Hellbound Media are proving themselves to be a true powerhouse of modern horror comics these days. While intense gore, charming humour, and hard sci-fi terror has been a staple of their output over the past few years, one of their more family-friendly creations is Mandy the Monster Hunter. And now, Mandy is back to tackle her toughest task yet!
To get you up to speed on Mandy herself, she spends her time battling all things that go bump in the night. Seen as a symbol of hope to children around the world, kids can contact Mandy simply by drawing a picture of whatever it is that is tormenting them. Up until now, those beasties and creatures have all been put in their place by the famed Monster Hunter. With this latest threat, though, the tables have been turned. Whereas Mandy has been the threat that those monsters under your bed and hiding behind your curtain have been afraid of, the ominous Spindly Man cares not for what has gone before. Not only are his fellow monsters scared of him, but his path of scares and mysterious disappearances has put him up there as, dare we say it, even too much for the unrelenting Mandy to handle.
The first thing that will strike you about Legend of the Spindly Man #1 is the absolute gorgeous art from Lyndon White. Rich yet soft, distinct yet overflowing, the artwork adds a truly otherworldly feel to this tale that only further heightens the horror generated by the nefarious being at the centre of this story. As for the story itself, as an opening chapter it’s right up there with the very best that Hellbound Media have put out to date. And trust us, that’s a tall task given the excellent titles we’ve had so far from the collective powers of Matt Warner, Mark Adams et al.
For the narrative at hand, Warner and Adams have delicately delivered a fresh take on one of their most impressive creations whilst also rewarding readers who have been along for the ride since Mandy’s inception. Mandy herself is a fearless, fierce champion of the world’s youth, and just as fearless and fierce is the bold decision from Matt Warner and Mark Adams to deliver such a truly terrifying villain that genuinely has you questioning how Mandy can topple her latest foe as this miniseries progresses.
However things play out for Mandy, Legend of the Spindly Man has the potential to be the most exquisite jewel in the Hellbound Media crown, and we absolutely cannot wait to see what’s lurking around the corner as this story plays out.
MANDY THE MONSTER HUNTER: LEGEND OF THE SPINDLY MAN #1 / WRITER: MATT WARNER, MARK ADAMS / ARTIST: LYNDON WHITE / LETTERER: NIKKI FOXROBOT / PUBLISHER: HELLBOUND MEDIA / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
