The Sixsmiths: Volume Two

The Sixsmiths #2

by Jason Franks, Sacha Bryning (Illustrator), Luke Pickett (Illustrator)

The Sixsmiths are a family of suburban Satanists recovering from the global recession. Their eldest daughter, Jezabelle, has returned to the fold with a frightening amount of zeal. Meanwhile, recently converted Dennis O'Dowell finds that adapting a new faith has not made him as cool as he had hoped. But when the church burns down, the whole community is embroiled in a crisis. What hidden enemy has brought them low? Or is the Dark Lord punishing them for their weakness? "Hilarious, profane, and even moving, the Sixsmiths is a book you should be reading. Or Lucifer will reap your soul." Justin Jordan, The Strange Talent of Luther Strode.

158 pages, Paperback

First published October 9, 2015

About the author

Jason Franks is a novelist and comics writer. His occult rock'n'roll novel Bloody Waters was an Aurealis Award finalist, and his dark fantasy Faerie Apocalypse a Ditmar nominee. His Sixsmiths graphic novels were shortlisted for a Ledger award.

Born in South Africa, Franks grew up in Melbourne, Australia. He has also lived in the United States and Japan.

Franks' upcoming work includes Frankenstein Monstrance, a comics miniseries with Tam Nation, and a sequel to Bloody Waters called Blackened Skies.

Reviews

[Lucas Mattila · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sixsmiths remains genius in its scathing critique of religious practice.

[Pete Aldin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those rare times where the original is great and the sequel is greater. This graphic novel rocks. A perfect story arc that perfectly enlists the visual medium. Satire. Australianness. And a plot that utilises both the arcane (ie., satanism) and the poignantly mundane (the desire for acceptance, life's setbacks, family disharmony, community politics).

However, it's the choice to go with a variety of artists that grants this Volume the five star rating (where I gave Vol 1 a solid 4). That variety keeps it fresh, allows for diverse and interesting interpretations of characters and settings, and carries its own potential for humour. Absolutely loved that.

An excellent series.

[Lync Lync · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each chapter appears to have been illustrated by a different artist, and at first I found this confusing and off putting. Then it became a game - 'what does Dennis look like in this one?', 'Cain?', 'Lilith?' and so on. The writing remains consistently high though. In the 2nd volume we see the Satanic church draw together to deal with adversity - their church burns down and their treasurer runs off having done his satanic best to ruin his own company. He was the employer who originally sacked Ralf at the start of the first volume. (If I say anymore it will need a spoiler alert.) The heavy metal digs are brilliant, but it all boils down to ordinary people coping as best they can with extraordinary events in an environment of satan worship. Much humour and satyr again. Enjoyed.