Horror Comics Review

Review: The Asylum of Horrors # 1

2009-08-18T13:29:00.000-07:00

The summer is slipping by, and between my career and my family I have had precious little time to sit down and review lots of good material that I've come across the last couple months. Of course, mowing the lawn, tending the pepper plants, and wiping out vast amounts of beer while hovering over the grill has something to do with it as well. Don't let the secret out, but horror comics fans are real people with real lives, aren't we? Anyway, I'm going to try to play catch up over the next couple weeks.

From Frank Forte at Asylum Press comes the first issue of "The Asylum of Horrors," which is a MUST have! This thing is a huge anthology, with over 18 stories and vignettes from creators ranging from Tim Vigil to Billy George to Kevin Golden. Even better, it is almost entirely in color and printed on top quality slick paper. A bargain at $4.95!!! Think of the old Steve Bissette "Taboo" books if they were published by "Heavy Metal" and you'll get an inkling of what Forte has put together here. Like I said, this is simply a MUST for horror heads, and trying to elaborate beyond that would be futile. Just go get it!

http://www.asylumpress.com/

Review: Evil Inside/Amour # 3

2009-07-23T07:59:00.000-07:00

Consider this another "retro review" for Bart Thompson at Approbation Comics. As a fan of this horror genre, I don't think I can do enough for the indy publisher, but I try to give as much deserved exposure as I can!

Anyway, this was the first of the horror/romance crossover issues that Approbation did, and in my opinion the better of the two. The first story is "Mirror/Mirror," written of course by Thompson and illustrated by Ezequiel Pineda. About a guy who sees the image of a girl in a mirror throughout his life, this is possibly the best story I have ever read from Bart. The college roomate/antagonist Eddie is something of an unbelievable character, simply a vehicle used to trigger (no pun intended) a plot device, but other than that this story really stirred some interesting emotion in me and I have reflected on it (again, no intended pun) several times since reading it initially. THAT is the mark of good storytelling.

The second tale is "Love Sprouts," about your average guy who falls for the pretty new neighbor across the hall. Art is by Ezequiel Pineda again (he does all the art this issue), who is one of the stronger artists Thompson has worked with, IMO. These characters are somewhat endearing in the short time you get to know them, and you find yourself pulling for their relationship to work. The only "downfall" of the story is the hazy ending, which Bart does an admirable job of trying to explain with several narrative boxes. Still, it is something of a headscratcher, but the story holds up regardless.

Last story is "Happy Family," and it was the least enjoyable of the three yarns. Hard to explain what this one is about as the plot is a tad convuluted, but essentially there is a couple in which the man is trying to attempt to cope with the death of his previous love. That said, what follows is a series of unrealistic events (yes, I understand we are dealing with a sometimes "supernatural" theme) that I suppose are set up for no other reason than to reveal the final panel. Something of a let down. Oh well, they can't all be classics.

Anyway, overall this is one of the best Evil Inside issues of the entire series, and I'd encourage you to seek them out!

http://www.approbationcomics.com/

Review: Leprechaun # 1

2009-07-11T13:12:00.000-07:00

Bluewater has picked up the comic rights to this pint sized film "icon," one that honestly I'm not much of a fan of particularly. Not that I dislike Leprechaun, I've just never been interested enough to watch the movies. I'm a fan of what the Bluewater team has done with Warlock though, so I'm hoping for a similar experience.

I've got "Cover B", but I don't know who did it because "Cover B" is credited three different ways inside. Hello, editors!

Anyway, writing credits go to Zach Hunchar, and he does a decent job in laying out an interesting plot. Basically, the Leprechaun (a king of his people) has his gold stolen by his enemies the Clurichaun who in turn give them to a coin dealer. The dealer has sold the coins across the world, and now the Leprechaun must attempt to gather them back up at apparently any cost. He somehow lands in the middle of the life of one Ethan Thomas, which is sad since Ethan is a stereotypical geek with the most annoying of dialogue. By the end of the book still, even after witnessing the Leprechaun materialize in his apartment from nowhere etc, etc, Ethan continues spouting drivel like "Seriously, who are you?" and "This makes less since than blah blah blah." He's an unbelievable cookie cutter "nerd," so it's a shame because the rest of the story flows very well.

On the art side we have Kris Carter on pencils, Thomas Torre on colors. Carter does an apt job, but I really enjoyed his "flashback" panels to the war between the Clurichaun and Leprechaun peoples. Carter makes an exceptional fantasy artist. Torre goes above and beyond with the colors, using his palate to full effect to set mood.

At the end of the day this isn't a title I'd be chomping at the bit for just yet when held up to other current "horror" offerings, but with a little dialogue tuning I think it would be a contender.

Review: Tomb of Bloke

2009-07-06T10:53:00.000-07:00

From Virus Comix comes Tomb of Bloke, which originally appeared as an online comic on Myspace. The print version has been reworked and expanded for your reading pleasure.

This book is an indy labor of love by artist Ju Gomez and writer Jason "Bloke" Crawley. ToB features a color cover and B&W interior, and the book is priced affordably at a measly $2.99 a shot. How can you pass that up?!

As for content, ToB is your basic "zombies take over the world" concept. The twist presented to us in this book, is that we see much of the action from the perspective of "Bloke," a recently reanimated zombie who retains some human thought process and emotions. I found the idea to be refreshing. As for nuts and bolts writing, Crawley does a good job at keeping the flow of the story going, and I for one GREATLY appreciate his use of narrative text panels to help tell the story. I think with further practice and polish, he has potential to be a very good horror comic author.

Concerning the art, Ju Gomez is quite good. His work is much better than many, many indy illustrators out there. I don't think you can find any faults with his approach. Really, the only downside on the visuals was that Ju uses lots of heavy darkness in his linework (not a problem - I like "heavy/dark") and somewhere along the production line it tended to translate poorly in a couple panels, blurring detail or making it hard to follow certain actions. Looks more like a process problem, and overall does not take much away from this book.

I say, if you want to support good, horror-loving indy creators like these guys, then you had better not let this one slip passed...

http://www.tombofbloke.com/

Review: Vincent Price Presents # 5

2009-06-24T13:49:00.000-07:00

Another top notch book from Bluewater Comics. I'm not sure which style of anthology title I prefer more: the traditional 3 or so short stories style packed into a single issue, or the single story per issue version that Bluewater is using for VP. Guess it doesn't matter, I like both styles at the end of the day.

This issue is a story called "Here to There," with writing credits to Scott Davis. I don't know what other writing credentials Mr. Davis has, but this is certainly a fantastic story, much more intellectual and thought provoking than most "horror" fare. One gets the feel that this was first a text short story that had possibly shopped around the world od literati before finding a home in comics. It's a character study of a "once-was" author who is living a life of self exile as a cabbie, and the strange events that unfold in his life during his daily grind. I won't give anything away other than to say you actually feel like you are READING a book rather than breezing through a comic. It's brain food and it's satisfying. I hope Scott Davis writes more for VPP.

Cover and intro/outro art is by Joel Robinson and his cool computer aided style. Interior art is all Rey Armenteros and each panel looks like a dreamlike painting. The only problem I had was that the hazy quality really makes it hard to follow the action in a few panels, and then a couple recurring characters are not really illustrated the same in a couple places, which makes you ask yourself "who is this?" for a moment until you figure out it's a guy from the previous panel.

Overall, the issue is a must read for horror comics fans. GO GET IT!!

Review: Amour/The Evil Inside Antholgy # 6

2009-06-17T13:41:00.000-07:00

So, I believe this is actually The Evil Inside # 6 (with an illustrated cover, no less!) with an Amour tie-in. Amour being a romance anthology from Approbation, not a character ( I think! ). Therefore, I guess these stories are supposed to have a "romance" theme to them.

First up is "Submerged" and (as always witht his series) is written by publisher Bart Thompson. This has a nice twist end to it, and I guess because it appears to take place on a singles cruise (although that is never stated) and there is a "connection" between our leading female and male characters, I suppose there is a romance vibe going. Main downfall here is the art by Paco Zarco. Not that he is "bad," because he certainly isn't, but the action on pages 2 and 4 is so muddied that it is hard to say what exactly is going on. Maybe Bart could have helped him by adding a couple narrative boxes here and there.

Next is "Promiscuous" with art by Kevin Richardson. Witty dialogue and unique plot are the highlights here. Art is crisp and clear with no flow problems. Much better story overall than the opener.

Lastly is "Barhopper" with art by Ezquiel Pineda. Creepy little tale with probably the best art of the book. Pineda's "wife" is eeriely crafted. Good gross-out ending, and like I said, just plain creepy.

All in all, another good effort from Bart Thompson and Approbation. I wish he'd keep publishing the Evil Inside books, but I think he's done with them after this one. So, check it while you can!

http://www.approbationcomics.com/

Review: Warlock # 1

2009-06-12T10:31:00.000-07:00

Looks like Bluewater Comics has acquired the comic rights to Warlock from Lionsgate Films and are launching an ongoing series here. Sweet!

I have the Cover "B" version, which is a nice portrayal by Matt Bellisle. Interior art is penciled by Jacob Bear, who works in a realistic type fashion. He gets the point across well, and the reader is never left trying to decipher what is happening. He teams well with writer Nick Lyons, as the panel layouts and angles are imaginative and pull the reader in.

Lyons' script is fast paced and aptly done. In one issue we are introduced to quite a few characters without overload, and are given the basic premise of the series in a fashion that leaves the reader wanting to pour into the next issue by the last page. The gist of the series appears to be that there is a spellbook guarded closely by a small group of people, in which a spell is contained that imprisoned a group of six warlocks who had laid waste to all in the past. Somehow, there is a Warlock on the loose who seeks to destroy the book, which would free his fellow warlocks. Good stuff, and I don't see fans of the movies being dissapointed at all. Go buy it!!!

http://www.bluewater.prod.com/

Review: The Evil Inside # 2

2009-06-08T10:50:00.001-07:00

Consider this a "retro" review, as I think this one hit the stands in 2007. Writer/CEO of Approbation Comics Bart Thompson contacted me & wondered if I wouldn't mind giving a belated opinion on this, and of course I'm certainly happy to oblige as I'm partial to indy guys trying to get exposure for their labors of love.

I've reviewed a couple other books from the series, and this one doesn't differ much from the others in format: anthology in b&w. Yippee! I love anthologies. First up is "Identity" with art by Chris Kohler (all stories written by Thompson). Kohler has a nice look to his work, reminds of 1980's Rand Holmes for some reason. Lots of nice detailed linework. The story is decent and flows nicely, but I had the "twist" figured out immediately. I've read a ton of "twist" horror yarns, so I'm pretty good at that if I have to say so myself.

Next is "A Slight Period of Adjustment," which looks like it may have been originally titled "The Apocalypse Jumpstart" from Bart's "Blab Page" at the end of the book. Regardless, art is by Michele Buscalferri and done in a sort of "clean lines" almost cartoonish style. This story does have an original twist which I never picked up on. Nice one, Bart!

Rounding out the issue is "Was He Asking For It?" with art by Alex Massacci. The linework is a good realistic style which lends itself nicely to action sequences. The tale is a neat little "just desserts" moral play, a style that has been tried and true in horror comics since the pre-code era. Good stuff.

I'd ask all you horror heads to check out The Evil Inside series and support indy talent such as this.
www.ApprobationComics.com

REVIEW: E.A. Poe's The Pit & the Pendulum

2009-06-03T12:21:00.000-07:00

Another Bluewater endeavor, with top notch production values as always (I'm going to stop mentioning this in my reviews, I think. The point should be well driven home by now if you have read a couple of my reviews of their material).

Technically, to get this comic you have to purchase Wrath of the Titans: Cyclops to get the EA Poe story, which is a "Bonus Book" of an extra 22 pages of story/art on the back/flipside of the Titans issue.

Anyway, the art is taken from a (I believe, could be wrong) stop-motion animation DVD done by Marc Lougee & Susan Ma in association with Ray Harryhausen Productions. It is really cool stuff, ironically much superior to some of the comic linework being printed these days. As for the story, well you can't go wrong with Poe, can you? My only complaints are that the first page of the story is presented twice in differing layouts, which interrupted the initial flow a little bit. Also, there are some typos here & there which really should have been caught by somebody. Other than that, another solid effort from Bluewater, and something of a "must see" for fans of Poe. Nice job!

Review: Wulf & Batsy # 4

2009-05-19T12:51:00.000-07:00

Well, well. Bryan Baugh has struck again. The saga of Wulf & Batsy continues with this issue from Crypt Logic Comics, which contains the second chapter of the "Bizarre Experiments" storyline. Nice cover illo. by Josh Howard, who has something of a decent cult following, but dare I say Baugh's own piece on the back cover is superior?

The illuminated horror fan should appreciate Baugh's razor sharp humor contained in both the dialogue and art. Always a hidden laugh somewhere in here, for those in the know. These characters and Baugh's style have become favorites of mine in a short matter of time, as the material never takes itself too seriously and always provides what a good comic should no matter the genre: entertainment.

Now, if my order from Captain Bloodclot would finally get here...

Review: Plan 9 From Outer Space Strikes Again!

2009-05-18T18:23:00.000-07:00

What a trip! I'm a fan of Ed Wood and his films, so I was a pleasantly surprised to see this title. If you are also a fan of the Plan 9 movie, you'll probably find this issue a treat. Don't expect a dead-on (no pun intended, really.) rehash of the film. As the title clearly states, it is essentially a Bluewater Comics "sequel," for lack of a better term.

Being a Bluewater publication, you are getting top notch production values. Full color, slick paper, et. all. I've said this all before in other reviews, but I may as well restate it for the uninitiated.

Giovanni Timpano does very well on the interior art. I appreciate his craft more each time I see it. He's much better than some of the stuff being put in print these days. I suppose he did the cover also, but I didn't see any cover credits anywhere. Alex Sollazzo is the colorist, and he brings out the proper mood for this story with his work.

Darren Davis & Chad Helder are credited as writers. They basically run with the concept of "what if it happened again" and have fun with it. This time though, it would appear a murky branch of the government is trying to lure the aliens of Eros back to Earth in order to capture technology. Mayhem ensues. We are treated to cameos of all the old familiar Plan 9 characters in one form or another amidst the fast paced chaos. Yes, there's much going on, and you may find the plot slightly askew, in the best of Ed Wood tradition. Personally, I found page four to be worthy of a chuckle and grin, and if you buy this book I'm sure you will, too.

The book ends on such an unusual Woodish-note, that I have no idea if this is intended as a series or a one shot. Either way, it was a fast and fun read.

http://www.bluewaterprod.com/

Review: DUSK Vol. One

2009-05-17T04:42:00.000-07:00

Dusk is the brainchild of writer David Doub and promises a different take on the world of vampires. Volume One is a four chapter black & white graphic novel, although I couldn't find a page count and I'm far too lazy to attempt one, hehe. Anyway, production value is pretty standard with the highlight being nice cover stock featuring a superbly moody work by Brett Middleton.

The interior art varies from chapter to chapter. Credits go to Maki Naro, Jerry Gonzales, and Franc Czuba. Obviously each has their own style, but all seem influenced to various degrees by manga and underground comix. Workmanlike efforts, unfortunately there were a couple scattered panels that were hard to follow.

The heart and soul of this work is the writing of Doub. Both plot and dialogue are above par, and one becomes immediately intrigued by his creations. The chapters mostly revolve around the female character of Eve, who is something of a mortal "enforcer" for the vampire Ash. They are somehow involved in what could be construed as a vampire "justice" group, although the specifics are never made clear in this volume. To loosely paraphrase Henry Hill, they seem to be "a police department for vampires." Strangely enough, I was reading the chapter in whence a vampire is "arrested" for collaborating with the National Socialists, just as Cleveland resident John Demyanyuk (sp?) was being extradited from the US to Germany for accussations of war crimes. Weird.

A plea to ALL aspiring comic writers: use NARRATIVE PANELS! They go a long way in giving the lowdown to the reader. Also, if you are working with underdeveloped artistic talent, I would shy away from panel after panel of action w/out text.

Oh, here is a much deserved bit of praise to whoever (the letterer?) laid out the dialogue balloons in this book. Great job! I see WAY too often in indy comics word balloons with horrible placement, in which you end up reading out of sequence. Not the case here. Kudos!

Regardless, it certainly is a different look at the world of vampirism, and with the interesting characters laid out within, this reader can hardly wait to get the scoop on unanswered questions (and there are MANY items not adequately addressed) when Volume Two comes around.

www.comicspace.com/David_Doub

On with the show...

2009-05-15T12:06:00.000-07:00

Hey, Creeps!! Been a little while since my last entry. I intentionally did not post in the remainder of February as a "homage" to the late Lux Interior. March and April? Well, I got sidetracked with home renovations, etc.

So, I want to thank anyone who submitted material for review and have been waiting patiently to see your work detailed here. Reviews are again on the way! See you all soon...

RIP: Lux Interior

2009-02-05T07:24:00.000-08:00

"Life is short, and its filled with stuff,
So let me know baby, when you had enough." - Lux Interior

Some of you know that I deal with death every night as a part of my job, so when a "celeb" dies I'm not normally very phased. That wasn't the case when I heard last night of the February 4th passing of Cramps frontman Lux Interior. I was shocked. I even teared up. The Cramps were a formative part of my teenage years during the 1980's, so it felt like a little piece of my past had suddenly been ripped from me.

If you were any sort of "punk" rocker worth your salt in the 80's, you listened to the Cramps & you listened hard. You probably slapped down a 12" vinyl slab of "Gravest Hits" on your turntable after school so you could slither around to "Human Fly" in the seclusion of your bedroom. Maybe you strutted down the halls of your high school draped in your faded yellow "Bad Music for Bad People" shirt. Who knows exactly what you did back then, but if you were a punk, the Cramps had some role somewhere in there.

Those days are gone, and sadly so is Lux. The memories will linger, kinda like the ringing in your ears after listening to some Cramps tunes.

"There's nothin' on the radio when you're dead
There's nothin' at the movie show when you're dead
There's nowhere left for you to go when you're dead..."

Vincent Price Presents # 2

2009-01-17T05:01:00.000-08:00

Anyone who has read this blog should be aware of my praise for the quality of Blue Water Comics production values, so let's get right to the point and give this issue a look, shall we?

Chad Helder continues to be the writer for this book, and this issue features "Orok the Neanderthal." The dialogue in the framing sequences feels a bit flowery, but somehow I can hear VP actually uttering the words in my mind. As for the interior story, there is minimal dialogue and several panels without any text whatsoever. This wouldn't be a problem, except there are times when the flow gets a little murky, leaving the reader to work out what exactly is happening. A few strategically placed narrative boxes would have been appropriate. The end of the tale has a "twist" ending that actually worked pretty well until a couple lines of dialogue make the reader second guess what has just transpired. Sadly, I'm still trying to figure out exactly what happened, and that is too bad because overall the plot was pretty good.

As for the art, you'll find it professional as always. Joel Robinson continues to use a cool technique on the covers and framing sequences which captures the look of VP perfectly. Giovanni Timpano handles the story, and it looks good. No complaints whatsoever in this area. Special mention should go to Jesse Heagy, who does an amazing job on color duties.

Overall: good book. I'm a fan of this title and it is a must for horror anthology buffs and Vincent Price fans alike.

http://www.bluewatercomics.com/

In Flesh and Spirit

2009-01-13T07:50:00.000-08:00

I've never heard of the Goth-Metal band called Vasaria or its frontman, Baron Misuraca. In fact, I haven't really listened to any "horror rock" since I hung my Misfits fanboy hat up many, many years ago. That said, I can enjoy this comic strictly from the point of view of a horror comic addict, sans outside influences.

The aforementioned Baron Misuraca is responsible for the concept and writing of In Flesh & Spirit, a tale of a 14th century musician -turned- vampire, who finds himself on a quest for redemption in modern New York. I honestly was expecting a cliche filled comic, but I was quite taken by both the Barons prose and plot. Elegant writing! Should Misuraca desire to quit music, I'm certain he'd have no problem getting a new gig as a full-time comic writer.

The cover art is by Alex Horley, and is a beautiful piece of work. See the scan! The interior is B&W on slick paper and rendered by David G. Williams. Really nice work, Williams art takes me back to the heyday of Bronze horror comics. The lines and detail in some of these panels are simply jaw dropping. Sweet!

Anyway, at $3.50 cover price you shouldn't let this pass you by. This book has GREAT promise so far, and I can't wait to see where this title goes!

http://www.overtonecomics.com/

Bartholomew of the Scissors

2009-01-11T13:38:00.000-08:00

First review of 2009!!! Allow me to be blunt & let you know that Bluewater Comics have top rate production values. You will never feel cheated of your cash in the physical materials department with this company if they continue with their high standards of full color & slick paper. All for just $3.99?? A deal!!

Anyway, I'm jumping new into this series with issue #2, never having read the opener. Chad Helder, who has been writing the VINCENT PRICE books, is at the scripting helm for this title as well. This plot appears to have more layers than an onion, and the subject matter should appeal to fans of paranormal phenomena. Frankly speaking, I would suggest picking up the first issue instead of trying to start elsewhere the series like myself, or you may just find yourself very confused at times about what exactly is unfolding. Fortunately, there is an entire page of text, "From the Journals of Gordon Watt," at the back of the book which helps the reader a great deal as to understanding the characters, concepts, and events. This is a meaty, detailed plot. Not your standard light horror fare.

Daniel Crosier is the artist. He has a unique style which periodically reminds me of wood etchings. The coloring is done in almost monotone yellowish hues throughout the book, which is neat but at times makes it very hard to discern what is going on in the panel. I grew used to it by the end, but did find it frustrating a couple times.

Overall, I can't wait to see what happens with this title. Try it out! Go Bluewater!!!

http://www.bluewatercomics.com/

Wulf & Batsy # 3

2008-12-11T06:41:00.000-08:00

I'm a Wulf & Batsy fan. That being said, I probably would not have ever bought a Wulf & Batsy book off the rack, or even gave one a cursory glance at a Con or LCS, because I just never cared too much for horror comics with a "cartoony" style of art. I generally find the style opposed to the mood of the genre. I'm traditionally a "heavy inks" guy ala Ghastly & Wrightson when it comes to horror. Thankfully, creator Bryan Baugh was persistant in sending me material for review, and I've found I've turned a new leaf in horror art appreciation. Like I said, I'm a Wulf & Batsy fan.

This is the third offering from Viper Comics, and it begins a new story arc entitled "Bizarre Experiments." The cover is graced with an almost risque piece by Josh Howard, who has garnered quite a following of late. Inside, it is all Bryan Baugh. This guy's stuff has really grown on me; it has taken me back in time and I feel like a kid watching a new episode of "Groovie Goolies" when I peel back the cover. Baugh has hit an ecstatic mix of horror, humor, adventure, and detail that I don't think you can find in any other book.

Bryan's artwork, anchored in his animation roots, is a pleasure to view in b&w because he knows how to invoke horror-mood through clever combinations of my beloved heavy inks as well as intricate line work. While the plot itself could be considered straight horror, a plethora of "Easter Egg" inside/hidden jokes certainly puts a distinctive humorous edge to his Baugh's efforts. I caught myself laughing out on more than one instance.

Anyway, a short synopsis for this one is that W&B are fleeing from the massacre that took place in the first two books, and are now in need of a place to rest. They run across an old cemetery, which of course seems a logical spot for the couple. However, things are never easy for the pair, and as the plot unfolds we are introduced to a myriad of the walking undead, and a mysterious old house on a hill apparently occupied by a mad scientist. That's it, I go no further into detail. You should do yourself a favor and pick up an issue. Myself, I can't wait to sink my teeth into issue 4, which is on my desk waiting.... whoops, no it isn't! I'm looking at Bryan's sketch book called Crypt Logic. Looks like I will have to wait on #4, uurrggggghhh!!
http://www.vipercomics.com/

Review: Vincent Price Presents

2008-11-23T08:12:00.000-08:00

I just finished this initial offering of Vincent Price Presents from Bluewater Comics, which promises to be an ongoing series. Cutting straight to the chase, I suggest that any horror comic fan should give this a try. This book has some of the best production values I've seen in a horror comic in quite some time with slick pages and full color art throughout. Impressive!

The book contains one story which is framed by a Vincent Price sequence. Joel Robinson is the artist responsible for this Price intro/outro, and I don't know if he achieved his results with computer imaging or straight freehand work, but it is simply beautiful stuff and represents Mr. Price quite accurately. Well done, Joel!

As for the story, "Welcome to the Family of the Night," you should be left satisfied as well. The art by Rey Armenteros is of the murky painting type, which sets a dreamlike tone for this short tale. One just rarely finds such professional looking work in an indy book these days! The writing itself, by Chad Helder, is not bad either. Chad's prose probably could have benefitted the reader with some beefing up via more narrative boxes, but overall one should be able to figure out quickly that vampires have seized control of the government. A very cool concept, and the reader is left with an open ending to leave to their imagination what transpires after the last panel.

Basically, I can't wait for issue # 2 if Bluewater continues to achieve this level of production. I'm looking forward to the success of this series!

http://www.bluewaterprod.com/

Return of the Creature

2008-11-12T15:14:00.000-08:00

...also titled "Where did I go?" You may I have noticed the blog went AWOL right before Halloween, of all times. What?!? That's like a Santa Claus blogger stopping just prior to Christmas, isn't it? Unexcusable! He,he...

What ended up happening was that the week before Halloween I packed up the family in a rental van and took off for a secluded cabin in the Smoky Mountains. Very "Evil Dead"-esque. This was the first time I had ever spent Halloween somewhere besides my home state of Ohio, so I was actually a tad nervous as to my ability to fully enjoy All Hallows Eve the ways I'm accustomed to. After all, it is the National Holiday for any horror-head, no?

I'm glad to say the whole thing was quite a fine experience. A couple days before the Big Night, our family carved more Jack O'Lanterns than ever before. We had to set them inside in front of the fireplace or out on the 3-story high back deck so as to not attract roving bears (which we saw plenty of) to our front porch. We had TV's in every room, and when we didn't have to have Dora the Explorer on for our children's sanity, we watched AMC or TCM with their continuous spook reels for our own. We roasted pumpkin seeds, made creepy cookies, and cut up little spooky arts & crafts projects. Our children (both under 3) got dressed up & went room to room for candy, & they loved every minute of it! So did I, it was a blast!

So let me suggest that next year, try mixing up your Halloween routine a bit. Adding something new to your traditions may just make for a more memorable holiday!

Just another cover...

2008-10-19T13:59:00.000-07:00

Well, it's another one of those long weekends that I have to work, so I'm going to squeeze a measley cover scan in, just so you guys have something new to look at. Hope you enjoy!

Frighthouse # 1

2008-10-18T13:48:00.000-07:00

Another "overdue review." Randall Wincek is the man resonsible for both the art & stories in this indy offering from Harrowing Productions. A one-man labor of love. This comic is done in b&w interior with color cover by Mr. Wincek, and the paper stock lends itself very well to the b&w medium. Good production values!

The color cover is only slightly indicative of Wincek's style, which I would best describe as "underground" inspired. The art loses a little something with the coloring, as the b&w work on the interior is much more stylish and detailed; using gray tones and washes to eerie effect.

The highlight for me is Randall's storytelling. He has a good command of the short story format (Did I mention this is a 3-story anthology with framing pieces? No? Shame on me...) and pace. His use of a horror host, Mr. Nightly, is witty & hearkens back to all those campy hosts of yesteryear. Randall's plot, narrative, and dialogue are all quite strong and reflect a well versed knowledge of the horror genre. What's icing on the cake is that the storytelling is never too serious, and often has humor in the right places at the correct dosage. Randall may be one of the better writers of this throwback horror style that you probably haven't heard of yet. I wish I had better contact info, but the best I can do is to steer you toward http://www.indyplanet.com/ and look him up there. Good luck!

Graphic Classics: H.P. Lovecraft

2008-10-16T08:39:00.000-07:00

This 2nd edition of GC:HPL contains 75 additional pages of new material, so even if you have the 1st, you ARE going to want to pick this up. Tom Pomplun's Graphic Classics series, for those not "in the know," is a graphic novel series which adapts stories from one author at a time, in a short story anthology format. High production values make these well worth your money.

So, what can I say about the writing? It's HPL, and it is pretty hard to adapt him poorly. You can't (and won't)go wrong here. "Shadow Over Innsmouth," "Dreams in the Witch-House," "Herbert West: Reanimator," "Cats of Ulthar," "Terrible Old Man," "Shadow Out of Time," and a couple others. Pick your favorite & enjoy. Myself, I got a warm, fuzzy feeling last night as the air finally began to get a good chill to it outside, and I settled in to read "Innsmouth." Good times.

As for artwork, there is something for all tastes within. Everything interior is in b&w, and you are treated from abstract and cartoonish illustration to creepily serious stuff. From Simon Gane to Matt Howarth to some cat named Richard Corben (Ever heard of him? Thought so!) you won't be let down.

http://www.graphicclassics.com/

Wulf & Batsy

2008-10-13T11:39:00.000-07:00

Here's one from the "insanely overdue" pile. Wulf and Batsy in "We Have No Home," written and illustrated by Bryan Baugh, and published by Chanting Monks Press. The latest print is available from Viper Comics.

Nice cover by Joe Chiodo (does he ever do a bad job? Note: scan is the back cover by Baugh). Inside, we are treated to a full length B&W story. Wulf & Batsy are, for the uninitiated, a werewolf & vampire who are apparently constantly on the move for survival purposes. This story depicts what I imagine would be a typical scenario for them if they are discovered by the locals. Bryan's plot & dialogue are apt & makes for a quick read, but don't expect any lengthy, mind-blowing prose. I don't think there was a single narrative box in the entire book, but inactuality it wasn't needed.

Baugh's art is in somewhat of a cartoonish style, which is not my normal cup of tea as often it indicates an artist who needs lots of developement. However, this is not the case for Bryan, as I find his style quite enjoyable & very well crafted. He makes great use of the b&w medium, providing excellent background detail to set a "horror mood" throughout the book. Lots of nice "surprises" placed in the art here & there for those who are looking, as well. Hat's off to Bryan, one of the few artists to have ever won me over completely with this style.

http://www.cryptlogic.net/

The Unpublished HCR # 5 Cover!!!

2008-10-08T12:03:00.000-07:00

Once again, I have decided to do something different today rather than reviewing something from the "long overdue" pile. I present to you the cover art that was slated to grace Horror Comics Review # 5. Fantastic contribution from Pete Von Sholly. It is titled "He is Born," and features a certain Lovecraftian creation. Enjoy!

http://www.vonshollywood.com/

WHY do you like horror comics???

2008-10-06T19:01:00.000-07:00

OK, so there I was last night at work, and had just enough free time to read one of the final issues of DC's "Witching Hour." I couldn't help but think as I waded through the thick George Kashdan dialogue/plot of near every story: "This is crap. I could write this. Why the hell am I reading this stuff??!!" Don't get me wrong, the art was great, & I'd like to add that I think DC was superior to Marvel in production quality at the time, but the actual "story" just came across as hack. Still, even though I could figure out where everything was going after the first page of script, I still got some (albeit at times small) sense of gratification from the comic.

So, why do you read/collect horror (especially 1970's DC) comics?? I suppose my final answer is that I love horror in all time periods, and even the most passable plot gives me some sort of inner rush when combined with decent enough artwork. Horror is a combined visual & visceral experience that no other genre can duplicate. - Keith

One more before the road...

2008-10-05T14:46:00.000-07:00

Here I am, getting up & getting ready to go grind out another night shift. I'll leave you with another cover scan from my collection, & promise to actually write something tomorrow.

No time to ramble, Dr. Jones!

2008-10-04T15:05:00.000-07:00

This is my three day weekend to work, so I don't have time to prattle on the way I have the last couple days. 13 hour night shifts with 1 hr. each way commute time will do that to a blogger, I suppose. Guess I better invest in a laptop soon, eh? However, I leave you with a scan of one pf my pre-codes. Enjoy!

How Could I Forget My Grandpa!!??

2008-10-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I rambled briefly about the roots of my horror comic obsession. Somehow, someway, I completely forgot to mention my first pre-code horror comic! Curses!

I wish I could remember the date precisely, I estimate it was around 1993. My grandfather drove me to a used bookstore on the west side of Hamilton, Ohio. "Pop" had no interest in reading, but he was always more than happy to go to such places with me. I stumbled across a small selection of books that I purchased simply because they "looked old," with no regard to cover or content. They turned out to be a stack of ACG's, all post-code with one exception: Adventures into the Unknown # 30. As I was looking in my Overstreet for info on the book, I began to notice & wonder about the references to this "code." Thus, a pre-code junkie was born.

So thanks, "Pop." I'm sure it was you who humored me as a kid & bought that oversized DC treasury, and that Unexpected #202. Thanks for driving me to grocery stores, used book stores, comic shops, flea markets, and those traveling "antique shows" so that I could scrounge for comic books. Thanks for the great memories.

Stoking the Halloween Spirit

2008-10-02T17:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I briefly spoke of "stoking the Halloween spirit" this month, and it got me to thinking about this hobby of horror comics. Sure, I could just review another book tonight from my "overdue" pile, that wouldn't be very hard. I'm WAY behind in that department. Trust me, the adjustment from doing a print fanzine to a web blog has been a slow transition for me, and when you suddenly multiply job, wife, and two little girls into the equation the den0minator for the the horror hobby suddenly doesn't carry the clout it once had. Shame.

Still, I continue to carry a torch for this genre, albeit it sometimes merely a pale speck in the dark distance. Thing is, I just can't let it go out, no matter what life throws at me. So I asked myself, how did this flame of mine that gets "stoked" every Autumn get ignited in the first place? As I lay in bed alone last night, my wife on the couch trying to console our cranky 4 month old, & a couple beers in me to lubricate the gears of my mind, the memories gently & warmly swept over my brain like an incoming tide.

The memories came clearly, but in brief spurts. At first I was a skateboarding 19 year old seeking shade & other unmentionables in the garage of my underage girlfriend's house during a humid summer afternoon, but I digress as that has nothing to do with this hobby. Going much further back, I then remembered sitting on the gold shag carpet of my bedroom, reading a story from DC titled "The Demon Within." It was in a large treasury sized edition, perfect for a youngester such as myself. The underlying theme of one being susceptible to harm by those who should be most trusted REALLY struck a chord with me. I remember each panel now some 30 years later still.

A few years after that I would somehow come across DC's UNEXPECTED 202, which featured "Hopping Down the Bunny Trail," a tale with a "twist" ending right up there with the best of them. My psyche was shattered. The seeds were planted. Although it wouldn't be until another couple years later that I would start to collect comics "seriously" (and CONAN titles at that), my love for the horror genre was ingrained, & with the occassional fertilization from such great offerings as TWISTED TALES, it would firmly take root in the early 1990's, eventually leading to the HCR print fanzine & now to this internet endeavor. Wilting at times in the face of adverse conditions, but (much like some horror subject matter) never dying.

So I ask you, how did your horror homefire get to burning, and what keeps it stoked this Halloween season??? Let me know!!!

Review: Evil Inside # 5

2008-10-01T15:42:00.000-07:00

Hello again, fiends! I tell you what, having two little girls under the age of three sure keeps one from udating their blog frequently!! My goal for October will be to update daily, stoking the spirit of the Halloween season. Here's hoping it works out!

I just read EVIL INSIDE # 5, and this is a book that is growing on me. Shame that it is only going to be a 6 issue series. I'd really like to see writer/publisher Bart Thompson continue on with this most enjoyable anthology. Bart does promise a TPB of all 6 issues, so that is something to look forward to. One suggestion: get a good cover artist, PLEASE! Throughout the series we've been treated to a cover with simply the "Evil Inside" logo with various coloring schemes. This book deserves a decent cover piece, IMO.

Here's the skinny on this issue: "One Night at Pheromones" is the initial offering about two guys in a strip club. It has just enough humor to maintain an entertaining balance, and has a traditional "twist" ending. A decent enough plot & dialogue, but nothing spectacular. Still, you can see that Bart has talent & it is interesting to watch his skill develope throughout the series. Art by Kevin Richardson looks inspired by 70's undergrounds, but is not quite my cup of tea.

Art on the second story, "The Jade Horse," is much the opposite. Ignacio Krichman not only lays down the best illustrations of the issue, but IMO the best the title has seen to date. Kudos! Bart's story is not bad, but it's the old played out "three wishes" type of tale that, while palatable enough in the short term, won't stick to your ribs at the end of the day.

Rounding out the issue is "Zombie Invasion," in which Bart toys with the idea of a practical joke gone awry. Very nice! Art Steven Yarbrough reminds me of Jaime Hernandez for some reason. Not bad! Pick a copy up & see what my buzz is all about: http://www.approbationcomics.com/ $3.50, b&w

Strangeways

2008-06-09T12:52:00.000-07:00

Hey Creeps! I've been away for a couple months because I was getting ready for the birth of our second child, daughter Hannah! She's here now, and I'm back, back, back in action!

First up is a delightful offering in graphic novel format titled Strangeways: Murder Moon from Highway 62 Press. Let me say right away that the packaging for this B&W effort is first rate, with quality binding and a slick cover with art by Steve Lieber.

Thankfully, the quality does not stop at the production level. Murder Moon is a western horror, written by Matt Maxwell & illustrated by Luis Guaragna. Maxwell not only does an excellent job with plot & dialgoue, but he nails the historic western feel right on the head from the get-go. I tore through the first 50+ pages in a matter of minutes I was so captivated. Excellent material, Mr. Maxwell!! If you want a balanced mix of werewolves, cowboys, and all around action-suspense, you won't be let down with this one.

The art from Luis was a pleasant surprise. There are a lot of artists working in indy comics who simply are not ready, but Luis is not one of them. His work is not too blocky or cartoonish, and the b&w illos capture a nice creepy vibe. Hats off!

The second section of the novel is a back story to Murder Moon entitled Rale: Lone. Maxwell provides an entertaining and informative ride with this one, which describes the origins of the Silver Branch werewolf. (No, I'm not giving anything away. There's a werewolf on the cover... ) The art for this one is by Gervasio & Jok, and while completely apt, it does not have the heavy inks of Murder Moon which helped provide horror atmosphere.

The book wraps up with a gallery featuring work from Guy Davis, Fabio Moon, and Gabriel Ba. A very good way to end this excellent read. If I were you, I'd go get this one.
http://www.highway-62.com/

Review: The Evil Inside # 1

2008-01-24T12:53:00.000-08:00

Here's another one I've had around for a little while to review, mostly waiting for the changeover to the new website. Long time HCR readers will know that I am a huge fan of the anthology format in horror comics. The anthology was my first exposure to horror in the comic medium, and the style remains an addiction which I cannot shake. So, let's dive in to this b&w offering, shall we?!

The first tale is "Southern Hospitality" and is written by Bart A. Thompson (in fact, he penned all three installments) and illustrated by Paul Schultz. I usually don't give away anthology story endings, and I won't start now. Quick summary: travelers cross paths with what looks like an inbred country clan, but all is not as it would initially appear. Decent enough stuff. Bart describes this as his best horror story, but I'm not sure I'd agree with that statement. Don't get me wrong, it is not bad writing, but after reading the entire issue I think that at least the second story stacks up equally.

That second story is "Word is Bond," is illustrated by Jake Sumbing, and revolves around the play on spelling between the words Santa and Satan. After reading this one, you'll think twice about telling Santa Claus what you really want for Christmas! Nice!

The third and final chapter is "Fox in the Henhouse" and sports art by Giovanni P. Timpano. It's the shortest of all three stories, and is about a convenience store robbery gone supernaturally awry. There is a little confusion with the flow of the tale, but it is adequately clarified in the last couple panels.

All in all, the writing is good enough and gives the anthology addict like myself three quick, satisfying hits. The weakness of this issue certainly lies in the artwork. Schultz and Sumbing have a much too cartoonish style for my taste, and with Schultz there is a muddiness which causes problems with character differentiation and leads to overall flow problems. Timpano gives hands down the best, cleanest overall art job. However, he would have been better to have taken advantage of the b&w medium and applied more detail to his work in order to showcase his sharp lines. Anyway, I look forward to future issues of this title!

$3.50 from http://www.approbationcomics.com/

Review: Coffin Kids # 1

2008-01-14T12:25:00.000-08:00

This one is a recent favorite of mine. Billed as a throwback to campy 1980's horror movies and inspired by young teen flicks like Stand by Me and The Goonies, this book revolves around a young boy named Reaper who is living alone and supporting himself as a thief. Reaper's burglar skills are aided by a strange skin disease which prevents him from going into the light, but consequently provides him the ability to "disappear." Things begin to snowball one night when upon breaking into a house, he discovers a coffin in the basement with a young boy tied up inside of it. Towards the end of the issue we are introduced to the orphan Smoke, who is searching for his missing brother who may be the kid Reaper had seen earlier. I won't give away the end of the first issue, suffice to say it is somewhat shocking and leaves the door wide open for the rest of the series. I can't wait for the second issue!

The art and story is by Roslyn T. Amparo, with co-writing and editing credits going to Previn Wong. If you like B&W wash tones, you will like this book. The washes are expertly executed and create a nice atmosphere which suites the storyline. Eerie!

$2.95 US from: http://www.necroscope.net/

Review: WEIRDLING graphic Novel

2008-01-10T10:22:00.000-08:00

Hey! Our first review since starting the new format! Please forgive us if we have to work out some kinks.

Anyway, Mike Dubisch illustrates & writes this excellent effort about a female soldier aboard a space warship who has recurring all -too -real dreams that whisk her back in time to Earth & the infamous Miskatonic University. Sound far out? It is, & in a good way!

Mike's linework is unbelievable! The B&W format clearly brings out the detail of his illustrations, which will make any fan of the old Warren mags drool. Mike is a true horror artist, his work is able to evoke mood & atmosphere, & is never cartoony. I think this guy is one of the better horror illustrators working in the medium today!

The pleasant surprise is that Mike's writing is some of the most intelligent material I've read in the genre in awhile. Obviously, there are HPL roots, but there is much more to Mike's writing. The plot will keep you turning the pages feverishly, and is layered with entertaining sub-plots. I liked the Van Hise character; I wonder how many out there will get it. My only beef with the story is that I was kind of scratching my head at the end, going "so what really happened?" Regardless, this is well worth the price of admission.

Strange Fear publications, $15.95 http://www.dubisch.com/

Horror Comics Review

2008-01-10T09:12:00.000-08:00

Horror Comics Review will be changing from a print fanzine to a strictly web based publication. We will also no longer be updating the Angelfire website, as all updates will be done in this blog format. Stay tuned!