Jean-Christophe makes me cry This is a tough one. I love Dungeon, so even though this review isn't entirely positive, I would have bought it anyway, even if I had known what I was in for. For one thing, the first story is excellent, and for another, apparently I just like having stuff. If you like Dungeon already then it's probably a no-brainer to pick this one up too. The first story is great, telling the story of how the chicken from Zenith 2 was able to escape the "curse" of the heroic sword, and although it's drawn by a new artist (not the first time this has happened, Early Years and Parade also were done by other artists with minimal adverse effects), he captures the look and I quickly fell into that charming Dungeon world again.
The second story, however, features Horus and Alcibiades, cast out of the dungeon in order to solve the problem of the titular crying giant's eye. It feels to me that the characters are not at all in character, particularly Horus, who had always maintained a kind of scary mysteriousness, is reduced to just being weird for cheap laughs. It's difficult to explain without going into extreme detail, but it just feels as if the elements are there, but missing that certain something that makes the other stories so good. There's even a bit of that awkward sexuality that rears its head from time to time, but even that feels tacked on, like one more ingredient in the pot.
On top of this, and possibly worst of all, is Jean-Christophe Menu's art. I don't want to rag on someone who is apparently a very important and prominent figure in French underground comics (naturally, I have never heard of him) but his art is unappealing and does not at all match the art of any of the previous comics. There was always a certain crudeness to the line work before, but this is just ugly, I do not like it at all. At the same time, I recognize it as a certain "style" that other people will probably have a higher tolerance for (if not a preference?), but it was a rude surprise for me and I can't help thinking other Dungeon fans will have a similar reaction.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tailipoe
Trevor
