ALL PULP PAGES

Monday, September 20, 2010

MOONSTONE MONDAY-TIPPIN' HANCOCK'S HAT-REVIEW!!

TIPPIN' HANCOCK'S HAT-Reviews by Tommy Hancock 
THE SPIDER-CITY OF THE BLEEDING SNOW (11 PAGE STORY)
Writer-Martin Powell
Artist-Tom Floyd

Although this story is not newly published, it is one that bears reviewing, primarily because several people have mentioned it to me as 'a story you just have to read' or 'the best Spider story ever.'  With praise like that, I had to look for myself.

Is it the best Spider story ever?  Maybe, maybe not, but it's close.  Did it turn out to be something I just had to read.  You bet your pointed teeth and spider ring it did!

In ten pages, Martin Powell twists a tale that in all honesty comes in at the middle.  It's a typical Spider and pulp type tale, Bad guy has the Spider's beloved captured and is delivering chemical vengeance on the city and it's up to the Spider to stop him.  But what Powell works into this in a short space is pathos, action, romance, and character education as well as development.  If you read this story and know nothing of the Spider, this ten pages gives you enough to say you know something about the character.

The art of Tom Floyd blends well with the storytelling in this tale.  It's classic art on one hand, yet disturbing on the other.  The reason it's disturbing is even though the Spider's world is dark and scary, Floyd's art makes it look very much like..our world.  This story because of its art and its human portrayal of this most inhuman acting character hits a really poignant note of realism.
Five out of Five Tips of Hancock’s Hat-Good show, gentlemen and Moonstone. Good show.