Vol. 1. A four-issue comic series based on the movie "Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III" by New Line Cinema. Northstar comics, 1991. Published by Arpad Publishing, Inc. Chicago, Ill. Based on an original screenplay by David J. Schow. Story by Mort Castle. Pencils by Kirk Jarvinen and Guy Burwell."

     By Stephen Pytak 

     Buy the first issue for the cover by Dave 
Dorman. 
     Buy the other three in this series for
an artist named Guy Burwell.
     He didn't have anything to do with the 
first ish. But he stepped in and made it 
worth buying the rest.
     The comic is based on New Line
Cinema's "Leatherface: The Texas 
Chainsaw Massacre III (1991)." I'm not
a big fan of the flick, but it's interesting
in some respects. 
     I didn't see it when it was released, but
I remember the comics. My brother bought
them and back then I gave them a once over.
I thought the artwork was good. I raised an
eyebrow and that was that. Since I wasn't
into the film, I didn't buy the books.
     Recently, however, I decided to give the
comics a second look.
     I bought them at a Cinema Wasteland
convention in April 2004. It was dedicated
to "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)"
and stars from the original and a few of
the sequels were on hand to sign autographs.
     I met R.H. Mihilof there. He played
"Leatherface" in "Texas III" and, to date,
he's the only guy from Pennsylvania to play
the part. I'm a native too. I felt a kinship
of sorts and decided to pick up something
related to the film to mark the occassion.
The comics were it.
     The cover of the first issue is nice. The
artwork inside is not. 
     I've been asked to remove my comment
about the inside artwork, which is by Kirk
Jarvinen, who reportedly has gone on to
do artwork for DC and Marvel. 
     I won't say who sent me an email on the
matter. But she says when he was given the 
job to draw this book, the production was
on shaky ground.  The book was about
to be sold off to another company, Jarvinen
wasn't paid and therefore he didn't put much
effort into it.
     Interesting indeed.
     It's a good explanation. But despite
what happened behind the scenes, the
book's out there. And it sells for a decent
buck.  I bought my copy for $5, but at 
the convention I was at, I saw copies on 
the shelf for $25. 
     I can't remove my comment about his
work from this review. It's not fair to my
readers or the people out there who buy
comics.   
     The second, third and fourth issues rock
primarily because of Burwell. But every now
and then writer Mort Castle makes a interesting
contribution.
     In issue two, when Bennie the survivalist
and Leatherface go at it, some tough talk 
rivaled the chainsaw sparks:
     "Gee. Sorry! Looks like I got the brace on 
your bad leg there pal! Tell Jerry Lewis! Maybe
he'll run you a fuckin' telethon!"
     The last few pages of issue four make this a 
must have for fans of this series. We get a slightly 
different ending, one that's more thought 
provoking. 
     Maybe it makes some kind of crazy sense.
I don't know. But I'd like to see it filmed.
     One of the back covers is kind of strange. 
It features a photo of a human skull decorated
by what appears to be blood, eyeballs and 
muscles from a cow's head. It's appropriate.
     If the series continued with the same team,
I'd be looking for the back issues on Ebay
now.