Cemetery Blues #3 – Review

By Ryan Rubio & Thomas Boatwright (story), Ryan Rubio (script) & Thomas Boatwright (art)

The series comes to an end with this third and final issue. Sadly, and strangely enough, the story has tumbled down hill since the premiere issue. Gone are the elements that I loved from that initial first offering. It’s like I’m reading a complete different comic complete with other characters.

The bartender finishes telling the heroes the story of the Huntsman and how a wizard (Orlok) saved and cursed the dying man in the woods. Mr. Lear senses that Orlok is nearby and they go off to seek him out. After a confrontation, the Huntsman returns to town, daring anyone to face him. After some heroics, the Huntsman finally gets repose – the story is left open, hopefully to tell more and better stories.

Boatwright’s art is fun and striking as usual, but it’s ultimately the story that failed me. And I really wanted to like the story. I’m still going to purchase the announced trade. It’ll include the never-before-seen series “The Curse of Wallace Manor”, plus two unpublished tales of Ridley and Falstaff: “The Inconvenience Store” and “Let’s All Die in the Lobby!”. Hopefully, these extra stories will contain some of that magic the first issue had.  (Grade: C)

-Daniel Yanez

Cemetery Blues #2 – Review

By: Ryan Rubio & Thomas Boatwright (story), Ryan Rubio (script) & Thomas Boatwright (art)

This issue follows up Ridley and Falstaff as they hunt for “the monster” in the woods. After going in circles, the people who hired them start to accuse them of being impostors. This is when the story gets interesting – a beast in the form of a reindeer starts killing the people with bow and arrows and a sword (!), atypical for reindeer killing methods (you think?). Ridley & Falstaff do what they know best, they hide! After they return to the town (and the pub), they learn that the beast was once a skilled hunter who got cursed. Well, that explains everything, doesn’t it?!

The art and style still are the same (which are great), but the sense of humor and action is a bit lacking from the past issue. Granted, there are still both of these elements within the issue (as you can tell), but they’re in much smaller doses this time around. While we get to learn about this reindeer monster, things are still up in the air regarding Orlok (their nemesis) and Mr. Lear (Ridley & Falstaff’s ghostly mentor). They have a previous relationship for sure, but it’s uncertain as of now.

With only one issue left, I really hope for more humor and sarcasm, which was the reason I picked the book when it first came out. All in all, still entertaining. (Grade: B-)

-Daniel Yanez

Cemetery Blues #1 – Review

By: Ryan Rubio & Thomas Boatwright (Story), Ryan Rubio (Script), Thomas Boatwright (Pencils)

It’s so gratifying to discover great new artists in the comic book scene. I don’t often pick up independent or black & white comics, but this one grabbed my attention. The story is about two wacky and fearless monster hunters in England (Ridley & Falstaff) who sport unorthodox methods when it comes to dealing with vampires, spirits and other kinds of evil (like booze).

Thomas Boatwright (The Surreal Adventures of Edgar Allan Poo) does an excellent job capturing emotions and mannerisms, while Rubio’s script is hilarious. I can define the book as a mix between X-Files, Dracula, and Evil Dead. The absence of color doesn’t matter here; B&W creates a nice and creepy atmosphere.

The only negative thing is that this is going to be a three-issue miniseries. I know sometimes it works for the better and the artists can move to other projects, but I really want to see more adventures of Ridley & Falstaff. Pretty please?

This book gives me faith to try other independent comic books. (Grade: A)

-Daniel Yanez