Battlemouth

If you were fortunate, you might have picked up a copy of CHOKER last week…however you probably got the special mis-print “edition” and therefore have no idea what’s really going on…so I guess you weren’t really fortunate. HAVE NO FEAR, CHOKER will release in correct form on it’s original date of February 24 so you can get plenty of Ben on Ben action then! I however…got a copy…because the Space Squid loves me…

You might remember a short while back when Ben McCool and Ben Templesmith stopped by for an epic interview and discussed this new project. CHOKER is a six issue, creator owned series from the Bens and Image. While I was not fortunate enough to get one of the “Baby Poop” Edition (what I am calling the misprinted issue…I would still love a copy for my shrine collection if you happen to have one) I did receive a splendid copy in the mail thanks to Larry’s Wonderful World of Comics over in Boston. As you may know, I am a loyal Ben Templesmith fan, and after learning of the glory of McCool, well let’s just say that I have been waiting on this book since it’s announcement at SDCC last year.

The question, then, was it worth the wait?

We knew the basic concept coming into the story, a rough town, a washed up detective and friends, treachery afoot, one last job, crazy shit catalyst. To be perfectly honest I was a little worried, once I actually sat down with my commemerative LBC Oatmeal Stout and customery bag of official Ben Templesmith Raw Baby Snacks (Cool Ranch flavor) to read the issue; that I had read so much about the story that I would not find it as interesting as if I was clueless. Thankfully, the Bens did a good enough job keeping secrets so this was not a problem.

Before we get to finally meet Johnny Jackson, we are shown a disturbing scene in the first couple pages that fortells of just how chilling and evil this story might be. It looks like someone might be getting the hose again, if you know what I mean…                                                                                                                                                                                                                Johnny “Choker” Jackson enters the pages in true shady detective fashion, demanding payment for services rendered from a client. This introduction brings the first of many of my favorite lines of dialogue in which McCool expertly shows his ability to convey sarcasm in text…something I personaly find quite difficult. I’m sure there are quite a few people out there that would claim Aaron is a rather rude, offensive bastard, thanks to my inability to write sarcasm (then again maybe I am just a rude, offensive bastard). These pages of course were the preview pages we all got to peek at in Previews a short while back.

After dodging another phone call, Johnny tells his assistant, Seaton Price, that he is done for the day and heads down to the pub. At this point, I would like to talk a little about Mr. Templesmith’s art in this first issue. Templesmith talked, prior to the release of issue 1, about his desire to expirement and fill the backgrounds a little more in his images for Choker. As I said before, I am already a fan of Templesmith’s art, so really I don’t need to see any changes in his style to be happy I am quite please with his art the way it is, he is good at bringing all variety of horrible and wonderful to life on paper. So with no expectiations that things could get better, I have to say,  I could not be more impressed with Mr. Templesmith’s art in this book, specifically when Johnny leaves his office for the day and steps out into Shotgun City. 

Templesmith’s use of colors always has a way of conveying a specific mood. His panels usually have a tint to them that, for me, really sets a far deeper mood than most other books I read. Choker is certainly no exception to this. When Johnny opens that door and stands looking out into the busy street, I litterally felt like I could hear the rush of traffic, the honking horns, and the hustle and bustle of the sleazy populace. I felt like I was watching Blade Runner again. I spent so much time looking at these two pages where Johnny walks from his little office to Yogi’s (a lovely little dive bar). I would love to have these hanging on my wall. Ben did an incredible job at filling in the gaps and giving you plenty to look at. The scene captures the entire mood of Shotgun City, the crime, the smut, the dirt and grime, all of it layed out before you in two incredible pages. McCool has crafted a beautiful world in for Templesmith to illustrate.

As Choker walks down the road, McCool helps drive home the sorry state of the thing around him, with some brilliant inner-monologuing that brings up my next favorite part of the script…more wonderful imagery pointing to the inevitable demise of everyone and everything. While this story apears to take place in some form of the future, complete with aliens, and vampires (?) you will have no trouble drawing some parallels between the slow, tight, downward spiral of Choker’s Shotgun City and the not-as-amusing real world. Sitting in the bar drinking, Choker recieves a call from a past aquaintance that begins setting the stage for the next five issues. Demons that,obviously, are bad enough to keep Johnny awake at night are returning to haunt him thanks to that call, but they bring a promise of better things. Johnny’s old boss has a job that only Johnny can handle, or so he says. The question is, does Johnny think he can handle it? The issue finishes out by posing yet another question we will have to wait to have answered…without too much spoiling, all I will say as these vampires don’t twinkle.

The only thing we can really figure thus far… shit is fucked up in Shotgun City…

So the short answer to the above posed question, hell yes Choker was worth the wait! Templesmith and McCool did a great job of getting out the word for this book guerilla internet style, and I could not have been more pleased! McCool has a serious talent for keeping you on the edge of your seat and entertained, and Templesmith’s art will blow your mind all over the insides of your skull. While the art is brilliant, I think some of my favorite bits are Choker’s inner thoughts that are both comical and incredibly descriptive all at once. Johnny’s inner-monologue gives you a real sense of his disdain for himself, his situation and almost all those around him. I won’t dispute that this story has a few cliche moments, however I think you would be foolish to not expect these in any form of media today. At this point I would wager that most everything has been done in some fashion or another, it’s up to the artists out there to make us see it in a new light. Ben and Ben have done a hell of a job putting some great spin on a classic genre!

It will be fun to see who has a more wild ride, Johnny “Choker” Jackson and company, or the readers!

Be sure to check out chokercomic.com and follow Ben McCool and Ben Templesmith on twitter for all the latest up to the minute Choker news! Also check out the Choker Tour, coming soon to a Comic Shop Near YOU!