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Stitched, Issue #1

The first issue of the horror comic book series by writer Garth Ennis and artist Mike Wolfer.

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Fear The Stitched and Love the Gore!! So Bleeding Cool....

Nov 3, 2011

by woopak_the_thrill
posted in Speech Bubbles: Comics & Graphic Novels

Exclusive to the Lunch Network

Rating:

I've been with The Beyond the Printed Page community (join here) since its inception; it is a small, specialized community and it has given me more reason to pick up comic books that has been declared ‘adult reading material: you must be 18 (in the head) or older to buy this comic’ so here I am taking a chance on the first issue of “Stitched”; since it has been stamped as ‘gore' (and that cover just grabbed me). Written by Garth Ennis (Preacher) and illustrated by Mike Wolfer, the title is published by Avatar Press and is being released as a new series. Upon picking up the title, I picked the goriest and bloodiest cover to issue one (there are 4 plus variant covers coming), since, well, I am a gorehound in some ways. The comic series does have a simple enough premise but I have to say I am very interested as to where this comic is headed.

The story begins in Afghanistan as a Black Hawk helicopter on the way to an extraction mission ‘Idaho 6” crashes with no true apparent reason save for engine malfunction. Survivors Cooper and Twiggs along with a wounded Lt. Pruitt try to make it back to command post in the dry hot desert; avoiding the Taliban and other desert creatures. But things are about to become worst, as something tracking them. This ‘something’ is something that is unexplained, inhuman and terrifying….and it is hell-bent on killing anyone…anyone!

Garth Ennis has a reputation for making horror stories that push the envelope and he seems to be trying to outdo his own work with “Stitched”. The first issue is insanely graphic that gorehounds would be the comic’s target reader. Entrails are exposed, guns are shoved into faces, inhuman hands are shoved into mouths, blood and human organs are splattered all over the place; the comic is just so violent that it could make “The Hills Have Eyes” or the “Saw” movies seem like they were normal boring movies (this was inspired by a short film made by Ennis) and make the violence in other horror comic titles seem common and mainstream. Well, ‘gore is in the eyes of the beholder’ and so the comic was pretty simple to me, but it was deliciously awesome. I thought much of the gore illustrations by Wolfer were pretty creative and it did have a lot of potential to shock the reader.

Wolfer was pretty detailed in the art, he seemed to pay attention to facial features and expressions and creature designs which proved to be the comic book’s main draw; not to mention the sheer graphic nature of the horror elements. The writing does keep a lot of detail unrevealed in this first issue, as the creatures being driven with a hooded man was kept in mystery. The creatures were odd, and they resembled mummies and those stitched up ghouls that we’ve seen in legends. I really am not sure what their motivations are, save that an odd noise precedes their arrival, they have a hook-like blade and that they are not after human flesh, but rather certain parts of the body. It is extremely tough for them to be killed since they all showed the qualities of being undead or something. Issue one isn’t all about details but rather to grab the reader into getting into the comic.

Ennis keeps the dialogue simple and I was a little surprised that he kept profanity to a minimum and avoids the stereotypes of soldiers as with 'potty mouths'. He also adds some new characters into the mix, as Cooper’s group meets up with the team of Bravo One-Five. Much as the gore and blood were the first issue’s main focus to capture our imagination, I believe it may be safe to assume that there is a mystery to unfold with future issues, but one thing is for sure, the rules and sensibilities of a survival horror comic have been established and so, it would be safe to assume that this is where it is headed. I would be surprised if it went another way, but I hope it isn’t what I think it is.

So would you say “Stitched” is a good comic? Too soon to tell, but I know Ennis and I believe there is much more to this than blood, graphic violence and gore. Issue one’s intentions were to get the reader’s attention and to get one hooked; I am not hooked yet, but I have to say, I am very interested what lies ahead for the title.

Recommended! [4 Out of 5 Stars]

Fear The Stitched and Love the Gore!! So Bleeding Cool....

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JRider November 08, 2011

Wow I wasn't familiar with this at all but damn if it doesn't look about as graphic as they come! I mean the cover alone there looks to contain more disturbing detail than the entire published history of most of the comics I've followed! You'll have to comment once you've gotten a little further along in the series, it should be interesting to see how they develop this one.

woopak_the_thrill November 08, 2011

sweet, man! I mean comics have gotten very complex since we were kids. Hey, when are you going to earn Green Lantern badges? (hint hint) We have two special ones here and here in Movie Hype! You're more than halfway!

JRider November 08, 2011

Will I gotta grab that Blu! I saw Captain America finally and enjoyed it well enough. I think a lot of these films are tough on account of the fact that they have to cater to the origins for so much of the run-time for all the masses who know nothing of the source material, that it leaves little for what really makes these characters so enduring. I am looking strangely forward to GL though, maybe I really am a DC geek at heart.

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FM_ALEX November 06, 2011

Wow how have I missed this, I must get it.

woopak_the_thrill November 06, 2011

when I saw that cover...I was like "mine mine!!" LOL

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Count_Orlok_22 November 04, 2011

Looks interesting (is that what I think it is on the rock?) and gruesome. So, does this take place before, during, or after the war?

woopak_the_thrill November 04, 2011

I would say it happens during and before the end of the war....on the wrap-around-cover, (at the bottom of the review) you see way more action. I took the 'gore' cover LOL!

Count_Orlok_22 November 04, 2011

I just check out the official site and it turns out that the comic series is actually inspired by a short film that Garth Ennis did. You seen it?

woopak_the_thrill November 04, 2011

I heard about it last night while I was researching it. There is a variant cover with the look of a movie...

Count_Orlok_22 November 04, 2011

Yeah, the first few issues will have four covers each. A wraparound cover, a photo cover, a gore cover, and then a regular cover. Kind of gimmicky, if you ask me, but I'm guessing that since this is an independent comic they need the extra money in order to publish them regularly.

woopak_the_thrill November 04, 2011

Well, I just picked up the gore cover and maybe just maybe one special variant cover (2nd printing) that reflects the short film.

Count_Orlok_22 November 04, 2011

Did you check out the preview of issue #2 online?

woopak_the_thrill November 04, 2011

I don't check out previews online since I still prefer going to the store and being caught by surprise. This is now part of my monthly pull list.

Count_Orlok_22 November 04, 2011

Think you'll get the short film when it hits DVD and Blu-ray?

woopak_the_thrill November 04, 2011

as long as it is priced right, then I probably will....I was in BBuy the other day and they have a huge unsold inventory of Captain America and Green Lantern blurays (I mean who would pay $ 25 for a mediocre movie) which I think will sell for $ 7.99 after Thanksgiving....I may get C.A. for $ 7.99 or even $ 9.99 but GL has to be sold used for $ 4.99 for me to even consider it.

Count_Orlok_22 November 04, 2011

LMAO! Takes green to buy Green.

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Madpenguin November 03, 2011

Man, I was just about to fill you in on this and ask if you ever heard of it. But i'm going to chill for the moment on it. I don't really want to follow it just yet.

woopak_the_thrill November 03, 2011

If I like what I see next issue, expect an issue per issue review as with "Scarlet". It definitely is one of the goriest comic books I've ever come across....

Madpenguin November 03, 2011

Yeah it is, that's why I don't want to get in too deep with it. I don't want to do the issue per issue thing. It's too expensive and I have to review Scarlet already.

Count_Orlok_22 November 04, 2011

Yeah, Frank, what did you think of Scarlet?

Madpenguin November 04, 2011

I liked it, pretty good storyline from what I remember. You'll see when I post it. Might not be at this very moment due to other things I want to get out. But you'll see it soon.

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About the reviewer

William (woopak_the_thrill)
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Please "Like" Film and Movies and Keep the Economy strong....LOL!! My Interests: Movies, Anime, History, Martial … more