Sixpack and Dogwelder – Hard Travelin’ Heroz #3 (2016)
Sixpack and Dogwelder – Hard Travelin’ Heroz #3 (2016)
📚 Genre
Dark Comedy, Superhero Parody, Satirical Fiction
This comic belongs to the realm of absurdist superhero fiction, infused with dark humor, supernatural elements, and a heavy dose of satirical commentary on comic book tropes and the superhero genre.
🦸 Main Characters
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Sixpack – A delusional, perpetually drunk "superhero" who believes he's part of a greater mission, often misunderstanding everything around him.
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Dogwelder II – The silent, enigmatic successor to the original Dogwelder, known for welding dead dogs to villains’ faces as a form of "justice."
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John Constantine – The chain-smoking, wisecracking occult detective from Hellblazer, who guides (or misguides) the team on their journey.
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Section Eight – A ragtag, dysfunctional team of oddball heroes including Bueno Excellente, The Grapplah, and others with questionable morals and even worse powers.
✍️ Writer
Garth Ennis
Renowned for his work on Preacher, The Boys, and Hellblazer, Ennis brings his signature irreverent tone and brutal satire to this oddball series, blending social commentary with gut-busting absurdity.
🎨 Artist
Russ Braun
Braun’s expressive and gritty artwork perfectly complements Ennis’s chaotic storytelling, balancing grotesque humor with surprisingly nuanced character expressions and supernatural landscapes.
🛠️ Editor Details
Marie Javins
Javins ensures the bizarre tone stays cohesive, managing to pull together this twisted narrative and keep it grounded in the absurd reality of the Section Eight universe.
🏢 Publisher and Brand
DC Comics | DC's Mature Readers Imprint (Formerly Vertigo)
While not officially under DC Black Label, the comic carries the spirit of DC’s mature line, pushing boundaries with profanity, gore, and unfiltered lunacy.
📅 Release Year
2016
Part of the six-issue miniseries released during DC’s Rebirth publishing initiative, though it remains thematically and tonally separate from main continuity.
📖 Brief Plot Summary
In issue #3, the team is allegedly en route to the tombs of ancient Egyptian pharaohs in a magical quest that’s supposed to reveal Dogwelder’s true purpose. At least, that’s the story John Constantine is selling them. But things aren’t so straightforward—Dogwelder seems to be on a mysterious journey of his own, haunted by a legacy he didn’t choose and a power he doesn’t understand. Meanwhile, Sixpack tries to keep the group together through sheer force of delusion. 🐫✨💀
🌌 Notable Arcs or Storylines
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Dogwelder’s Destiny – The comic begins to hint that Dogwelder might have a cosmic role far greater than anyone suspected, raising questions about fate, myth, and justice through grotesque metaphor.
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Constantine’s Manipulations – Is Constantine genuinely trying to help, or is he using Section Eight for some darker end? The issue plants seeds of doubt that ripple through the series.
🧠 Fan Theories or Interpretations
Some fans speculate that Dogwelder represents a twisted parallel to DC’s divine archetypes—his “dog-welding” becoming a grotesque parody of divine punishment or karmic justice. Others see Sixpack as a tragic character—a satirical take on the unreliable narrator trope, whose delusions hide a deep desire to be heroic in a world that mocks his efforts. 🧐🐕
📝 Review Summary
This issue delivers a hilarious, unhinged ride through supernatural absurdity and lowbrow comedy that somehow manages to be strangely profound. The story balances moments of genuine character development—especially around Dogwelder’s silent torment—with outlandish gags and grotesque visuals. Garth Ennis’s script is sharply satirical, and Russ Braun’s artwork amplifies the chaos without ever losing control. While not for everyone, it’s a gem for fans of offbeat, adult-oriented comics who enjoy laughing at the darker corners of heroism. 🎭🔥📘
Comic Resource / Read Online (External Source)
