SPEAK OF THE DEVIL #5
Well,heh-heh,speak-of-the-devil [snicker] a review from Mr Brown!
SPEAK OF THE DEVIL #5
Gilbert Hernandez
Dark Horse Comics
28pps B&W
Well, here we are with the penultimate issue of this series from the incredibly talented Mr Hernandez.Anyone out there who has been following my reviews, will know that I had certain reservations regarding the direction the story arc was going in, and whether or not Gilbert’s seemingly make-it-up-as-I-go-along plot was working effectively. Well, this issue goes some way to answering some of those uncertainties. Though not necessarily, with the right answers.
At the end of Issue 4, the road our crazy mixed-up teen voyeur adventure was driving along had suddenly veered onto a serial killer highway, replete with overtly gratuitous roadkill adorning it’s inky surfaces. This issue, I think Gilbert’s on a Road to Nowhere. The violence in issue 4 pales next to the level of callous brutality here. If one is going to depict violence in any medium, it should, I think, be displayed in a manner that does leave one feeling sickened and shocked, and certainly Gilbert always shows such things in a way that is uncomfortable,and obviously doesn’t glorify it or make it attractive.And yes, this is a story(well, now, if not initially) of serial killers. But even I found the violence here unpalatable. Perhaps Gilbert has succeeded in depicting the degree of coldness required to perpetrate such appalling acts, but unfortunately, it didn’t feel entirely convincing.
A part of the problem to my mind, is the shift in direction the story and characters have taken. It seems to me that we’re now reading a completely different story to issues 1 to 3, with characters that do not entirely correspond with who they were initially. One can argue that the purpose of a story is to follow in a journey that might take us in a different direction than that we expected to travel.
Unfortunately, I can’t help feeling that Gilbert lost the map halfway down the road. It’s odd, but I felt the initial teen voyeur plot held far more intrigue and mystery than the serial killer story we’re left with, with an issue to go. So essentially, I’m rather disappointed with where Speak of the Devil has ended up, plot-wise. From an artwork point of view, there’s little, if anything, one can fault. Gilbert has always been an excellent storyteller visually, his pages are always beautifully balanced compositions, and each panel contains wonderful nuances of feeling and emotion.
And I still love those opening splash pages, this issue being paticularly manic, in keeping with the level of frenzied insanity that follows.
Still, despite my misgivings regarding the unconvincing characterisation shifts, expect more uncertain and confused meanderings from me on the final issue of Speak of the Devil in a months time, if Uncle Terry deems me worthy !
Paul Brown
Wimp! Anyway,a sneak preview of the cover to SOTD #6!
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6 Responses
I only own issue 5 and I enjoyed it. But I understand your reservations. Not so much because the violence is sickening. I think the way Gilbert handles it is very effective. As because it all feels like a diluted retread of old Gilbert plots and themes. On the other hand, he’s avowedly working in a “b movie” vein so repeating genre cliches and his own mannerisms is part of the deal. The art as you say is great. Worth buying, certainly. In terms of storytelling, it reads like a dream. But Gilbert is capable of stretching things much more.
Posted on July 21st, 2008 at 8:06 am
Mr Butler
Your remarks are insightful and accurate,the “B movie vein” is a good way of thinking of it in terms of style, which hadn’t occured to me to be honest(Faster Pussycat Kill Kill perhaps-in those terms it does indeed make sense).More importantly, are you the Chris Butler of HelpShark fame ? I used to love the Help Shark zines, I still have nearly all of them, sad completist that I am.Them Was The Days !
Posted on July 23rd, 2008 at 9:52 am
Hi Paul,
Sorry, you’re thinking of Gavin Butler. I’m definitely not him. I loved the help! shark zines back in the day, too. I did use to do comics, though. Writing them. In fact, I eventually worked with Gavin and Steve Martin on a post-help! shark small press Marvel tribute, called “Amateur”.
Posted on August 7th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Hi,Chris.
Paul got confused by me,actually! I knew I recognised your name from a title [yep,”Amateur”] and my aged brain said “Help! Shark”.
I’ll let Paul know you’ve replied!
Cheers
Terry
Posted on August 7th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Hi Terry,
No problem about the confusion. Actually, the same thing happened at a small press convention I went to last weekend (Caption in Oxford). I had a nice long chat with an old fanzine acquaintance, and when he took his leave he said he wanted to tell me how much he liked Help! Shark. By that point I was too drunk to explain, so I took the credit, saying “yeah, a lot of people liked that stuff”. I think he probably worked it out on his way home and I hope he guessed I was just being polite by posing as Gavin. Have you seen Steve Martin’s later work, by the way, on Terrible Sunrise, his WW1 graphic historodrama?
Best regards,
Chris.
Posted on August 16th, 2008 at 3:20 am
Hi,Chris. Hah! See,I’m not the only one. But if you get too drunk its always difficult to challenge anyone in that state!
Annoyed that I missed Caption again!! Who do I need to contact because each year I say I’d like to go and cover it but nothing!
No,not seen any of Steve’s later work;”Terrible Sunrise” I’ve heard of but never seen. My loss I guess.
I’d like to see far more Small Press reviewed on CBO but no one sends -no review!
Anyway,Gavin/Chris [delete as appropriate] -thanks! Maybe we’ll meet up at Caption 2009!!
Cheers
T
Posted on August 16th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
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