HOUR OF THE WOLF #2 – Sprint Review

HOUR OF THE WOLF #2, by Mad Cave Studios on 12/4/24, presents Owen Blackwood with the tragic history behind the cursed painting, but can he break the curse before becoming the painting’s next victim?

Credits:

• Writer: Mark London
• Artist: Danilo Beyruth
• Colorist: Fabi Marques
• Letterer: Dave Sharpe
• Cover Artist: Andrei Bressan
• Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
• Release Date: December 4, 2024
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $4.99
• Page Count: 32
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of HOUR OF THE WOLF #2:

Plot:

Owen Blackwood, an agent of Wolvenheart, learns the tragic history of a painter who turned to the occult to create a cursed painting to get revenge on his wife. The painter remains eternally alive inside the painting as long as it keeps the cursed item fed with the souls of whoever finds it. Now, Owen must rescue an innocent mother and daughter before they become the painting’s next victim.

Artwork and Presentation:

Danilo Beyruth uses heavy shadows, combined with detailed, clean inks to create a distorted version of reality inside the painting. Once the walls begin closing in (literally), Beyruth’s skill for fast movement amplifies the pace and urgency.

Art Samples:

Character Work:

Mark London presents a central villain in the painter whose broken mind runs counter to the reality of the flashbacks presented through the visuals. His words twist the reality of what truly happened, which makes the painter’s unhinged perceptions frightening.

Pacing:

Mark London’s pacing starts well and builds with frantic energy once Owen learns about the painting’s nature and the threat it represents. Coupled with the ticking clock of Owen’s time limit in this Time-Space, the pacing ramps up considerably.

Strongest Point(s):

A good story with a strong hero needs a villain who is at least as interesting and powerful as the hero, ideally more so. Mark London creates a villain that should terrify any agent of Wolvenheart.

Weakest Point(s):

The victims are trapped inside the painting, which represents the painter’s vision of a house, but you don’t get much of a look at the house other than the odd hallway. It would help add to the atmosphere of the story if the house inside the painting was an active participant in the narrative. This is a minor quibble.

Final Thoughts:

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HOUR OF THE WOLF #2 is another strong entry in the Wolvenheart spinoff when Owen learns the deadly, tragic history behind the painting’s creation. Mark London nails the occult horror mystery vibe, and Danilo Beyruth’s art is on point.

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