The Black Forest » (Not Appropriate For Children)

World War I. In the battle between good and evil, evil just got creative: The Germans are developing a mysterious weapon to break through the trenches. American pilot Jack Shannon and Archie Caldwell, Britain's greatest stage magician, are sent behind enemy lines, into the heart of the supernatural vortex that is the Black Forest. There, in a remote castle, they match wits with evil occultist Avery Dye, who aims to use Frankenstein's Monster as a template to create an army of unstoppable re-animated dead! In order to thwart the forces of evil, Jack and Archie will be forced to battle Nosferatu, werewolves, a sorcerer, and Frankenstein's Monster himself!

Publishers Weekly

A mixture of familiar genres, literary characters and story lines, this cinematic comedy adventure comic has a dash of horror. It borrows heavily from the Indiana Jones series while integrating literary elements of Frankenstein and the legend of Nosferatu. Jack Shannon, a brash young American WWI pilot, volunteers to find a castle in the legendary German Black Forest, where the Kaiser is housing his latest war weapon: an army of resurrected Frankenstein soldiers who have the ability to regenerate themselves. Gathering a predictably colorful band of misfits to solve the mystery, Shannon is soon taking on an indestructible army of resurrected corpses, accompanied by a French spy disguised as a seductive gypsy woman, and effete occultist Archibald Caldwell. Formulaic and predictable, this work relies on age-old dialogue, banter and plots. However, its optimistic humor and rousing action sequences could make it suitable for teenage audiences. Vokes's art maintains a casual sketchy style; the loose drawings are free and fluid. Alas, the watercolored grays and blacks often look muddy on the page. (Mar.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.