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“American Monster” #1 is a Hauntingly Atmospheric Debut [Review]

By | January 22nd, 2016
Posted in Reviews | % Comments

The first issue of the new creator-owned series “American Monster” boasts the visceral power of writer Brian Azzarello’s words and artist Juan Doe’s hauntingly expressive work. As a team, these two creators entice us to follow a scarred man into a town that appears to be just as damaged as him.

Written by Brian Azzarello
Illustrated by Juan Doe

Horribly scarred and disfigured during his tour of duty, Theo Montclare returns to the small Northwestern town that was once his home unrecognizable. Now Theo is a changed man…transformed emotionally and physically, both in appearance and in perception. But is he returning a hero or a modern day Frankenstein? Only time will tell…

A mystery man returns to a small American town after a tour of duty in the military. Scarred both physically and emotionally, he resides within a world that is just as violent and unforgiving as the warzone from his past. In “American Monster” #1, writer Brian Azzarello and artist Juan Doe introduce us to this unnamed man and other denizens of a town in such a way that draws us in without knowing much of their history. As Azzarello has done in the past, his use of language is sparse. Every word has meaning and every scene has power. Whether explosive or subtle, the interactions in this debut issue tease much more that lies hidden deep beneath the surface. And what lies beneath appears to be monstrous indeed. From exploitation to racism and coldblooded murder, Azzarello certainly has plans for the fleshing out of this world.

One of Azzarello’s strengths as a storyteller is the way in which scenes seamlessly segue from one to another despite jumping back and forth between characters we know very little to nothing about. From the violent opening scene to the dramatic entrance of the book’s titular character, Azzarello keeps our interest from one scene to the next. It doesn’t matter that we’re thrown into the issue without any explanation of characters’ backgrounds or motivations. His writing style is fitting for the visual medium that is comic books. In “American Monster” #1, he has a perfect collaborator in Juan Doe.

Doe’s art is so clean and smooth, yet evokes such raw emotional reactions that it’s difficult not to feel the horror and unease that various characters experience throughout the issue. His facial expressions alone can tell a story without having to read the economy of words that is Azzarello’s script. This is especially evident in Doe’s depiction of the main character. The unnamed protagonist’s hideously scarred visage is simply a mixture of lines and creases. Yet those lines and creases conjure past mystery and tragedy in such a simple and effective way. His clenched teeth betray a tense man and his eyes can only be described with the cliché word of “soulful”. There is a depth in every aspect of Doe’s rendering of this man. Beneath the hulking stature of this “monster” are troubles that weigh heavily upon his soul.

The one aspect of “American Monster” #1 that stands out the most upon first look is the coloring. Doe is also the colorist (and letterer!) on this book. The color palette he utilizes brings that sense of unease and horror that is present in every part of this first issue’s execution. There isn’t a muting of color that is expected in mystery or horror stories, but instead a vibrancy in the lighting of those colors. The sky appears to be a fiery swirl of orange and yellow in one panel and then a mysterious and unearthly glowing green in another scene. Red is used sparingly but in a highly symbolic way. It’s appropriate that it’s used only for the horribly scarred face of our protagonist and for scenes of violence.

One scene in particular highlights the precision and artistry of Doe’s decisions in both his art and colors in “American Monster” #1. In a flashback scene, Doe once again shows character through eyes. Cockiness and panicked fear are expressed in eyes that are vastly different from those of today. Doe also colors this scene with shades of brown and illuminating light that express to us that it’s a flashback. The dots of red in one panel, followed by a flashing brightness of red in the last panel of the scene imply how that particular moment ended for our “hero”. Like Azzarello, Doe has an exceptional ability to hint events and emotions without having to hold our hand throughout a story.

Azzarello and Doe have given us a more than promising introduction to their collaborative style in “American Monster” #1. They have opened their tale by showing us a world that is hardboiled, mysterious, and peppered with violence and, at the end, hints of dark comedy. In a world bathed in blood and despair, Azzarello and Doe breathe beauty and nuance into a story that is only just beginning. After reading this debut issue, we want to know how much more monstrous this world will become in their hands.

Final Verdict: 8.5 – Brian Azzarello and Juan Doe beautifully introduce us to their new series and demonstrate a true collaboration that shows two individuals that are on the same “page” regarding where this series may be heading.


Keith Dooley

Keith Dooley lives in sunny Southern California and has Bachelors and Masters Degrees in English literature. He considers comic books the highest form of literature and has declared them the Great American Art Form. He has been reading comics since age eight and his passion for comic books and his obsession for Batman knows no bounds. If he isn’t reading or writing about comics, he’s usually at the gym or eating delectable food. He runs the website Comics Authority with his fiancé Don and can be found on Twitter and Facebook.

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