We've
not really dabbled in the world of graphic novels much here
at Action TV, but this new title really does deserve to be bought
to the attention of a wider audience given its themes and setting.
Imagine if you will a pilot episode for a lost 60s action adventure
series with supernatural overtones. Imagine a collison between
such TV favourites as The Avengers or Adam Adamant Lives! and
classic horror movies such as The Devil Rides Out or Night Of
The Demon. If you can imagine all that then you'll have a pretty
good idea of the kind of adventure romp contained in this release.
Writer Robert Tinnell (director, scriptwriter and producer on
numerous independant films) and artist Adrian Salmon (perhpas
most noted for his illustrations for Doctor Who Magazine) have
produced this little gem in what is planned to be the first
in a proposed series of 1960s set adventures starring square
jawed hero Terry Sharp who by day is a hard-living, skirt-chasing,
celebrated director of classic British horror films. But by
night Terry fights a secret group of satanists hell-bent on
taking control of the government. The satanists will stop at
nothing, using both bullets and witchcraft to try and kill Sharp.
The fast-paced storyline really does feel like a pilot as we
are first introduced to Sharp fleeing from unseen assassins
and breaking into the house of his trusted friend Major Harvey
Clarke. Our hero quickly dispatches his pursuers and next we
are flung into Sharp's daytime job as director of the film The
Return Of Frankenstein for Midwich Productions (a company not
dissimiliar to Hammer or Amicus). Here Sharp is directing his
star Peter Lingham (who has a striking resemblance to Peter
Cushing) in a setting and scenario British horror fans will
enjoy tremendously with all its in-jokes and character names
echoing real-life stars and technicians. For the record I spotted
namechecks for Freddie Francis, Andre Morrell and Val Guest,
but I'm sure there are more that I missed on first reading.
Illustrator Adrian Salmon has a strikingly bold and angular
graphic style which really serves the shadowy climax of the
episode well as Sharp and colleagues are trapped in a magic
circle with half-seen demons circling around it waiting to rip
them to shreds. The artwork is further embellsihed by a bold
use of colouring which helps the capture the feel of 60s film
stock perfectly.
The Faceless also features an imaginary essay on the film Sharp
is meant to be directing in the story, backed up with an interview
with actress Suzanne Morrell and the opening title sequence
of the film in comic strip form. These little extras are a welcome
embellishment on the world of Terry Sharp who I hope to enjoy
more adventures of very soon.
If you're a fan of 60s action TV series of British horror films
of the period then this a perfect way to pass an hour and be
reminded why you enjoy the genre some much and imagine what
a fantastic TV series it would have really made! I can't wait
for the second instalment.
Image Comics , paperback, 64 pages, published October 2005 price
£4.50
For further details, background information and to view a trailer
for the grahic novel : http://theblackforest.net/terrysharp/
To order in the UK go to :
http://www.fpigraphics.co.uk/acatalog/The_Faceless_A_Terry_Sharp_Story.html
