Curse is the story of Laney Griffin, a former college football prospect in pursuit of a bounty on the mysterious mass murderer plaguing his town. The money from the bounty is for his sick son who needs expensive treatment to live. However, Laney finds out his bounty is a 300 year old werewolf named Anton. While Laney has the werewolf imprisoned at his home, the townpeople suspect something is up with Laney. The local sheriff and Laney’s sister-in-law, Nora Hughes, believes Laney is the killer, since she tried to pin the murder of Laney’s wife on him in the past. Lester Phillips, the town drunk, has photos of Laney tranquilizing Anton, using it to blackmail Laney for half the bounty. Laney must figure out what to do with Anton before a new moon is approaches.
CURSE #4
Writer: Michael Moreci and Tim Daniel
Artist: Riley Rossmo and Colin Lorimer
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Colorist: Tamara Bonvillain
Editor: Eric Harburn
Publisher: BOOM Studios
Cover Price: $3.99
Previously in Curse: Laney discovers that it was Anton that killed his wife several years ago when she was injured during their hike. In a fit of rage, Laney assaults Anton, giving the werewolf the opportunity to escape from Laney’s house. However, Anton falls into an empty well, allowing Laney to recapture him. After he locks up the werewolf again, Laney finds out his son has been taken to the hospital. At the hospital, Laney learns there is nothing the doctors can do to cure his son. Meanwhile, Lester Phillips, attempting to call Laney, pays him a visit at his home. He is quickly strangled to death by Anton.
THE END OF A WEREWOLF TALE
Michael Moreci and Tim Daniel’s werewolf comic series ends with Curse #4. With Laney’s son about to die, his last hope lies with Anton. Laney realizes Anton’s curse can help cure his son, much to the werewolf’s chagrin. The writers convey Laney’s desperation very well. His determination to see his son live at any cost allows the reader to relate to Laney on a human level. As a protagonist, Laney is faced with his world closing in on him and supernatural circumstances that is controlling his fate. He reacts to them as any person would, although I question why he would kidnap Anton instead of turning him over to the police in the first place. The other characters are also authentic with real motivations that drive their actions. For example, Anton’s suffering as a werewolf is a fate he does not wish anyone to endure what he has for 300 years. He warns Laney of using lycanthropy to cure his son, but the father does not heed his warnings. Eventually, his uncontrollable animal desires lead Anton to his fate at the end of the comic. Unfortunately, the ending for Curse is expected once the reader finds out Laney’s son is going to die. Although it is a happy ending, I would have liked to see some twist to Laney final fate.
WILD BUT INCONSISTANT ARTWORK AND DESIGN
Both Riley Rossmo and Colin Lorimer provide artwork for Curse #4. When a comic credits two artists, usually one serves as the penciller while the other is the inker and/or the colorist. However, this is not the case with Curse. During the werewolf fight, the artwork changes art styles. It changes back once the fight is over. I do not know if this was an aesthetic choice but changing the style midway through the comic is distracting and inconsistent. I would have preferred one artist for the series, even if both styles of artwork are good. Before and after the fight, the artwork is very clean, with distinguishable characters and well-designed backgrounds. During the fight, the pencils are wild, rigid and chaotic. Overall both styles support the comic very well.
BOTTOM LINE: A BUMPY BUT GOOD SHORT COMIC SERIES
Despite some inconsistencies throughout this comic series, Curse is a good mini-series that adds another layer to the werewolf mythos. The buildup to this ending is thrilling and suspenseful while the artwork, although inconsistent, provides great visuals for the overall plot. If you are a fan of the classic monsters like werewolves, this is a great tribute comic to read.
