AfterShock Comics Announces New Dark Comedy Series ‘Chicken Devil’

by Olly MacNamee

Writer Brian Buccellato, artist Hayden Sherman and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou are collaborating on the newest AfterShock comic book series, Chicken Devil. A dark comedy all about the mob, family and…chicken suits. Read on…

“Mitchell Moss is about as regular as it gets. He’s married with two children, and co-owns a successful chain of Memphis Hot Chicken restaurants. It’s not the life that screams hero/vigilante…until he discovers that his business partner is in bed with the mob and owes them $2 million. Unfortunately, Mitch is ill-equipped to be a badass—he’s just a guy who makes really good chicken. Can he protect his family from cold-blooded gangsters? Absolutely not.

But maybe the CHICKEN DEVIL can…

Writer Brian Buccellato (Detective Comics, The Flash, Witchblade) and artist Hayden Sherman (COLD WAR, MARY SHELLEY MONSTER HUNTER) serve up a darkly comedic crime drama that’s juicy, tender and finger-lickin’ hilarious.”

Buccellato reveals more about this new book and the twist on your mainstream vigilante-style justice:

“Chicken Devil is a dark tragicomedy that puts an edgy spin on the revenge/vigilante genre. Our hero, Mitchell Moss is passive, super-responsible and is about as regular as it comes. He’s married, with two children and co-owns a chain of Memphis Hot Chicken restaurants. It’s not the life that screams John Wick or The Punisher… until his world gets turned upside down when the Russian mob hurts his family. So, Mitch sets out on a path of bloody revenge…

But there’s one BIG problem. He’s he is ILL-EQUIPPED to be a badass vigilante. He’s not ex-military or a former assassin… he’s just a regular guy who makes really good chicken. Nevertheless, Mitch dons the chicken-devil suit and give it his best (but probably not good enough) shot.

What excites me most about this book is the that it’s an opportunity to showcase a different creative side (that people will hopefully like). Even though there are literal life-or-death situations, it’s done in a light, more irreverent way. Don’t get me wrong, there are serious relationships and consequences at play… but the experience is intended to be breezy and fun as it plays off well-known crime and revenge genre tropes.”

He also waxes lyrical about the inspirations behind the series:

“I think I was watching a lot of Netflix’s BARRY and THE END OF THE F***KING WORLD at the time. And AMC’s FARGO. There’s something about a darkly comedic world with ‘normal’ people and heightened violence that really plays into my sensibilities. I’ve been known for doing down the middle superhero stuff and horror books… but haven’t really leaned into this weirder side of my tastes. Chicken Devil is a major move in that direction.”

As for the dark humour…

“Like I mentioned earlier, I LOVE stories that mix the super violent and the funny. This probably goes back to the first time I saw RESERVOIR DOGS, TRUE ROMANCE and every Tarantino movie that followed. I’m such a big fan of his work and marvel at his ability to mash up wildly different elements into cohesive narratives that are undeniably his. The juxtaposition of his clever banter and wonderfully dark humor allows us to accept heroin needles, ears getting cut off, or people graphically lit up by flame throwers.

I’m not comparing myself to Quentin— he’s truly a master of what he does… but I think the humor in my story attempts to do the same thing by taking graphic violence and the revenge movie tropes and putting through a darkly comedic lenses that is 100% my sense of humor.”

And, about that chicken suit…

“Because ruthless mobsters getting whacked by a clueless dude in a burnt-up chicken costume is hilarious to me. There are also grounded story reasons why he dons the suit. Reasons that aren’t a bunch of bats inexplicably breaking through his window…”