When I die and go to hell – and make no mistake, if there’s a hell, I’m going (I’ll be in the hot tub with the blow and hookers; mention BOOKGASM and I’ll hook you up!) – I hope it’s nothing like the fantastically creepy ANGEL SKIN by Christian Westerlund and Robert Nazeby Herzig. Graphic novels are always fun reads, but to be truthful, it’s good there’s pictures. I’m not so sure the story would fly on its own.
You’d wind up killing yourself, much like the protagonist Joshua Barker. He’s a cutter – I thought only women did this – who can’t see the joy of life, only the despair.
Tormented by personal demons, he shoots himself in the head and winds up in an afterlife possessed by them. God, it would appear, has left the building. The afterlife – you can take your pick whether it’s heaven or hell – is just like any other city, albeit ones with abandoned angels, dead flies and women wearing bondage gear and gas masks. Josh becomes the interest when it’s discovered that he alone might have a way to reach God and do the Big G a favor.
I won’t divulge further from there. The writing almost leers into bad poetry and shock for shock’s sake, but is redeemed by the wonderfully illustrations. This isn’t scary material from the burgeoning Comics Lit label, but it’s creepy and just existential enough to make you think. This outfit lives up to its name and I hope they keep the caliber of ANGEL SKIN with future releases. –Matt Adder
Related posts:
- Angel Dust Apocalypse
- Rogue Angel: Solomon’s Jar
- Mr. Skin’s Skincyclopedia: The A-to-Z Guide for Finding Your Favorite Actresses Naked
- The New Destroyer: Guardian Angel
- Mr. Skin’s Skintastic Video Guide: The 501 Greatest Movies for Sex & Nudity on DVD
