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| Marked by the Beast | Blood and Sunder |
QUESTION: When no one will pick up your comic book series, what should you do?
ANSWER: Get a scanner and take on the world yourself! Props to the creators of Rip Roar'n' Comics for having the gumption to take one of the most competitive entertainment segments in the US and Canada, and forging a place for themselves. Rip Roar'n Comics (for another great Indy comic check out his month's article on Gutwallow) has six titles currently available. This review will focus on the company's first two releases: Blood and Sunder and Marked by the Beast. Both are reminiscent of the golden age of Horror Comics.
Rip Roar'n Comics are not your glossy type comics. They are one hundred percent home made! They actually look like something a kid would do, but the stories and artwork presented in each comic will tell the average adult sequential art fan that this is just for them.
Marked by the Beast is a strange and surreal story about a drug that turns its users into vampire like beasts. In this world of murder, mayhem, 
everyone is basically restricted to their homes out of fear for the addicts. The story centers around a man named Mike who tells the story of how a friend of his has lost his brother to this drug. There is no rehabilitation for this drug, so addicts must be killed, by having their heads removed.
But do not think this comic centers around glorified gore and violence associated with vampire tales. The imagery presented is not uncommon to those who sell, are addicted, or are victims of illegal drugs. The violence is tasteful and appropriate. This is one of the most disturbing and powerful comics I have read in awhile.
While I highly recommend this series for mature fans, at $2.95 it's a STEAL! But I would like to point out that the story could have been fleshed out more. This again is not solely the fault of the authors but the limitations of the comic book industry that promotes the outdated 32-48 page comic book series. As I said in the Gutwallow article some comics should and can be a one shot deal. There is only so long a series can go. This seems like it would be a great graphic novel.
Blood and Sunder has a less developed story, and the art was below that of Blood and Sunder. Reading this story was like watching a really bad 50's B Movie. Somehow the oversized animals and insects are destroying everyone on Earth. How and where these creatures came from is a complete mystery. If you are a sci-fi junky or someone who like to see pictures of mayhem featuring children and old people being eaten by Giant Lizards, lobsters, and spiders well this series is for you.
There are no real characters in Blood and Sunder, just various 
individuals many who end up dead, and those left behind I assume will be more important later on. It was weak, and for $4.95 it needed that story. Perhaps if it were a graphic novel it would have been more intriguing?
To order either of these titles you can go directly to Rip Roar'n' comic's website.Or order directly from the publisher, Rip Roar'n Comics, P.O. Box 35842, Phoenix, AZ 85069
Comments, questions, and hate mail can all be sent to me at JenniferJ@ybfree.com