cover image Allen, Son of Hellcock

Allen, Son of Hellcock

Gabe Koplowitz, Will Tracy, and Miguel Porto. Z2 (Diamond, dist.), $21.99 (136p) ISBN 978-1-940878-08-9

Sometimes it is difficult to follow in your father’s footsteps, as Allen, son of Hellcock, learns in this amusing send up of fantasy comics from two comedy writers. (Tracy is the former editor in chief of The Onion.) Hellcock was a great hero who fought Lord Krong the Maleficent in numerous battles until finally being devoured by Lord Krong’s dragon, Stryfor. Allen is a disappointment to the nagging ghost of his father, but he would rather work on his graphic novel. When Krong’s son, Kaarl, decides to stir up trouble, it is up to Allen to rouse his father’s old comrades in arms to action with the aid of the beautiful but disinterested Madeleine. To reach Kaarl, the band must travel through the ominously named but quite tame Pines of Mystery and battle Kaarl’s underwhelming minions, like the two-foot-tall twin giants of Gor-Rok. Spanish cartoonist Porto’s full-color art captures the humorous vibe of the story, and the whole is light questing fun. (Aug.)