King 2

Written by Thomas Hall
Art and Letters by Daniel Bradford
Published by Blacklist Studios

Creators Hall and Bradford continue to pop out cult-hit phenomenons as though neither honestly has a better thing to do. Last issue, we met King (who may or may not be that certain other king) and his valiant defense of a fast food dive in the middle of nowheresville from a dastardly onslaught of the undead. There was also the bit with the legendary Spear Of Longinus. Here, we fastforward somewhat to meet up with King as he comes royally close to scoring with a barmaid. And once again he gets to exhibit just how butch the good King is after all.
Hall may not be a crackhead, but his mind seems to enjoy piecing together these bizarre settings and scenarios as though he really were cracked out enough to believe that zombies are not yet overplayed. Which obviously, they ain't. His King as presented here is a total macho-badass, with some more subversive suggestions thrown in for the reader to wonder just who the hell this guy really is anyways. So much attitude, and so much delirious fun. And Mexican wrestlers, too!

Bradford's art continues to evolve. Though not illustrating armored skulls pounding mythological monstrosities here, he is instead challenged with a comedic horror set-up, with an increasingly sublime and sinister aim. He is illustrating, simply put, what Bubba Ho-tep could've/should've been. His forms are elongated and sharp, perhaps owing moreso to the Vampire Hunter D anime than to assorted works from Mike Mignola or Guy Davis (both artists who have obviously influenced Bradford's earlier work). It's dark stuff, quite stylish. And the humor of it all never crosses over into falling anvils territory.

Robot13 is a dynamite book. The same persons responsible are pushing their creative mettle in a very different direction with King, and it is a fun story in progress. Though the plot may not have much in common with a plate of spaghetti, there is just so much irresistible potential here- what's not to love?