GRAVE BRIGADE #1, from Mike Dean & Tim Radecki on Kickstarter, follows Jack Graves and his squad of monster hunters as they chase down Nazi-created beasts in Europe during WWII.
The Details
- Written by: Mike Dean, Tim Radecki
- Art by: Debora Lancianese
- Colors by: Arthur Hesli
- Letters by: Dave Lentz
- Cover art by: Debora Lancianese, Arthur Hesli
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $5.00
- Release date: August 2023 (estimated)
Is It Good?
GRAVE BRIGADE #1 is the latest indie project from Mike Dean and Tim Radecki about an Allied squadron tasked with hunting down classic monsters brought to life by Hitler’s occult-trained researchers. The writing is as sharp as the claws and fangs (*ahem*) for a solid story that hits the sweet spot for horror lovers.
Dean and Radecki’s script centers on Jack Graves and his band of monster-hunting brothers. We follow the team as they track down a Nazi-led cult that attempts to create and gain control of a werewolf as an unstoppable soldier. If that setup sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Picture Dog Soldiers (2002) set in Nazi Germany, and you’re on the right track.
To be clear, a familiar premise isn’t a negative as the execution is well done, but regular horror connoisseurs will find the setup and resolution unsurprising. Still, monster lovers are in for a good time with a werewolf that looks intimidating, is hard to kill, and does a lot of damage.
What’s great about this comic? A comic is usually a winner if it gets the premise and the execution right. GRAVE BRIGADE #1 achieves both. We’ve already mentioned the premise, which gets a solid thumbs up because you can’t go wrong with Nazis and Werewolves in WWII. In terms of writing execution, Dean and Radecki introduce the eclectic ensemble cast with quick efficiency, the team gets in and out after a brutal fight (with losses), and the epilogue promises more monster goodness in the future.
What’s not so great about his comic? The squad takes losses, but you don’t get enough time to get to know the fallen to feel the weight of their loss, so their death feels a little hollow. Covering all the supporting characters in an ensemble cast can be a particular challenge, so we’ll see if the survivors get more time to shine in the follow-up.
How’s the art? The last time we reviewed Debora Lancianese’s work was in Scout’s Quicksand title, and it’s a pleasure to say Lancianese’s art style has gotten better in the time since. For a comic like this to work, you have to get the werewolf right, and on that count, Lancianese succeeds. As a minor down point, Lancianese art loses fidelity and details on the wider shots, but that seems to be a chronic issue across the industry.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a brief prologue showing a wounded Jack Graves confronting Death (literally) on the battlefield. A year later, Graves leads a squad of experts, ranging from explosives to occult history, on a mission to find and eliminate a Nazi cult ritual in progress.
The mission goes as planned, but they find the cult completed most of its objective – to create a controllable werewolf. Unfortunately, the cult’s ability to control the beast was unsuccessful. We conclude the issue with howling in the night, consulting with ghosts, and fighting with silver(ware).
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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GRAVE BRIGADE #1 is a fun creature feature about a squad of Allied monster hunters who track down occult threats during WWII. The writing is smooth, efficient, and well-crafted for a solid-yet-familiar premise, and the art team delivers a Grade-A werewolf.
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