Haunt #11 – Review

By: Robert Kirkman (writer), Greg Capullo (pencils), Jonathan Glapion & Todd McFarlane (inks), FCO Plascencia (colors), Comicraft (letters) & Jen Cassidy (editor)

The Story: Hurg’s bio-bot soldiers go into action, Hurg escapes, plot swirls….

What’s Good: If you’ve been reading Haunt since the beginning, you’ve probably gotten used to the art by now.  It has always been strong, but has gotten better since the art team stabilized with Capullo doing the layouts and pencils and Glapion and McFarlane doing the inking.  This group established their look so quickly that it pretty easy to take for granted and say, “Yep… that’s what Haunt looks like.” and move on.  But, I would encourage you (esp. if you’re not reading this title) to open it up next time you’re in your comic shop.  Check out the near obsessively detailed linework!  The closest comparison I can make for mainstream fans would be to compare to how Spider-Man’s webs are drawn.  Some artists just draw a squiggly thing coming from Spider-Man’s wrist.  But others draw all kinds of detail into the webs.  Haunt is like the detailed webs, but it is the entire comic book.  Just a few examples: drawing random squiggly hairs coming from the top of the balding dudes head when most artists just make the bald guy smooth on top, drawing all the empty shell casings strewn about the floor after the big gunfight and (of course) drawing the ectoplasm coming out of Haunt so that he looks like a living thing and not “the blob”.

The layouts are something to behold too.  Haunt never serves up the boring storyboard style panels.

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Amazing Spider-Man #648 – I said in my review that this was the perfect Marvel comic book.  I want my Marvel superhero comics to be written by guys who love and read comic books, so Dan Slott is perfect.  This issue hit all the right beats.  Runner-up: American Vampire #8 – This would have won almost any other week.

Most Anticipated: Hulk #27 – Last month I said this title is the current owner the championship belt for “Best Current Ongoing Superhero Title”.  I still feel that way and can’t wait to see what new goodness Parker and Hardman have in store for us.

Other picks: Batman, Inc. #1, Haunt #11, Morning Glories #4, Whatever Happened to Baron von Shock #4, Spider-Girl #1, Chaos War: Chaos King #1 (it has Kaluta art!)

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: American Vampire #8 – A fairly solid week of releases, but American Vampire took it up a notch, continuing to make me care about a new character, bringing back an old one, introducing the inevitable vampire hunters without making the lame in the slightest, and finishing off the issue with what was probably the biggest cliffhanger/revelation of the month thus far.  A really good issue for a really good series.

Most Anticipated: The Flash #6 – It’s been a while since the last issue and it’s only made me more impatient.  I love this book.  It’s good old fashioned superhero fun with great art.  If you don’t mind spandex, it’s basically a book that’s impossible to hate and one of the best titles DC is currently putting out.  I can’t wait to see how this arc ends and the build-up to Flashpoint begins.

Other Picks:Morning Glories #4, Batman: the Return, Batman Incorporated #1, Avengers #7, Green Lantern #59, Brightest Day #14, Superman #705

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #6 – Although there were a few problems here and there, Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #6 gave me what I wanted. I needed real closure and satisfaction after having followed Gotham since Battle for the Cowl. Morrison closed his story with some pretty impressive ideas and imagery.

Most Anticipated: Batman Inc. #1 – OMG! OMG! So many things. Don’t know which I want most! I can’t wait for Warlord of Mars #2, and Batman #704 looks cool, but what’s up with Batman Incorporated? An international traveling Batman show? Well, Grant Morrison is an original thinker and Yanick Paquette is a great artist. This one is my top.

Other Picks: Warlord of Mars#2, Batman #704, Green Lantern #59, Green Lantern Corps #54, Legion of Superheroes #7