The Tooth Hardcover – June 14, 2011

The story has a great old-school pulp feel, and the design and concept really seals the deal. The hardcover package is made to look like a stack of old comics found in an attic, including notes, scribbles, and even a missing issue, and it's reflected in the story. Bunn, Lee and Kindt nailed this one.

THE TOOTH got my attention when it was first offered back in 2011, as the solicited cover and description reminded me of such tongue-in-cheek Silver Age homages as 1963 and The Bulletproof Coffin. I figured I'd found my latest journey into a past that never was; however, once I looked inside a copy at the local comic shop and saw the art, I left it on the shelf. What I saw between the covers of The Tooth was so awkward and painful to look at that I couldn't bring myself to buy it. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who felt that way, as that very copy sat in the same spot on the shelf for two years until being marked down 60%. I finally went for it, and I was amazed.The story by Cullen Bunn and Shawn Lee was so much better than I'd expected. It's a combination of '70s horror/fantasy comics and Greek mythology, steeped in Marvel bullpen joviality. While the book itself is a beautifully-produced hardcover with heavy paper stock, it's meant to be read as a run of beat-up Bronze Age comics, complete with ads, letters pages, editorials, and a heavy amount of simulated wear and tear. There's even a "missing" issue that honestly doesn't detract from the story at all. Everything begins with Graham Stone inheriting his estranged grandfather's estate, which, to his surprise, includes a large collection of occult items. Unfortunately for Graham, he is regarded as an obstacle by others who have their eyes on that collection. With his life at risk, Graham becomes the unwilling host for a magical creature that can only be described as a walking lump of dentine and enamel. While you may be wondering about the logic behind that - yes, even in a comic - it's all good, for The Tooth has a very creative origin that shows Bunn and Lee did their homework.As for the art: Matt Kindt has a style reminiscent of Bob Burden or Ted McKeever, and it certainly captured the bizarre atmosphere of the story, but if this was meant to be a throwback to an earlier era, then it would have benefitted more from having an artist who could mimic the styles of the time. The story was so good that it actually settled me into Kindt's style, but I still wonder what might have been.So, THE TOOTH was a worthwhile read, and the care that was put into the design of the graphic novel was stunning; however, for all my raving over the story, I absolutely would not fault someone for passing on it due to the art.

This book was one of the best books I read this year. Cullen Bunn,Shawn Lee,& Matt Kindt created one of the most originalout of this world characters I have read in a long time. Oni Press did a band up job with the book also!