Read WOLF'S HEAD issue 6 of the comic book series for free on the Internet Archive
Elevator Pitch
“Just as things are appearing to get back to some degree of normalcy after the death of a significant loved one, Lauren Greene is confronted by the corporate forces who created the Artificial Intelligence (AI) that she has befriended while they attempt to hunt it down. Forced to defend the AI, Lauren’s life and the lives of those she loves are very much in the balance as Jeremy Hamilton and his henchmen will not stop until the AI is theirs once again.”Milestone
Issue 6! A huge milestone in the life of Lauren and the characters around her, but also a milestone in the series so far. Why? Issue 6 represents the ending of a number of storylines that have been building since the very first issue. A number of things that were set-up quite early on payoff here and that, I think, is pretty damn exciting.I have a philosophy about ongoing comics that is fairly different than a lot of what I see in the contemporary comics publishing scene. I’m a big believer in what’s called “episodic closure.” It’s a bit of a fancy form for a pretty simple concept: the “piece” of entertainment in front of you (a comic book, a TV show, a story, etc…) should be complete in and of itself. It shouldn’t string you along, completely open-ended. A lot of contemporary entertainment does just that; you watch an episode, and it starts in the middle of something and nothing resolves in that same episode. Is that “bad”? Of course not. We’re talking art here and there are no rules to art. All we have are tools to try and create stronger storytelling (however one might define that), a history of what’s come before us, and our own sensibilities on what works and why.
On the opposite end of all this is the kind of storytelling that did have episodic closure, but the closure was so tight that there was no growth or change at all. Think of a TV show prior to the 1980s, especially but not exclusively sitcoms. Many of them could be watched in any order (even switching the seasons up!) because, from the show’s point of view, there’s no change or growth at all. It’s just stasis; a constancy that prevents real change and real growth. That doesn’t mean there can’t be excellent writing, performances, and top-notch direction and cinematography in these types of TV shows. There often is. It just means that the characters, from the first episode to the finale, don’t change much. They often don’t change at all.
The trick with episodic closure, at least with how I approach my work, is to accomplish episodic closure while, at the same time, constantly building deeper and more nuanced characters, the world they live in, and the stories themselves. With WOLF’S HEAD, I think each issue stands on its own. But when you read them in sequential order, something deeper appears. That depth has a name: real change.
Key Links
Here are all of the key links:- Internet Archive link for WOLF’S HEAD Issue 6: https://archive.org/details/wolfs-head-006-by-von-allan
- WOLF’S HEAD Volume 3 (collecting Issues 5 and 6 of the series): https://wolfs-head.vonallan.com/p/wolfs-head-volume-3.html
- Shop Page: https://wolfs-head.vonallan.com/p/shop.html
- Wolf’s Head Official Site: https://wolfs-head.vonallan.com/
WOLF’S HEAD Volume 3 Trade Paperback Graphic Novel
For those who would like to purchase a print copy, issue 5 and issue 6 are collected together in a 60 page trade paperback graphic novel. So while you can always read the series for free, print-lovers are well-represented, too! You can learn more about the graphic novel at https://wolfs-head.vonallan.com/p/wolfs-head-volume-3.html.
Multiple Ways to Read the Series
Digital Comics
You can read every issue of WOLF'S HEAD for free on the wonderful Internet Archive. You can click on any of the covers below to find that issue on the Internet Archive.
Trade Paperback Graphic Novels
What if you want to hold these comics in your hand? Easy! Trade paperbacks have been published in nine volumes so far. Each volume collects two issues of the digital series and are 60 pages in length. Most volumes also have sketches, background material, editorials, letters, and whatnot, too! These affordable paperbacks are available worldwide.
Most online retailers regularly stock and carry WOLF'S HEAD. However, occassionaly there are hiccups with this from time to time (typically because the retailer has had a little rush on sales!). So, if you were shopping on Amazon (for example) and discovered that a particular volume is out of stock, there are many alternatives. These include Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Indigo, McNally Robinson, The American Book Center, Waterstones, and so on. In addition to these links, all of the ISBNs for the trade paperbacks and the hardcover are also below, so you can always use that when you are chatting with your local bookseller or comic book shop.
WOLF’S HEAD Book 1 Hardcover Graphic Novel
Aside from the aforementioned trade paperback, the first story arc (consisting of the first six issues of the ongoing series and combining the first three volumes of the trade paperback) is also available! This is a deluxe hardcover, larger than the trade paperbacks, and printed on fantastic paper! For those who would like a more immersive experience, this is a great way to go. And like the trade paperbacks, the hardcover is widely available at better comic book stores, book shops, and online retailers all over the world! You can learn more about the hardcover at https://wolfs-head.vonallan.com/2022/01/wolfs-head-book-1-in-hardcover-worldwide.html.
The first WOLF’S HEAD Story Arc
And, of course, you can always read the entire story arc for free at the Internet Archive! Please visit https://archive.org/search?query=creator%3A%22Von+Allan%22 for all the download links!
