I’ll have to admit, I was a bit skeptical to pick up Legion of Monsters. I didn’t really jump on the Fraken-Castle craze – although I found it hilarious. I really didn’t know what to expect going in. What I got was – well – read on!
Legion of Monsters #1 of 4
Dennis Hopeless (writer), Juan Doe (artist, cover), Wil Quintana (colours), Dave Lanphear (letters). $3.99
Just in time for Hallowe’en! The fun-filled Legion of Monsters miniseries – featuring some of Marvel’s most prominent horror creatures: Morbius, the vampire, Jack Russell, the Werewolf by Night, The Living Mummy and Manphibian, bring terror and hilarity to a new level. The series kicks-off featuring monster slayer, Elisa Bloodstone, tempting an unknown monster through stereotypical slasher-lore: her dancing in a bedroom in her underwear while the monster sniffs her “innocence” out. Unfortunately for the unnamed monster, this means total doom.
Now enter the Legion of Monsters. Underneath New York City, Morbius runs a tight ship, housing hundreds of thousands of monsters in order to prevent them from harming anyone on the surface. Acting as the monster police, Jack, the Living Mummy and Manphibian help quell any problems the monsters give the surface world – with hilarious results. But what Bloodstone’s role is with the legion only becomes revealed by the final few pages – setting up a really awesome and exciting story for the remaining three issues.
And that’s where Dennis Hopeless really shines. If you want funny, monster-driven dialogue, this book is for you. In fact, if you’re a fan of slapstick comedy mixed with violence, science, mystery, and unusual team-ups, this book is your you. Yes, Hopeless seems to fit everything and the kitchen sink into the first part of this series. But most importantly, this story is good. Every tiny detail of set-up is given in this book, creating a world for new readers to jump on to who have no prior knowledge to any of the characters.
To match Hopeless’ world, Juan Doe hits the nail on the head with his art style. While it’s ultimately cartoony, it fits the mood of the book with near-perfection. Clean lines appear rough when headshots are presented in particular panels, but it allows you to see the grit of the monsters while still seeing their human-like traits. Each panel is used properly, showing everything that is needed to keep the story moving along. Doe essentially put a ton of effort into this book and it shows. Matching Doe with Quintana on colours must have been a dream come true for Doe. Quintana never overdoes brights or darks and shows all of Doe’s pencils without drowning any of it out. With such a versatile set of characters, Quintana has a lot to play with, and he spares no expense in having fun with that.
The Legion of Monsters is a ton of fun for fans of horror and people who just want a good laugh. It’s unfortunate that it is only four issues, because the first one went by too fast!
Grade: 9/10
Keep on Space Truckin’!