1st Impression: THE FINAL PLAGUE # 3 Review

THE FINAL PLAGUE # 3

Written by JD Arnold
Art by Tony Guaraldi-Brown

Action Lab: Danger Zone

FLIPPING THROUGH:

                We open back in Jersey as Captain Stroeman gets into interesting developments in the lab as Francine, who was bitten last issue, ends up eating part of a dead doctor. This causes the captain, Dr. Friedman and the others to subdue and study her. Things get overly insane as Robert and his family go to the hospital to check out his wounds from the earlier attacks. This leads to a shocking announcement by the CDC … that 11 people were infected by the diseased animals.
                Another duo of characters go into the woods only to find something they were not looking for and finally, Friedman’s research ends up giving some shocking results.

ART:

                Guaraldi-Brown really does a spectacular job this issue with giving the right mood and horrifying visuals of the book. The opening pages are lightly gruesome and only get worse as it goes on ahead. The panel work is amazing as each picture conveys the right amount of story without Arnolds words; as well as looking wonderful with its watercolor like palette. The water colors and whites give a great texture to the work.

                The people in the book are of all shapes and sizes and convey emotion well; even though this is not your normal comic book style. Guaraldi-Brown leaves a stunning impact with his work in each page with a good amount of detail, texture and flair.

WRITING:

                Arnold continues to raise the stakes. The characters are now knee deep in some really disturbing territory as the diseased is announced by the CDC. Arnold gives us some great narrative at the beginning of the book from Captain Stroeman. What I love about this is that while the animals seem zombie-like … the humans infected look more … enraged. Yes, there are zombie elements but there is a time limit it on that, supposedly.

                Arnold also takes the time to pull the heart strings this issue with the focus back on Robert and his family. The scenes in the hospital with not only Robert’s family but also the policemen felt very authentic. There was a lot of tension with those scenes as well as a good amount of paranoia. Kudos to Arnold for capturing the human condition in such a situation so well. It added even more layers to this wonderfully constructed story.  While this issue may look very wordy, it does fit the need of the story and adds to the ambiance of the book.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

                This book continues to make me feel unclean and now … a bit paranoid. This book is ever gripping with captivating art and entrancing story.

RATING:

                I give The Final Plague # 3 a 10 out of 10. HAPPY HALLOWEEN ALL. BUY IT NOW!!

1st Impressions: The Final Plague # 2 Review

THE FINAL PLAGUE # 2
Written by Johnnie “JD” Arnold
Art by Tony Guaraldi-Brown
Action Lab Entertainment

FLIPPING THROUGH:

                We continue off where we left last issue … the exterminator being eaten alive by flesh eating, zombie rats. Yes. I want you to read that sentence again. Read it. Done? Okay. Flesh eating zombie rats. Dozens of them.  As the exterminator yells at Bob to get them off, Bob gets bitten by the zombie rats. . . multiple rats And that is not all. Bob’s family is stalked with the family cat becoming a casualty to the zombie rats.

                We hit California where we get two police officers who check on one of their normal callers only to find an unwanted surprise await them.

                And finally, in Jersey, we find out doctors (Dr. Friedman & Dr. Stohr) experiment some more on some of the rats only to find that the Captain has called in the CDC and that they will be under arrest. As an argument ensues, the two doctors find out how bad things are becoming.


ART:

                Guaraldi-Brown gives us some truly chilling, graphic and powerful images and panel work this issue. From Frank dying a horrible death from being eaten alive (By the Matrix, that was Gross) to the experimentation of the rats to the dogs that appear. The book is dark. There is very little light and hopeful about the book yet it fits the story perfectly. The art in this book gives you truly gripping and horrific pages. The people look distinct. The animals look down right terrifying. The panel work mesmerize you and makes you hauntingly sick at the same time.

                Guaraldi-Brown tempers the darkness with just enough light to make things feel authentic while still adding to the mood. The emotions on the characters was rendered well. And once again, this books visuals are both haunting and disgusting. Only adding to the brilliance of the book.

WRITING:

                Arnold continues to up the ante on a chilling and gripping tale. The touch of watching Bob and his family deal with the infestation of rats added personal stakes … not only for Bob but for the reader. Arnold allows us to feel and go through the terror with Bob, Helen and their family, which only heightens the experience alongside the visuals.

                Arnold adds that the plague is spreading with a quick yet very efficient stop in California while we get some chilling details about the virus from the lab in New Jersey. The issue’s pacing was excellent. Arnold balances the two main plots perfectly this issue. Friedman and Stohr’s actions felt very authentic when faced with the mutiny and the threat of arrest. Bob really shined this issue with being very multifaceted … a protector to his family while still be scared; mourning his friend who died in front of him while trying to make sense of it all.  Interesting characters that definitely feel relatable.

                The overall story made me feel dirty and disgusted and horrified … which I am sure that is what Arnold had planned. Truly a well written, well paced and wonderful horror story.


OVERALL IMPRESSION:

                I can honestly say that this book makes me feel terrified and dirty. I want to wash myself every time I read this issue. I am scared of animals at the moment. And that is the power of Guaraldi-Brown and Arnold. Really exquisite work from both.


RATING:

                This is bar none, one of the greatest horror/suspense comics in history. Order & Buy this today. I give The Final Plague # 2 a 10 … out of 10. Now excuse me while I wash myself and set up traps for animals. 

Action Labs Month: The Final Plague # 1 Review

THE FINAL PLAGUE # 1
Written by Johnnie Arnold
Art by Tony Guaraldi-Brown

Action Labs Danger Zone


FLIPPING THROUGH:

            Action Labs Month continues as we take a look into The Final Plague. We open with a family in a farm out in Iowa were a mother of 2 children, Helen, smashes a rat … and it just won’t die. Helen literally has to make it a smear on a wall in order to kill it. Afterwards, Helen’s husband, Robert, chats with his son noticing that some of the rats remains a twitching.

            We go over quickly to a hobo in New York who is drunkenly singing Madonna’s “Like A Virgin” and then …. OH GOD!!!!!

            Um … yeah. Moving on to a lab in Jersey, we find that one scientist, Jeremy, has a bunch of these rabid rats. He tells another scientist,  Carol, that they had blood on them. A rat was able to spit blood into another lab assistant, and Jeremy decides it is best to quarantine the rats … and the lab assistant.

            We get more with Helen and Robert’s family as they reveal to been having an infestation. Robert calls his buddy and exterminator, Alan. They have dinner together and send Alan down to kill the infestation of rats when … EEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!


ART:

            Okay. As you noticed, I am kinda skeeved out by this book. Okay. MORE Than Kinda skeeved out. And that is impressive. Guaraldi-Brown really brings us a visually dark, gross yet interesting look to the tale. It is non-typical comic style  yet really works as sequential art. The lack of color in some spots with the addition of color in other pages really makes the scenes stand out more and covey a lot more emotion. You can see emotion on faces and Guaraldi-Brown lets the visuals and colors take you in a different way. I appauld him for his use of darker, sharper inks and the colors look almost as if water colors but I am not sure. Yet, these really work to bring you into the atmosphere of the book, the scenes and overall emotions that are put out in the panels.

            The lab was very  sterile so there are a lot of whites, grays and blacks till the rat spat blood.  When Robert and his son  look at the sunset, there was a feeling of optimism there. Yet, the biggest thing that I MUST give Guaraldi-Brown credit for is the horrific visuals. Dear God, I have not been this squimish about a comic book for nearly 2 decades.( Note: Last time I was this squimish, I was a teenage readying the roaches vs the rats on Blood Syndicate) The panels really brought me there and I felt so unclean. Still do in fact. WELL DONE Guaraldi-Brown.

WRITING:

            The Final Plague # 1 gives you a lot in the first issue but presents it wonderfully. Arnold gives us a family we can relate to, some scientist who are studying the probably and the beginnings to seeing how bad this “plague” really is. It is nice seeing animals kind of fighting back humans for a change.

            There is a good amount of uncomfortable dirty in this book and I LOVE it. This is the type of comics I really enjoy. Rich characters in situations that make YOU (the reader) uncomfortable. And Arnold does this several times, which each team escalating the filth and horror. The issue was paced really well and we got introduced to all the characters in a organic, positive way. Arnold also seems to have subplots stewing and what is more horrifying is seeing the reach of this “plague” already.

            I also give kudos to Arnold for going the extra mile in getting down dialects and vocabulary from different parts of the US down. Helen and Robert sound like they are from a farm in Iowa. Jeremy and Carol sound like they are from Jersey but NOT the Jersey Shore. I give him extra props for adding the flavor to the books cause I seem to read a lot of books that don’t diversify speech enough these days. So another point in Arnold’s favor. And Arnold’s script alongside Guaraldi-Brown’s visuals make me feel unclean, uncomfortable, horrified and WANTING MORE!


OVERALL IMPRESSION:

            I am pleasantly surprised at this book. THIS is quality comics. This is what reading comics is about. Being moved, captivated and manipulating readers to feel and think because of your script. The Final Plague # 1 stands as a great shining star in the creative owned sector. The characters feel realistic. The pacing is excellent. The plots believable and gripping and the art is amazing. This book UNSETTLES me and I am not easy to unsettle after 22 years of comic book reading/collecting. Exquisite work from Arnold and Guaraldi-Brown.


RATING:

            I need to take a bath and afraid of small animals after this book. I humbly give this book a 10 out of 10! BUY THIS BOOK! ORDER THIS BOOK! GIVE YOUR FRIENDS A COPY! THEN BUY IT AGAIN!!!