Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse, Vol. 3: Calamari Rising

Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse #9-12

by Ben Templesmith

Just when Wormwood thought he could finally have that quiet drink without worrying about the world coming to an end, or a friend with a parasitic infection trying to kill him, The Brotherhood of the Calamari decide to crash the party. Since their last meeting, they've tracked him across the thousand million dimensional possibilities of existence — and this time the entire Squideeverse is with them! Wormwood is going to learn the hard way he can't keep running from his problems as his oldest foe now threatens his favorite watering hole, Earth, with absorption into the Calamari group mind!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Horror, Fiction, Fantasy, Humor, Graphic Novels Comics

120 pages, Paperback

First published June 17, 2008

About the author

Illustrator and writer of graphic novels / comics.
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Photograph of author by Peow Yeong: October 16 2011 at the 2011 New York Comic Convention in Manhattan.

Reviews

[ᴥ Irena ᴥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

Calamari Rising is insane and ridiculously entertaining. You get a demented Elvis, red-neck fairies who get furious at the perfect moment, then you get a bit more about Wormwood and so much more.

[Paul Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Calamari rising Wormwood meets an old foe who have been after him for a long time, whilst relaxing in his favourite watering hole he is interrupted by a giant inter-dimensional wormhole which opens up in the sky, letting in thousands of these flying tentacled squids. The only way he can save the world again is by travelling into the wormhole and facing the queen of the Calamari, along the way he is even saved by the king, that's Elvis the king who is travelling dimensions capturing the souls of his other selves in a quest to become a god. The artwork is bang on as usual and I hope this is not the last we see of Wormwood and the craziness that befalls his every turn.

[Stephanie Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben Templesmith is an American Treasure (even though he isn't American, he's Australian, but he lives in the US, which I choose to consider as counting because he is so damn good).

In short: the story is amusing (a continuation from the second volume, so pick it up first), and as always, the art is gobsmacking. I mean, it's disgusting and grotesque, too, but Templesmith makes even the grotesque gorgeous and beautiful.

Also, a story about a worm that animates the corpses of the dead and wears them like a suit and builds robot companions and hangs out with immortal strippers who have tattoos that come to life and fight? What's not to like?

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

WORMWOOD. ELVIS. PENDULUM KICKING ASS. REDNECK FAIRIES SAVING THE DAY. BUZZ ALDRIN AS A SQUID MONSTER.

OMFG, MY BRAIN CAN HARDLY HANDLE THIS MUCH AWESOME. *SPASMS*

[Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was first introduced to Ben Templesmith and the Gentleman Corpse 13 years ago, and I'm glad to see the brilliant and saft writing still makes me laugh. The art style is unique and perfect, with punchy dialogue and a great story. This volume brings together the four issue "Calamari Rising" arc, and it is everything you expect from a worm who rides in a gentleman's corpse. Amusing, beautiful, gross, if you have any interest in comics, you should delve into the mind of Templesmith at once.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave 3 stars for Volume 1. It had me doubting if I made the right decision to get the 3 volumes. Thought the style tended to use the sketchy gruesome but unique art to compensate for the so-so plot.
By volume 2 everything got better--the blending of characters' capabilities and dialogues, the humor and the unpredictable resolution. So yes, overall I enjoyed the series.
My favorite was what Wormwood "did" for Pendulum's bits. So hilarious.

[Kuba · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume is a little worst than the first and the second but still entertaining. Art is still awesome, and the ending with The King surprised me completely.

[jedioffsidetrap · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Brotherhood of the Calamari track down Wormy to exact revenge with Squidmen as allies; includes Last Call, the Wormy origin story

[James Harley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stuff, ends fast but took me places I have never been

[Ian Carpenter · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 gorgeous art. Light on story but the world is cool.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought this one was a bit light on plot. Wormwood becomes Dr Who. The art is fantastic as always.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben Templesmith's Wormwood is just crazy. Someone at work asked what I was reading and I could only tell her that it was about a god-like worm that lived in the right eye socket of a corpse. It's not quite a conversation stopper, but it's close.

In Calamari Rising, Wormwood must once again save the Earth from something that's come looking for him. The only reason he saves the Earth is because he likes the drink and the women. He's kind of self-centred that way. I found this novel alot tighter than the last one (It Only Hurts When I Pee) it seemed to know where it was going, even if it did involve sort of a deus ex machina device it made sense because Wormwood is something of a god.

[Jaimie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously, whose bright idea was it to cancel this brilliant series after only three graphic novels' worth of material? It just seems like such a bloody waste, because these characters could have gone so many interesting places, and they are relatively uique within the genre. But I guess it's good that they went out on a high note after having saved the world from the squid legions and ahving revealed some of Wormwood's major character secrets than to drag on from crisis to crisis. Wormwood is't just any ordianry supernatural worm, don't you know, and even he gets tired of having to be the protagonist all the time.

[Jon]

Wonderfully dark and humorous. A nice, quick short read. It also manages to somehow capture the Lovecraftian feel of a mad universe completely against us that really doesn't even know we exist. Thankfully in a August Delerth twist, we have a protector, a beneficial god who protects us. For better or worse, that is the Worm Wormwood, a beer swilling, skirt chasing, worm ridding a rotting corpse who's been around for far too long. At least if you believe any of his stories.

[Shane Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This last volume of Wormwood definitely has the best story of the three. Threads from the previous volumes are carried over to a story that is emotional, action packed, and manages to be perhaps the funniest yet. The last issue in particular with Elvis made me really wish this wasn't the last dive into the fantastic world of Wormwood. A definite must read for fans of Hellboy and The Goon. Templesmith's art continues to shine.

[Mike Rutschky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wormwood continues to be lots of fun. The art is spellbinding and the story pokes fun at a lot of contemporary sci-fi and horror conventions. It's a quick read that really doesn't have a lot in the way of depth or suspense, but it's still a joy to check in on the latest volume every couple of months.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first introduction to Templesmith's writing and artwork, I fell in love with it instantly. The black humor is nonstop. Just try to keep yourself from laughing out loud; it's hard to explain why tentacle monsters, strippers, necrophilia, and robots can all be so funny. :) In particular, the ending short story is a perfect blend of horror and hilarity.

[aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

not much more to say about the third volume of wormwood by templesmith. more morbid jokes/humor, more beautiful art, more crude laughs, more tentacles, more things blowing up, more strippers taking down an invading army of calimari. need i say more?

[Pragmatic · Rating 3 out of 5]

writer/artist/creator says that Wormwood is his guilty pleasure, and i think it's one of mine too! the stories aren't too sophisticated, but it's hilarious, irreverent, sexy and fun, and that's the way comics should be!

[Jacob · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though the story continues from the prior volume I felt the first half of the book really came into its own before Elvis came around. In some ways, I think this volume is better than what came before.

[Damon · Rating 3 out of 5]

More good stuff. A little more straightforward than the previous volumes, maybe - that's not meant as a compliment or an criticism, but if I had to pick I might like say "the stranger the better" applies to these. Still, good.

[Katharine (Ventureadlaxre) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect ending :) I love this series, it's strong and fantastic all the way through.

[Nano · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. The art was excellent (as always) but the story wasn't compelling. Felt like the writing was really lacking on this one, unlike the previous two.

[Ross Lockhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first exposure to the madness of Ben Templesmith. The writing crackles, the art astonishes. Yeah, sure, the entire book's one big fight scene, but still... amazing.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does anyone remember the Borg from Star Trek TNG fame? That whole story line creeped me out, gave me nightmares and stuff. So this was like the Borg, but only funny and with bug-eyed squid monsters.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic, great graphics. Witty and raw

[sixthreezy · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Wormwoods read so fast...

[Tjibbe Wubbels · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing spectacular.

[Andre · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interestingly visually unique story where humour meets horror.