum have to fight lots of things with tentacles, and there's blood aplenty, just like in the 30 Days of Night books. But it all comes out looking great.

As much as it appeals to me visually, I like the humor even more. Lines like, "You can't go spawning these things out of innocent human wombs without their permission. It's just not done. Gives them a rather bad case of instant death, it does," make me giggle.

Definitely will go looking for more.

Update on 12/15/14: I did go looking for more and hated the second volume so much I didn't finish it. Wish I'd stopped with volume 1. ( )

worm animated corpse and mechanical sidekick save earth from squid creatures set to open interdimensional door and let it demon

It’s been a while since I’ve read a graphic novel, but delving back into the strange and macabre world of Wormwood, Gentleman Corpse was a perfect re-entry. It was only a matter of time before Wormwood had to be dug out of his self-imposed retirement to save the world again, and considering the state of the world during the current American administration it was about time. Obviously the story is set in an alternate universe, but it’s clear that the story is based on and inspired by the Tr*mp administration and its poor behaviour. I mean how else can you explain the psychotic and unacceptable policies, except that the government has been taken over by an alien spore fungus bent on ruling the human world? It doesn’t seem that outlandish to me (lol)! In true fashion, Wormwood puts together a team and in the most haphazard way possible manages to rid the world of the fungus, but he (and we) are left wondering if he actually did the world a favour or if the fungal overlord was a better option…

Added into the collection was a macabre take on a Christmas story - which is perfect timing, since it’s just about Christmas now! The North Pole is in chaos since the capitalists have taken over, so Wormwood allies with the pagan originator of the winter holiday, Saturn, to set things right. I particularly liked this story not just because it’s a cynical but truthful depiction of how far Christmas, Yule, and the Winter Festival have come from their origins, but also because the artwork was absolutely stunning. Sure, Templesmith tends towards the dark and grisly, but I found his dark take on the North Pole and its denizens unique and wholly enjoyable. I hope that he continues working on the Wormwood universe, because it’s one that I highly enjoy coming back to time and again, especially in short but pithy snippets like this.
( )

This might just be the oddest and most macabre graphic novel that I've ever read, and yet it might also be one of the most satisfying. Temple smith is known for his off-kilter protagonists (see his knock-off of John Constantine in Fell), but a re-animated corpse, driven by a talking worm (who lives mostly in the eye socket) is a whole other level of weird. And yet, Wormwood lives up to his titular monicker, as he spews ascerbic monologues, flirts with the ladies, and uses his prep-school connections to save the day. Jolly good form, I say!

To make this book even more astounding is the quality and unique stylings of the artwork. If this story (and these characters) had been done in any other way I doubt that it would have worked even half as well as the vivid splashes of tone and stylized linework portaryed here. I absolutely can't wait to feast on eyes on more of Wormwood and his pals! ( )