Customer Reviews

Welcome To Hoxford

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Being moved into a prison that is controlled by some outside source is one thing. Being moved into one where "oddities" seem to be the norm is quite the other. Combine that with the prisoner we are looking at - one that seems to think that he has diety in him, and there could be some trouble. Actually, since this is Templesmith and there is always something horrible waiting for you in these books, you know trouble is waiting. You cnan tell from the cover that this isn't a social call we are going to watch take place.

I read Welcome to Hoxford a few months ago and it really turned out to be more than your typical read. Instead of being bored by some chasing scenes adn some iddity and a little gore here and there, a story was set into place that made things interesting. Here, something terrible is happening and it is about to hapen on a broad scale, bringing death and dismemberment to eveyone behind bars. The only hope here is the madman that has been let in - maybe he is more than he bargained for and maybe he can really do something when everything hits that fan people like to talk about.

Artwise, the story is also a winner. It has all the dark commodities I expected, with shadows seemingly overpowering the page and yet leaving enough room for me to see everything I want. The vivid reds and the horrible looks of the "thing" about to happen - it looks nice.

One more thing to note is that I liked the prison idea because I get to know the characters. Even if it just for a moment, I still see the people and I see what they've done, giving me a little taste of what they might do. When the chips fall, however, nobdoy seems to do what you think except simply survive. That realism there, the approach of some that differs from others, is a nice thing to have. It adds a taste of realism to the hyper-violent world that is being created.

You know th epeople - you know whta they bring. There will be blood, and we aren't talking a Daniel Day movie. I would be one of the people to add a 5 here as well, knowing how many should just break loose and get it.

I hated not seeing 5 stars by this so I'm making a quick review.
Welcome to Hoxford is a quick, brutal charge of human/animal depravity and their limitless reaches. The hunt-and all such a thing encompasses-takes you through shadowy, and, oftentimes strikingly RED madness at every turn. I couldn't put it down. Just buy it!
Fans of Templesmith's other work's (Wormwood, Fell-artwork, and, in my opinion, the film Dog Soldiers are sure to enjoy this).

Update: Spoilers removed.

I only picked this up because I've read the continuing series of 30 Days of Night and really liked the art of Templesmith. I thought I'd give one of his books that he'd actually authored a try. What a surprise! First there is the twist of a prison full of special prisoners, then an extra twist of a very special insane prisoner. I laugh just thinking about this. First Templesmith turns the Vampire on its head with a nice new direction, now he plays with another genre. I can easily see this being a film, and if it was done well, a damn good one, complete with a blonde psychologist among all the crazy male prisoners. Templesmith's art continues in his unique way. Too often in the comics industry you can't really tell one artist from another. I've found it easier to identify writing styles of comics writers over differentiating between artists. Templesmith is the type of artist that is so unique you can see just one panel of scratchy roughed inks washed with smears of color and know exactly who it is, and more importantly, it establishes mood and contributes to the story. I love this collection almost at much as I love 30 Days. If you're in the neighborhood, you might also pick up Wormwood collected volumes 1 through 3. Although, for my money, number 2 is hilarious. I can't even begin to describe that series. It is so warped, even Clive Barker must be waking in cold sweats. Wow.

A great, demented comic from my favorite graphic novel illustrator. The drawings themselves make this worth it. The story is interesting, though it to me doesn't live up to the great drawing style. I felt like the ending wasn't completely wrapped up well. It sort of just ends. But it is worth to have around just to look through. Would make a good coffee table book for any aspiring maniac.

Ben Templesmith's artwork is dark, eerie, and fantastic. He also tells a good horror story, and Welcome to Hoxford is his contribution to the werewolf genre. In the foreword, he says that werewolves just don't interest him, and I can see why. Much like vampires, they've been boiled down to something that's commercial and mainstream. But thankfully, Templesmith wrote this story, and he makes his werewolves into truly gruesome and savage monsters.

Welcome to Hoxford is also a prison story. The main characters are degenerate psychopaths that make the cast of Con Air look like pre-schoolers. Among them is Ray Delgado, a brutal inmate who likes to bite people and has a whole smorgasbord of mental illnesses. He's half psychotic white trash, half classical god. Hannibal Lecter meets Hercules. Ray's so crazy that it's kind of scary, but in a really cool way. He's actually not surprised when werewolves start ripping people to shreds.

And Templesmith's art brings the wolves to life in gruesome glory. They are drawn like giant horse-demons, with mouths that swallow humans whole. They rip and rend and send plenty of gore flying, just as a werewolf story should be.

I got this after having read Templesmith's Wormwood series (also written/drawn by him), and much like Wormwood the art is amazing. Templesmith's style works especially well here - as he utilizes tight, detailed drawings right alongside very gestural, sketchy almost schizoid style - which suits the book taking place almost entirely inside a mental hospital. Also- the color work is AMAZING... They have done a really good job of using palettes that reflect the atmosphere and mood of the story as well as the lighting of the scenes- even without words the art would be very compelling.

Anyway, as much as I love his style - the writing is somewhat lacking. If it were based soley on that I would have given it one less star. I dont really like delving into specifics, since this was not too long and I dont want to give any of the story away - but if you appreciate Templesmith's loose style then you should love this book.

Yes, he is. This graphic novel was nothing short of entertaining and awesome. The idea behind it was not one I would have imagined working, but work it did.

I give it 4 stars simply because when I went to read it the day after I got it, the binding broke and pages went everywhere. This was resolved by IDW with a simple email, they sent me a new copy (granted, this one wasn't in the most superb of conditions, its still better than the broken binding, and they didn't hassle at all, just apologized and sent the new one)

Even if you don't like the story, the art is amazing per usual Templesmith style.

Wish I could have read books and books on these characters! They are soo 'colorful', disturbed, and ?kinda? layered. The story was a little slapped together; as I said, they should have dragged the characters (including "Hoxford") into a few books, but as fast as it ran through it had all the sick little bits one comes to love from Mr.Templesmith. And I have to say that the "Bad Guys"[aka avoiding spoiler] were both completely grotesque and beautifully refreshing to see.
Ben; Love your art!