Clue #6

The murderers are finally revealed!

No-way am I going to tell you who did what. Uh-uh!!! No spoilers here!

However, I will say that this issue is dynamic in two very distinct ways. For one, certain lines in the first 5 pages of the book pays great homage to both the classic board game and the 1980s live-action film version on which this miniseries was based. Secondly, that ending! WOW! It's a fourth-wall busting scene that I didn't think was possible in comics!

If you want to experience it, your just gonna have to wait until this Wednesday (November 22nd) when it debuts in store.

A masterful ending to a very fun series by Paul Allor and Nelson Daniel. Yes, I know I harp on it, but still no praise to whomever was behind the coloring of this book. That person or persons was the real star of this production team.

If you love mysteries that are unpredictable and slightly interactive, then Clue is the book you've been looking for. Not all of the motives may have made sense to me. I blame a little on the fact, that I have probably forgotten some key elements over the past 3 months that this series has been gradually released. 

I highly recommend reading all 6-issues consecutively for optimal enjoyment.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Clue #5

With only one issue before the finale, this chapter reveals but a sliver of the motives behind the murders of Mr. Boddy and several other characters. 

Not exactly the most tongue-in-cheek episode of the series. But there's several shocking twists and turns that I did not see coming. 

Another great entry by Paul Allor and Nelson Daniel. Who will finally be revealed as the murderer is anybody's game. But with a dwindling cast, the list of culprits runs awfully thin. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Clue #4

Building on the twist ending of last issue, more of the backgrounds of several important characters is delved upon. More motives are revealed. Plus, at least one or two more characters are removed from the playing board.

My suspect is still in this- well that is if they survive the cliffhanger.

After a very rough second issue, last issue as well as this one have gotten really intriguing. I love the rift between Upton, Mr. Boddy's butler and our narrator, and the editors. It really adds to the cheeky humor that has been ingrained in Clue since it's inception over 60 years ago. 

One thing missing from this story is the amazing colors used to represent all of the players. There's so many scenes where two or more characters interact, that the brilliant palette of our mystery colorist, is noticeably absent from this chapter.

There's only 2 issues left in this story and from here on in, it's anybody's game...

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Clue #3

I'm going to say that issue #2 was a hiccup because this issue was great. The smarmy British charm of Upton is back. Interactions with the editor in relation to the story is back and quite funny. Plus, it feels more like an interactive whodunit again as opposed to a closed off episode of Law & Order. 

In this issue Professor Plum and Dr. Orchid are on the run from the detectives called to investigate Mr. Boddy's death. Colonel Mustard's complex past is revealed. Plus Sen. White and Mr. Green get really excited about Scarlet's bouquet of flowers. 

This issue felt like I was playing the game Clue again. Issue #2 did not! I don't have any idea who is behind the murders. Well, I have a theory- that I won't share least I spoil it- but it's kinda out there. 

Judge Dredd's Nelson Daniel continues to amazing with the art. But once again, it's the anonymous colorist of this series that is the real star of the book. Come on IDW- give that person or person's their just due. They really add to the game feel of this book and if it was up to me, I'd nominate them for an Eisner.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Clue #2

Story by Paul Allor. Art by Nelson Daniel. Published by IDW.

  The bodies continue to stack up at Boddy Manor. The second issue of Clue: the Comic Book, based on the classic Parker Bros board game, is filled with clues and motives. But what’s missing is the dark humor of the first issue.

   Upton the Butler is still your host through this dinner theatre mystery. Yet, his witty barbs about the players is suddenly gone. The butler has suddenly morphed from being a bit cheeky to acting darn near morbid. It’s like he’s the host of a classic horror anthology now. It seriously changes the tone of this miniseries.

    Another thing missing are the bonus pages. In Clue #1, there were 3 additional pages of clues that were randomly inserted into issues. I’m not sure if readers complained about having to buy variants for the extra material. Maybe IDW planned it this way. I only know that the bonus clue pages are not in this issue. The lone thing different between the variants for the second issue are the covers.

     The black comedy and additional hints have disappeared but the quality of the overall book remains. Writer Paul Allor has woven a masterful web of intrigue that only promises to get better in issue 3. I’m composing my own list of suspects and Upton assures readers that some very important details are forthcoming very soon.

   Nelson Daniel’s art is also very good too! But as with the last issue, whomever is coloring this title is doing a killer job. Notice the color schemes of the variant covers below. Come on IDW! Give this genius colorist their due credit!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Review originally published July 19, 2017 on outrightgeekery.com.

Clue #1

How To Play…

Clue- The Classic Whodunit board game from Parker Brothers is now a comic book. From the guys at IDW Publishing, readers are given the task to solve the murder of Mr. Boddy. Over the course of five issues, clues will be discovered and motives revealed. Is it pharmaceutical magnate Mr. Green in the kitchen with the knife? Was it power hungry Senator White with the revolver in the billiard room?

The first issue of Clue: the Comic Book was rather fun. Upton the Butler is your host to Boddy Manor. The servant breaks the fourth wall, cluing readers in on suspects and alerts you to new developments. Even writer Paul Allor (G.I. Joe) gets in on the fun conversing back-and-forth with Upton about the crime at hand. It’s very reminiscent of the fun stuff Lee and Kirby would do at Marvel back in the Silver Age.

A Colorful Assortment

The artwork by Tank Girl’s Nelson Daniel was okay. None of the characters look like they do from the classic board game. With the addition of modern personas like Dr. Orchid from more recent Clue editions, it’s the colorist who matters most in this comic. Without him, you wouldn’t know Miss Scarlet from Professor Plum. Oddly enough, IDW doesn’t give a listing for who colors the book.

Multiple Chances to Solve the Game

This is actually a comic that you’ll want to buy multiple copies of. Each book has an extra page of clues randomly. There are 3 extra pages per issue to be found, so if you really want to master the game, you’ll need to buy 3 issues! Though maybe IDW should follow Marvel’s lead and insert a code in which you can activate the addition pages digitally.

I love playing Clue. It’s one of the reasons I choose to review this book. It’s also true that I am a big fan of the 1980s live-action film version of the game. There’s several elements of humor and game-play found in both the comic and the movie. I just wish that Allor and Daniel would’ve made the character of Upton to look more like Tim Curry’s Wadworth.

Regardless, Clue takes comics and games to a new level of interactive comics. This is an enjoyable summer comic. But I think it’s best when scanned during a dark and stormy night.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.