By: Ben Templesmith (Created, Written & vaguely Drawn)
Holy crap! What the heck is this comic about?! I didn’t understand anything of what was going on. Now, I haven’t read the previous series (I believe this is a mini-series), but since this is a #1 issue, I thought it would be accessible to everyone. Sadly, I was wrong. Good job, Templesmith!
So, the story is about this putrid guy (I guess he is a living dead corpse, if that makes sense), who gets scared about some dimensional rip in the sky and goes to put on his Robocop suit (probably to fight back because he’s the main character). There’s supposed to be a Calamari Rising somewhere – maybe it will in the second issue, but if it’s coming from the sky, shouldn’t it be descending? I don’t know, and I won’t know because I’m not picking this or any other future Wormwood issue.
I didn’t pick up 30 Days of Night because of Templesmith’s horrible art. And yeah, I know you shouldn’t judge the book by its cover. But whatever. I gave this book $3.99 and it stinks. (Grade: F)
-Daniel Yanez
Filed under: IDW, Reviews Tagged: | Ben Templesmith, Crap, IDW, Wormwood
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The rest of the reviews for Wormwood generally go like this one, from Comicsbulletin:
“Now I ask you again. Why did you not pick this up already? This should be mandatory, dammit.
The art is Templesmith. Templesmith is the art. It’s bizarre. It’s nuanced. It’s bloody brilliant.
I’m sorry. That’s really all I’ve got. If you pick this up and don’t like it, I can’t be your friend anymore. I mean it. I can’t explain to you why this is great if the mere description of it doesn’t shed some light. I’ve never really read a book where the inherent greatness was simply self evident and I don’t really know what else to say. Buy this book. Buy multiple copies and give it to friends so you can earn their eternal praise. Give it to your enemies and make them your friends, or at least your willing thralls. That is all. End transmission.”
While I do believe wholeheartedly that Daniel has a right to his opinion, it still doesn’t mask this terrible review. Rather than constructive criticism, Daniel offered the destructive sort. As a newcomer to the comic scene, I pretty much read whatever my experienced cousin tosses my way. I had never seen anything Templesmith had ever done before and certainly had no clue what the comic was about. I simply glimpsed his artwork for this book online and instantly fell in love. It’s gritty, dark, dirty, and I completely agree it’s refreshing compared to the neat cookie cutter artwork we see in the big names. I think the story is oddly entertaining and had Daniel actually read it, which I don’t believe he did, he’d notice that there is no “Robocop” suit in site. Daniel was referring to Wormwood’s robot/drinking buddy/bodyguard. Wormwood himself is actually a telepathic worm which has the ability to animate corpses. Daniel should have easily picked up on this in the issue. The worm can be seen inside the eye socket of the corpse. The book is full of dry, witty humor and very interesting characters. The plot is certainly more difficult to grasp without previous knowledge of the series but I don’t consider myself over intelligent or intuitive and I had no problem following along. Wormwood was definitely worth my money based on the sheer artistic talent on display. The fact that Templesmith backed it up with entertaining dialogue and great characters just adds to it. I’ve read many a comic that I considered to have poor or mediocre art and still got plenty out of it. I wish Daniel would take another look at the series, pay a little more attention, and write a new review. If he still hates it, then oh well, but I think it’s certainly worth the money.
Well, I’ll say this for you Templesmith fans, you’re a passionate lot. And that’s fine with me, but there’s no need to attack Daniel personally just because he doesn’t like what you like. Forcing your opinion on someone else doesn’t make you look intelligent. And just because you’ve taken an art history class or two doesn’t make your opinion more valid than Daniel’s. He paid for this book with his own hard-earned cash and he’s got every right to say what he wants – just as you do.
Ben Templesmith understands this as well, and it’s very cool of him to take Daniel’s criticisms to heart (like adding a page for new readers to catch up). Daniel put his money where his mouth is and even introduced himself to Ben face-to-face last weekend. They shared some laughs about the review and Daniel walked away with a couple of books signed by Templesmith that he *did* enjoy.
Yes, one of the main problems was that I was expecting a #1. Try to watch episode 9 of “24” thinking it’s #1. I based my review in the issue at hand, not the previous issues that I haven’t read or purchased and there wasn’t any “Previously On…” at the beginning. If you don’t have some kind of back story on a comic like this, the people at IDW shouldn’t expect new customers to buy it. It was obviously a poor marketing choice by them.
The book is different, and there is nothing like it in the market right now, that’s true. As you say, Templesmith’s art is hit or miss. And for me it’s a miss for Wormwood. My review isn’t THE official and only one review around, it’s just one of several; it’s my personal opinion. Jackson Pollock’s art is not for everyone, and people still paying millions of dollars for an original. And as you can see on the comments here, anybody is entitled to their opinion.
I don’t see a reason why you care so much about the review, Templesmith didn’t care about it and he’s not losing any sleep over it. And I’m sure many people are still buying and will be buying his comics, regardless of my review. Please go ahead and buy #2 tomorrow! I won’t mind.
-Daniel
Possibly the worst review I’ve ever read. “I don’t know anything about this, don’t want to know, don’t like the artist, everything sucks. The end.”
Bravo (slowly clapping hands.)
I think your major problem with the book (aside from the art) is that you went in assuming it was a first issue because IDW slapped a #1 on the cover. Its actually issue 9, but the series comes out kind of irregularly so someone made the decision to number by arc. I can say that, for someone who has read the previous issues, this one made perfect sense. Sure, it was a bit on the slow side, but the characters were already known, the villain was already introduced in a previous arc, the beef between Wormwood and the squiddies had already been hinted at, and it had been explained that Wormwood isn’t the rotting body but the worm. This issue was set up for the next piece of plot to move along.
As for the art, Wormwood is Templesmith’s opportunity to play, and that he does. Its hit or miss, really, but I’m not quite sure why you see it as miss rather than something that simply isn’t up your alley? Don’t we get enough clean lines and meticulous detail over at Marvel and DC? Isn’t there enough hyper-realistic art on the market today? Do you really see no place for an artist who decides to take a more impressionistic route, who chooses to experiment with creating interesting images through color and texture rather than just through drawing the umpteenth precisely inked wasp waist or roid junky?
The reason comic books get so much shit is because of people like you. Sure, maybe you didn’t like what you saw here, but clearly enough people are interested that it sells out at big stores in big cities on a regular basis. Do you really need to tear Templesmith down because his art doesn’t fit the narrow expectations you have or because he has the audacity not to have the main character go over his backstory within the first five pages of any given issue? God forbid somebody try something new…
Ah! I’ve been reading Wormwood since the first issue and I LOVE it! Ben’s sarcastic and slightly demented sense of humor is just great! And I happen to like his style of art. Each to his own I suppose. But I honestly encourage everyone to at least give Wormwood a look. Perhaps not for everyone but I am definitely a fan.
You are right. I didn’t like the art in Wormwood because it’s surreal. But I just discovered “Fell”, which is more realistic, and I believe accessible to everybody.
http://wcbr.wordpress.com/2008/02/10/fell-1-8-feral-city-tpb-review/
you either love or hate the art. most people i know love it. And wormwood is more of a fan thing than it is a one time pick up.
Yikes! That’s harsh. I’ve not read this issue so I can’t comment on the book, but I did like his 30 Days of Night work. His Metal Gear Solid stuff was cool too.