Issue: John Paul Russ’ The Monster Hunters’ Survival Guide #3: Giant Monsters
Release Date: February 2011
Writer: John Paul Russ
Illustrations: Shawn McCauley & Anthony Spay
Inks: Andrew Mangum
Production: Christopher Cote
Editor: Ralph Tedesco
Cover A: Steven Cummings
Cover B: Erik Jones and Nei Ruffino
Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
Anyone who has reveled in the multitude of SyFy Originals will love the third volume of John Paul Russ’ The Monster Hunters’ Survival Guide. Whether you’re hunting Megalodon or Sucuriju Gigante, you’ll get some key information within these pages. This series is part comic, part fictional accounts, but the combination makes you feel as if you’ve stumbled upon someone’s field guide and have become privy to all kinds of secrets of the unknown.
John Paul Russ gives an honest portrayal of how hard it is to hunt monsters, no matter their form. Witnesses are often unreliable, conditions are hardly ever favorable, and of course the creatures don’t want to be caught, which makes the entire situation that much harder. After reading the lead-up to the hunt, I had a momentary thought of wanting to go out on a tracking venture, but then I realized I’d rather just read about it.
The account starts with focusing on creatures of the sea. The Megalodon, Giant Piranha, and Giant Octopus are all touched upon and explained in terms of why they should or should not be feared. I found the historical accounts, coupled with the straight-forward natures of the information, to be quite enlightening. We then leave the ocean and move towards the sky with information about the large bird called a Roc. If the visual is any indication, this creature is massive, as it’s shown to be able to pick up an elephant with no trouble. The bird has been referenced in 1001 Nights and has earned its reputation of being a worthy opponent.
But I would be happier meeting up with a Roc than the next two creatures. The Giant Spider is one I’d never like to stumble upon. Perhaps I still have flashbacks of Arachnophobia. As the text indicates, it would be advisable to break out the flame thrower and fight back! If that one wasn’t bad enough, you can move on to Sucuriju Gigante. This is literally a snake that would put those from Boa vs. Python to shame. I found the stats and suggested weaponry for this creature quite amusing. The suggestion is to simply forego the machete and just blow them up. I will take that suggestion to heart.
And just so you don’t feel like these creatures are all in lands far away, we get the account of the Giant Alligator. Yes, the stories of these creatures hanging out in the sewers of New York City are indeed true. It’s dangerous down below the city. We end this collection with the large beasts we know so well, the dinosaur. Go back in time to learn the facts and prepare yourself for the possibility of meeting up with them again.
If you’re a fan of big creatures, or want to learn how to be a hunter yourself, be sure to pick up this issue of John Paul Russ’ The Monster Hunters’ Survival Guide. And come back next time when he tells us all about the supernatural creatures that lurk in the dark. I know I’m excited!
Rating: 4 / 5 Stars
