Monday, April 18, 2011

Leroy Douresseaux on RYDER ON THE STORM #3


RYDER ON THE STORM #3
RADICAL PUBLISHING
 
WRITER: David Hine
ARTIST: Wayne Nichols and Hugo Petrus
COLORS: Feigan Chong and Sansan Saw of Sixth Creation
LETTERS: Richard Starkings and Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt
COVER: Francesco “Matt” Mattina
56pp, Color, $4.99 U.S.

Ryder on the Storm is a three-issue comic book miniseries from Radical Publishing. The concept rides several subgenres: supernatural-detective, horror fantasy, and action comic.

Written by David Hine and drawn by Wayne Nichols, the series focuses on Ryder, a private eye hired by a mysterious beauty to investigate the bizarre suicide of her lover. The crime is apparently tied to the Daemons, an ancient race that once ruled over the entire world, but now rules the city from behind the scenes and from beneath the streets.

As Ryder on the Storm #3 begins, the truth about the case that Ryder is investigating, the murder of Michael Hudson, is revealed. The number one suspect is Ryder’s client, Hudson’s lover, Katrina Petruska, and she has a gun pointed at Ryder. But the real action is yet to come. Ryder joins Charles Monk, the last Daemon hunter, in a final showdown with Rebecca Danton, the matriarch of the Dantons, a Daemon clan. Secrets, lies, and family ties are revealed.

Because of its smooth Film-Noir detective story and dark, urban fantasy vibe, Ryder on the Storm shocks with its sudden violent ending. As he did with FVZA: The Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency, writer David Hine delivers grit and edgy horror and slick action side by side. Hine can take a hokey concept and use his dark imagination to transform it into an inventive, engaging comic book.

However, in the praise department, I cannot short artist Wayne Nichols. Nichols is quickly becoming one of the best artists of horror comic books. Nichols visualizes all the aspects of Hine’s script through his art, while making Ryder on the Storm’s gross horror go down smoothly like an extra-creamy milkshake

A-

http://www.radicalpublishing.com/

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