Instead of going for a subtle, gothic horror style finale, Strnad goes obvious. The entire issue–from Lovecraft-type tentacle monsters fighting with dinosaurs and giant living rock people–is oversized, but those scenes work in their context.
The epilogue, which features a somewhat grounded Ragemoor, is just plain cheap. It did require me to look back and confirm some events, but it’s not thought provoking. Actually, it would have been a better setup for a sequel than anything else.
There’s a lot of gross stuff in the issue, beautifully illustrated by Corben. But two big visual surprises in such an otherwise restrained comic are a little much….
The series peaked relatively early and, for the most part, the ride downhill is okay (except the final drop). A four issue series isn’t enough for all Strnad’s ideas. He does manage to make the unlikable protagonist sympathetic though.
Ragemoor‘s okay enough.
CREDITS
Writer, Jan Strnad; artist, Richard Corben; letterer, Nate Piekos; editors, Daniel Chabon and Scott Allie; publisher, Dark Horse Comics.
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