The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (comics)
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The popularity of the The Texas Chainsaw Massacre film series and its main character, Leatherface led to several comic books based on the franchise. In 1991, Northstar Comics released a miniseries titled "Leatherface" which was a loose adaptation of Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III that ran for four issues. In 1995, Topps Comics released "Jason Vs. Leatherface", a three issue miniseries that had Jason Voorhees of Friday the 13th fame moving in with Leatherface and his cannibalistic family.
After the success of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake film in 2003, New Line Cinema created their "House of Horror" licensing division which licensed the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise to Avatar Press for use in new comic book stories, the first of which was published in 2005. In 2006, Avatar Press lost the license to DC Comics imprint, Wildstorm who have since begun publishing a new comic book series based on the franchise.
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[edit] Northstar Comics
The 1991 "Leatherface" miniseries was loosely based on third Texas Chainsaw Massacre film. Said writer Mort Castle, "The series was very loosely based on Texas Chainsaw Massacre III. I worked from the original script by David Schow and the heavily edited theatrical release of director Jeff Burr, but had more or less free rein to write the story the way it should have been told. The first issue sold 30,000 copies."[1] Kirk Jarvinen drew the first issue, and Guy Burwell finished the rest of the series.
The comics, not having the same restrictions from the MPAA, had much more gore than the finished film. The ending, as well as the fates of several characters, was also altered.[2]
[edit] Topps Comics
In 1995, Topps released Jason Vs. Leatherface. The three issue series saw Jason accidentally transported to Texas where he comes face to face with Leatherface and his cannibalistic family. The series sees Jason uncharacteristically befriend Leatherface and his family before several events lead to a battle between the two horror franchise stars. The continuity here is very loose (Jason's mother, instead of Pamela Voorhees, is an overweight woman named Doris) but it featured Drayton and Edward Sawyer (simply called 'Cook' and 'Hitchhiker') from the 1974 film.
[edit] Avatar Comics
In 2005, Avatar comics released a series of comics based on the 2003 remake of the film. It consisted of a miniseries titled The Grind, as well as a special and a 'Fearbook'.
The writers and art team varied, although Brian Pulido wrote the majority of the series. Many of them featured similar plots, with a group of teens running into Leatherface's family (usually thanks to Leatherface's sinister uncle Sheriff Hoyt) where they are killed in gruesome ways. Although the series was succesful, it was criticized by many for its gratitious violence, simplistic plot and cliched characters without offering anything new to the remake's mythology.[3]
[edit] Wildstorm Comics
After Avatar lost the rights to Texas Chainsaw Massacre and New Line Cinema's other horror properties, Wildstorm started an ongoing series written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, and art by Wesley Craig. Once again, this series featured the continuity established in the 2003 remake.
However, unlike Avatar, Wildstorm's series contributed to the mythos by picking up one year after the film ended, effectively acting as a sequel; Leatherface has one arm, Erin has been committed to a mental institution, Sheriff Hoyt's offices are under investigation and Pepper's (a victim from the film) uncle is going after the Hewitts.
Newsarama gave it an 8 out of 10, writing "...the creative team has nailed the creepy, dark, impending doom of just such a horror movie...Whoever in editorial was in charge of lining up Abnett and Lanning with a proper illustrator hit the nail on the head. His work is a perfect match for a story like Chainsaw. Horrible and menacing at times, yet it never loses sight of the dark, dark humor and backwoods mentality that must penetrate almost every panel. Darick Robertson at his most cartoonish, blended with Liam Sharp’s gift for character, topped off with a dash of Peter Gross. Fantastic."[4]
[edit] See also
[edit] External Links
- Icons of Fright
- Texas Chainsaw Massacre at Avatar
- Newsarama:More Horror Coming from Wildstorm
- Comic Monsters interview with Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning and Wesley Craig
- Comicon interview with Ben Abernathy, Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Randy Mayor and Wes Abott
| Texas Chainsaw Massacre film series |
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| Original series |
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The Texas Chain Saw Massacre • The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 • Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III • Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation |
| Remake series |
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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) • The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning |
| Characters |
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Leatherface • Sally Hardesty • Drayton Sawyer • Edward Sawyer • Chop Top • Sheriff Hoyt • Luda May Hewitt • Old Monty |
| Other |
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The Comics |
