Chickenhare: Fire in the Hole

Dark Horse

Chris Grine

Web: http://www.chickenhare.com/

Chickenhare and his friend Abe had a narrow escape from Klaus the taxidermist, but that is going to be a walk in the park compared to their adventures in Fire in the Hole. Chickenhare, Abe and Scabby, a seafaring Shromp will have to not only summon all their courage but use their brains as well as they battle against witches and demons in this new Chickenhare tale.

I must admit I have been seduced by Chickenhare, it is beautifully drawn, has great characters and has an innocence that harkens back to the earliest days of comic book art. At the same time there is a dark edge and humour bubbling under the surface which makes it just as enjoyable for adults as well as kids. Fire in the Hole, certainly, has more of its share of Witches and Demons and I like the way in which it has something for everyone. Grine has also refined his storytelling in this volume; it certainly includes far more wit and humour and is a bit more refined in terms of plot with some nice twists and turns.

Once again the quality of Grine’s style cannot be faulted, lovely panels, refined use of lines and a superb use of the interaction between black and white. I am especially impressed by the details in the faces, the various characters look incredibly real and their facial expressions are so complex.

This is a superb volume, a great read and indeed, a damn nice work of cartoon art.