Review: Blood Bowl: Killer Contract #1

Posted in Comics, News on June 17th, 2008

Blood Bowl started off as a table top role playing game and then transitioned to a successful series of delightfully twisted novels from Matt Forbeck. Now, Forbeck brings the blood sport to comics with the five-issue miniseries Blood Bowl: Killer Contract. The first issue, on sale tomorrow, breathlessly kicks off and keeps the action and body parts pumping along.

Demons, orcs and other misshapen beings suit up to play in the deadly sport styled after football but with fewer rules and a spiked pigskin. All the characters from his novels are present and he manages to breezily introduce you to them through the announcers’ play-by-play and then some halftime moments that serve to set up the remaining four issues. The Bad Bay Hackers and their rivals, the Orcland Raiders square off and somehow, Forbeck even manages to squeeze in family squabbles and a love story so kudos to him.

Forbeck clearly knows the sport and loves his characters and you zip through the comic and if you’re into mayhem this one’s for you. If anything, the title could benefit from a little world building, a chance to understand the realm where the story takes place and how the various species relate to one another away from the sport. Additionally, I still can’t quite make out where the rules of football end and the rules of blood bowl begin.

Lads Helloven’s artwork is exaggerated, a little crude and perfectly suited for the down and dirty play.

All in all, this isn’t for everyone but it’s certainly entertaining and it’s nice to put faces to some of Forbecks’ players.