When I was reading and collecting comics Marvel and DC were the two powerhouse publishing companies and for the most part they still are. So called ‘Indie’ publishers have been around for as long as Marvel and DC and have been producing excellent comics.
NOW Comics (which is no longer around) published a great 22-issue Fright Night series based on the movie and a short run of Married…with Children based on the TV show. Revolutionary Comics published a series based on Rock bands like Aerosmith, KISS and Metallica. Gold Key, Dark Horse Comics and Aircel Comics all published some great titles.
However, it wasn’t until 1992 when Indie publishing took center stage and threatened Marvel and DC. A group of highly successful creators led by Todd McFarlane, Jim Lee and Rob Liefeld left Marvel and DC to start their own comic book company, Image Comics. A creator-focused company that allowed each creator to own their creation and all rights to it.
The X-Odus left the comic book community in shock as several of the best writers and artist no longer worked on top titles like Spider-Man and X-Men. Marvel took the biggest hit as the majority worked on Marvel titles, specially the X-Titles.
The creation of Image Comics gave us some great new characters; Spawn, Savage Dragon, Youngblood, Witchblade and The Walking Dead.
Image Comics biggest impact was showing future creators they didn’t need to rely on Marvel or DC to break into the comic business. Indie publishers grew throughout the 90s and 2000s, some faded away quick while others like IDW, Oni Press and Dynamite have thrived.
Zenescope an indie publisher founded in 2005 started with a unique take on Grimm Fairy Tales and found instant success. Over the last twenty years they have adapted Grimm characters like Cinderella, Gretal and others into sexy, bad-ass monster killers.
While I was browsing for a new comic to read I came across an interesting cover featuring a man who looked like a cross between Captain America and the Punisher and a women dressed in a tiger outfit standing over him. The comic was titled Terror & Fury: Rise of the Night. The cover art got me, so I gave the comic a chance.
Let’s see if it was worth the time…
Terror & Fury: Rise of the Night
Credits:
Writer: Joe Brusha
Artist: Jordi Tarragona
Colorist: Walter Pereyra
Letterer: Taylor Esposito
Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
Rise of the Night is a 3-issue mini series featuring Terror and Fury fighting a vampire invasion for the mysterious organization called S.H.A.D.E. The first issue starts with Terror and Fury in a vampire den, fighting and killing a coven of vampires.
The book is told from Terror’s perspective and he isn’t himself, he thinks he is ‘off’ because of his recent death. One thing he does know, he is going to kill every last monster, fueled by vengeance because monsters murdered his wife and son.
Terror and Fury kill all the vampires and are picked up by their handler, Vesper, a “killer babe” and “some kind of government agent.” She is quick to chastise them for not following orders and killing all the vampires. They needed one alive for questioning.
Vesper, Terror and Fury go back to S.H.A.D.E. headquarters to devise a new plan to find the vampire leader. At S.H.A.D.E. HQ Terror struggles with his broken memories while his body regains its strength. Vesper finds a new lead and sends Terror and Fury on a mission to capture the vampire leader.
Terror and Fury find the vampire leader in an abandoned church and the battle begins. It’s a beautifully drawn battle. Lots of blood, gore (which is needed in any vampire battle) and action.
The first issue ends on a cliffhanger with Terror and Fury seemingly on the losing end of the fight and the vampire leader telling Terror he saw him die the first time and he’ll help him die again.
The entire 3-issue run is fantastic story from start to finish. In issue #2 Terror regains some of his lost memories and we get his origin story. There’s also an appearance by a character called Man Goat. There are notes in the issue referencing a book called Man Goat and Bunnyman. I guess another book in the Zenescope Universe. The Goat Man shows up to save the day and then he gets an emergency call and is off to save someone else.
It’s a bit of a strange introduction to the character and doesn’t pay off. He’s there and gone too fast. I would have liked to see Fury fight more instead of Goat Man showing up. She was underutilized in issue #2.
In issue #3 Terror and Fury go to the vampire headquarters to finish off the leader and his minions. Throughout the battle Terror regains all his memory and remembers his family and the monsters who killed them. He also recognizes the vampire leader as his old team member in World War II.
Terror & Fury: Rise of the Night is a great introduction to the characters. A lot of time was spent on Terror and his back story, while not much time was given to Fury. She isn’t given a back story or any story. She is just there, fighting along side Terror.
It’s established Terror is resurrected but is Fury too? It’s assumed, but never overtly stated. It would have been nice to get more information about Fury. Maybe a new mini series?
Both Terror and Fury are revamped characters from the 1940s, Black Terror and Miss Fury, now in the public domain. Which looking through the titles of the Zenescope book, they have made a big catalog of books from public domain characters.
The original Black Terror debuted in 1941 and was a pharmacist turned superhero. He wore a black outfit featuring a skull and crossbones, it wasn’t lifted from the Punisher. Miss Fury, also 1941, was a high society socialite who doesn’t have superpowers. She gained strength and speed by wearing a skin tight, black cat suit. Hmmmmm, seems like I’ve seen that before…
The writing by Joe Brusha is filled with action, drama and enough mystery to keep you invested throughout the series. It’s like an 80s action movie in comic book form.
The art by Jordi Tarragona is outstanding. I can’t give it enough praise. His anatomy is superb. He’s able to give the men a chiseled, muscular look while giving the women a powerful, feminine look without making them look weak.
His dynamic art in the fight scenes is top notch. The blood splatters, explosions and movement bring the action to life.
The series as a whole reminds me of the heyday of the 80s and 90s comics. High action, great writing, great storytelling and fantastic art work.
Black Terror and Miss Fury are superbly re-imagined and updated. I liked both characters and will read an ongoing series if they get one. Their adventures will be fun to follow. I hope they give Fury a good origin story or at least expand her character and give her a more preeminent role along side Terror.
I’ve enjoyed reading comics from Indie publishers for as long as I’ve read comics. (Are they called ‘Indie’ anymore? I suppose they are just publishers)
Zenescope is a great addition to the comic book publishing industry. I’ll definitely be seeking out more of their books.
If you are looking for a comic with great writing and artwork Terror & Fury is the one.
Have you read Terror & Fury? Let me know you’re thoughts or tell me how wrong I am with my analysis in the comments below. You can share your thought on X too. The main Retro Network channel is @TRNSocial and I’m @MileHighSamurai You can also find me on Bluesky @MileHighSamurai
Be the first to comment