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Billy the Kid's Old-Timey Oddities #2
Billy the Kid's Old Timey Oddities Volume 2: The Ghastly Fiend of London
Billy the Kid lives! The hired gun of a traveling spectacle of biological curiosities—or "freaks." In their past adventures, Billy and crew have faced a variety of supernatural terrors, but none of that has prepared them to confront their most vicious challenge Jack the Ripper!* Introduction by Brian Azzarello.* This volume includes Billy the Kid's Old Timey Oddities and the Ghastly Fiend of London #1-#4 and "Billy the Kid and the Pit of Horrors" from the Buzzard miniseries
112 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 26, 2011
41 people want to read
About the author
Eric Powell
504 books281 followersEric Powell has contributed work on such comics titles as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Hellboy: Weird Tales, Star Wars Tales, The Incredible Hulk, Black Panther, The Avengers, The Hood, MAD Magazine, Devil Dinosaur, Swamp Thing, the Avengers, She-Hulk, the Simpsons, Arkham Asylum: Living Hell and Action Comics.
Although eking out a meager living in the comics field since 1995, Eric didn't find true success until he launched his critically acclaimed dark comedy series The Goon. The Goon was subsequently picked up by Dark Horse Comics and boasts a diehard cult following.
Although eking out a meager living in the comics field since 1995, Eric didn't find true success until he launched his critically acclaimed dark comedy series The Goon. The Goon was subsequently picked up by Dark Horse Comics and boasts a diehard cult following.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 7, 2015
Billy and the Travelling Freakshow are in merry old Victorian England during the time of the Ripper murders. At the behest of their friend, Joseph Merrick, aka the Elephant Man, Billy and Fineas Sproule venture into Whitechapel to see if they can catch the killer. But Saucy Jack has some dark surprises waiting for them in the shadows…
Eric “The Goon” Powell writes but doesn’t draw this, instead handing off art duties to Kyle Hotz who produces some awesomely warped-looking pages in his own unique style. Powell gives his own spin on the Ripper murders by creatively mixing in a real life monster, H. H. Holmes aka The Beast of Chicago, and a fictional one, Mr Hyde. But which one - if any - is the Ripper? Powell keeps readers guessing until the surprising end reveal.
The murder mystery story moves at a decent clip with Powell and Hotz’s version of these alternate times making for a compelling and unpredictable read. Hotz’s Elephant Man is a lot more literal than the real life Joseph Merrick was and there’s a lot of very gory scenes as this Ripper’s body count far exceeds the real life one’s.
If there’s one weak part of the book it’s the motivation for the big finale, the goal, which was baffling - if the Ripper wanted to kill that person why not do it earlier? Access didn’t seem to be a problem - why wait for that person to be surrounded by people who could potentially halt the murder?
Other than that this second volume of Billy the Kid’s Old Timey Oddities is a really enjoyable read, full of great writing and imaginative art. If you’re in the mood for an exciting Victorian murder mystery with plenty of horror, this comic hits the spot!
Eric “The Goon” Powell writes but doesn’t draw this, instead handing off art duties to Kyle Hotz who produces some awesomely warped-looking pages in his own unique style. Powell gives his own spin on the Ripper murders by creatively mixing in a real life monster, H. H. Holmes aka The Beast of Chicago, and a fictional one, Mr Hyde. But which one - if any - is the Ripper? Powell keeps readers guessing until the surprising end reveal.
The murder mystery story moves at a decent clip with Powell and Hotz’s version of these alternate times making for a compelling and unpredictable read. Hotz’s Elephant Man is a lot more literal than the real life Joseph Merrick was and there’s a lot of very gory scenes as this Ripper’s body count far exceeds the real life one’s.
If there’s one weak part of the book it’s the motivation for the big finale, the goal, which was baffling - if the Ripper wanted to kill that person why not do it earlier? Access didn’t seem to be a problem - why wait for that person to be surrounded by people who could potentially halt the murder?
Other than that this second volume of Billy the Kid’s Old Timey Oddities is a really enjoyable read, full of great writing and imaginative art. If you’re in the mood for an exciting Victorian murder mystery with plenty of horror, this comic hits the spot!
June 22, 2025
Review is for three volumes read consecutively
Mash-up/pastiche done right. Take recognizable characters and archetypes, put them in familiar settings and storylines, and twist the tale just enough to surprise and delight the audience. If only there were half a dozen more volumes - - there are certainly enough possibilities to fill them.
Mash-up/pastiche done right. Take recognizable characters and archetypes, put them in familiar settings and storylines, and twist the tale just enough to surprise and delight the audience. If only there were half a dozen more volumes - - there are certainly enough possibilities to fill them.
November 5, 2018
The colors are a little better in this second volume, but the artist's art looks a little rushed. And ugh, another story about Jack the Ripper.
February 19, 2023
More of the same. This time a twist on the whole Jack the Ripper thing. If you enjoyed the first volume, you should enjoy this one. I think there was one more volume, but sadly, I don't have it and when I saw it for sale it was at a price I was uninterested in paying.
If you like this sort of thing and have the chance to read it, it's worth the time.
If you like this sort of thing and have the chance to read it, it's worth the time.
September 5, 2016
Just terrific horror.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews