Review: Deadhorse #2

Well it took me a little longer than I would have liked, butI’m back with a review for Deadhorse #2.Let me start off by saying that I love the cover and that this particular coveris what got me really excited to read the series. There is something creepy andawesome about the family portrait with bird heads and the woman’s hidden face.Both issue one and two have very strong cover designs which match the bookperfectly. The first issue of Deadhorsescored some pretty high marks, so how did the second issue stack up?

The issue opens with a very serious looking man standing infront of his office window. He’s Senator Robert Gadsworth and he’s expecting acall from his father, unfortunately for him it’s just his secretary. She wisheshim happy birthday on his father’s behalf, while Robert dosses off rememberinga hand puppet that was giving to him by a Mr. Pike. 

Elsewhere in Alaska, ayoung girl is leaving home. Well that’s not 100% right, she’s running away fromhome and really her parents don’t care. Her name is Elise and she makes it tothe bus stop to leave town. While waiting for the bus to arrive a chatterboxnamed Edgar sits down next to her and begins chatting her ear off. Theirconversation is cut short as the Mr. Pike we’re familiar with (probably the son of the other Mr. Pike), enters the busstop. In the background we see the Senator at a press meeting playing with thepuppet from his childhood. As Mr. Pike and our two new characters leave toboard the bus the Senator pulls out a gun and kills himself on live TV.

I could really go on some more about the story, but I thinkI’ll stop right there. There’s another great character introduced in the issuethat is hilarious and cool rolled into one. I still can’t believe that thisbook wasn’t picked up by Image or some other indie company because it reallydeserves a widespread release. According to writer/co-creator Eric Grissom,they want to do a print version after the first story arc is done so help with the sales. I reallyhope they do because I would love to own a physical copy of this book.

Grissomhas me hooked with his writing. I love the serious tone of the book mixed withthe dark comedy elements. The new character comes across Venture Brothers inspired which is a real treat. Grissom adds a fewcharacters with this issue, but they were so interesting that I almost didn’twant to get back to the main story. Hopefully they’ll play a role in the plot so that they can develop more.

I still absolutely love the art style of this book; re-readingit for review made me appreciate the art even more. The opening page with theSenator in his office is the best example of the strength of the art. There arelarge mini-blinds in the window and artist Phil Sloan gives the scene aconsistency by having the direction of light cast a shadow on the room andSenator. But what’s impressive is that the shades are lighter on the Senatorwhile being much darker on the rest of the room. It’s probably something you’vewitnessed in real life or movies a dozen or more times and never realized. ButSloan has taken this very simple lighting and made it so real that it’s just asimportant to the scene as the character is. Also I still love the edgy cartoonlook the book has and that will never change.

I could continue to gush about this book, but I won’t. Iwill demand that you either pull up Graphicly on your tablet or smart phone andplop down the dollar it costs for the issue, or head over to Eric and Phil’ssite Deadhorse.com and purchase it directly from them. Whichever way you choosejust do it. The third issue isn’t out yet, but when it is you can bet your assI’ll be there to read it and every issue after.

Score: 5/5

Writer: Eric Grissom

Art: Phil Sloan

Publisher: Deadhorse Comics

Price: $ .99

First Issue Review