Hungry Like the Wolf/Tonight

    (Manning and Ponder, 2006)
™ and © Manning and Ponder

This mini-comic of stick figures was hilarious. Hungry like the Wolf was a love story between two werewolves, and Tonight was about a creepy doll that avenged the death of the family she lived with. (It’s amazing what you can do with stick figures.)

There’s not much else to say about it. Part of its charm is that it does not rely on comic-book stereotypes, flashy art, or comic-book history to get across its humor. And, while funny, both stories are also kind of dark. There’s a fine line between comedy and horror, and Hungry Like the Wolf skirts the edges of both.

The problem with most mini-comics is that the creators usually assume their comic book won’t be respected because it’s in a photocopied form. Sure, the format will turn some fans away, and the sloppy approach of some creators doesn’t help attract potential new readers. But this little gem is a perfect example of what you can do if you put the right amount of care and talent into your book. Even though it’s only stick figures, that’s all it needs. There are too many grandiose comics that can’t deliver on their ambitions. Read this, young creators, and learn.

–Tony DiGerolamo
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