REVIEW: Welcome to the Little Shop of Horrors #1

3.32/5.0 Stars
Rating if the Book Were a Movie: R

Creative Team:

Writer: J.R. Williams
Pencils: Gene Fama
Inks: Dean Roher
Colors: Cary Porter
Letters: Nick Craine
Cover: Killian Plunkett
Editor: Robert Boyd
Publisher: Roger Corman’s Cosmic Comics

Ratings:

Story: 3.2 Stars
Artwork: 3.3 Stars
Cover Artwork: 3.5 Stars
Dialogue: 3.3 Stars
Mechanics: 3.3 Stars
Editing: 3.3 Stars 

About the Book:

Welcome to the Little Shop of Horrors takes place in a flower shop in Skid Row. The shop, like almost everything else on Skid Row, is having financial troubles. One of the shop’s employees, Seymour, can’t help making mistakes. After Seymour’s latest mistake Mr. Mushnik, the shop owner, wants to fire him. In desperation Seymour asks for one more week to see if his strange new plant can generate more business for the shop. The results of this will be life changing for everyone.

Reader’s Notes:

Every rendition of Little Shop of Horrors has something unique about it. The movie that came out in the 1980’s had an all star cast with Rick Moranis stealing the show as Seymour. A local production I saw years ago had an incredible Audrey and an even better “Audrey II”.

This rendition takes some liberties and goes in a different direction in the first installment. This version is darker. It’s not a surprise when you don’t have one of the founding fathers of The Muppets involved in the project.

While we get glimpses of it in the script, this format makes no bones about Mr. Mushnik’s greed. Seymour is still clumsy; but he’s not really the lovable loser here. His interactions with his mother leave no doubt of that.

I liked how the artwork on the cover hints that this is not the same story we’ve come to know. The plant looks more sinister. The shop looks creepier. All the way around, it works.

The artwork on the interior pages does a terrific job helping with character development. The expression in Mr. Mushnik’s eyes whenever the subject of money comes up is very intense. He looks like a man possessed and nothing will stop him from making a quick

As a geek on a budget I would say know yourself before buying this book. How comfortable are you with a different interpretation of something you’re familiar with? If you don’t want twists, turns, and different perspectives, this book may not be your jam. If you are good with the road not taken, you’re in for a treat.