Obscure Reference Comics have released the first part of Chapter Two of their highly promising series ‘Villainous’ and it, as well as Issue One can be read for free over at their website http://www.orcomics.com
Webcomics are everywhere these days. It’s a great way for small press creators to get their work out there for everyone to read, but it’s not very often that you get to see something with the potential of ‘Villainous’ the debut comic from Glasgow team, Writer Gary Chudleigh and artist Graeme Kennedy.
Issue one was released a while ago and is now free to view on the OR comics website. This isn’t superhero territory we’re in here; it’s a psychological thriller with perhaps a little hint of horror thrown in. Villainous tells the story of Victor Arkin and his escape from Straffen Asylum. All is not as you would expect though, as his reason for escape is to put an end to the copycat killer who has taken Arkin’s past as his inspiration.
The story’s pace move you quickly through the action, of which there is plenty, but don’t think that means they sacrifice character or story, there’s plenty of that too. The story has a cinematic sweep too it, the artist makes the most of the visual opportunities given to him and lets loose with a few gory scenes. If Graeme’s art isn’t quite the match of his imagination just yet, you know that when it does, we are in for some impressive work.
Good characters, exciting action and a pacy script, not bad in a first issue that showed great promise and left me wanting more.
Now, with Part One of Issue Two – Memento – arriving online, I got what I wished for.
Issue Two delves deeper into the past of Arkin and also gives us an insight into the motivation of Detective Thomas Bryson, the policeman pursuing him. The two men have shared history and it’s fair to say that they also both have issues. We get to see glimpse of both character’s past, and again the OR team manage to mix action and character development to good effect. Nothing is rushed and it’s good to see them show some restraint and let the characters develop naturally.
The new stuff does feel a little incomplete, but as it is the only the first part and not the complete second issue I can hardly complain. Part One ends on a great moment though and Chudleigh and Kennedy are going to have to go some to top it at the end proper of Issue Two.
It’s not perfect, maybe even a little rough around the edges but there’s no missing the potential in here. In a few years time you can boast to your friends about how you were a fan way back at the beginning.
So go visit the website and have a look at ‘Villainous.’ It’s free to view.
Recommended
7/10
Obscure comics website: http://www.orcomics.com
