Wormwood Gentleman Corpse: Calamari Rising

Ben Templesmith's Wormwood is just crazy. Someone at work asked what I was reading and I could only tell her that it was about a god-like worm that lived in the right eye socket of a corpse. It's not quite a conversation stopper, but it's close.

In Calamari Rising, Wormwood must once again save the Earth from something that's come looking for him. The only reason he saves the Earth is because he likes the drink and the women. He's kind of self-centred that way. I found this novel alot tighter than the last one (It Only Hurts When I Pee) it seemed to know where it was going, even if it did involve sort of a deus ex machina device it made sense because Wormwood is something of a god.

I enjoyed this one, it went quickly but I wasn't disappointed. I'll give it a 4.

Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse It Only Hurts When I Pee

Another outing into the craziness that is Wormwood by Ben Templesmith. Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse It Only Hurts When I Pee is a collection of two Wormwood stories. The main story is "It Only Hurts When I Pee" and the after thought is "Segue to Destruction". Of the two I preferred "Segue".

In "It Only Hurts When I Pee" Wormwood and his gang travel to the dimension of the Leprechauns and it becomes a twisted road trip. There's not much plot, just alot of violence, weird sex and a cross-dressing Leprechaun Queen. "Segue to Destruction" is a much better dark comedy. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are more bent on enjoying themselves than on bringing about the end of the world. Thanks to Wormwood of course. The scene with Death (or Mr. D as he's known) with the Emos is priceless.

All in all, the main story sort of takes something away from this collection. It's much more over the top than I'm really comfortable so I have to drop the rating to 3 out of 5. Reluctantly.

Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse Birds, Bees, Blood & Beer

Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse Birds, Bees, Blood and Beer by Ben Templesmith is freaky. Freaky and messed up. An intelligent maggot, inhabiting the eye socket of a corpse, with an automaton drinking buddy that has no bits, saves the world. Twice. To really enjoy this book, I'd say you that had to be open to dark comedy. There's some pretty sick things that happen and it's meant to get a laugh, or at least a chuckle.

The art is amazing. It's so rich and layered. I think Templesmith must have refined his style since 30 Days of Nights because I liked it much better here than I did in the other graphic novel. Maybe it's just that he's illustrating his own work. I like it enough to give it 4 out of 5.