ComicBitsOnline.com

SPEAK OF THE DEVIL #2   by Gilbert Hernandez

Dark Horse Comics

So, the second part of Gilbert Hernandez’ slightly surreal tale of a teenage Devil-masked female voyeur literally limps along without really seeming to be going anywhere yet (except outside the window,obviously). 

 Despite the frustration at a lack of forward thrust plot -wise at the moment (and i might be being a tad too hasty),there is still stuff to like here, as always with Gilbert. A certain surreal perversity in the subject matter that is far more intriguing than the usual mainstream drivel, and always seems to me to have a whiff of the great Luis Bunuel about the feel of his work. The pleasure in him having a more pared-down cast of characters though all so far ticking the boxes of stock Gilberto players if you like.

There’s always this sense of a somewhat slightly sinister sexual tension lurking under the characters covers, so far being played out by Val, Paul and Val’s mum. ( What does Paul understand exactly, at the end of this instalment, that is akin to his own sexual identity ?  Perhaps this will be the key to driving this story forwards ). 

What I have always found incredibly under-rated about Gilbert’s work is his actual artwork. Always overshadowed by the virtuoso mastery of brother Jamie, Gilbert’s pages always have a real balance and textual mastery to them in the use of a thickish outline, and the solid placement of blocked in blacks against an exact stipple/hatching effect.  

So far, to me anyway, Speak of the Devil is a tad underwhelming, by comparison to some of Gilbert’s past work.

But I’m sure that things will improve as this continues. If anything, within these pages, there is still the playful surreal quality of his work in New Love, and the early shorter pieces of the first Love & Rockets issues.

I’d still much rather be reading an underwhelming Hernandez comic, than a hundred pages of the latest overhyped mainstream bilge from the desperate to be movie/game comic tie-ins anyday. 

Paul Brown

And,while Paul finishes off the last page of “Outlaws 4029″,I’ll let you know that Speak Of The Devil #3 is out on 28th November.  I enjoy it!