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The Monster Librarian Presents:

Reviews of Horror Related Graphic Novels

There aren't a large number of horror graphic novels out there but those that there are make for excellent additions to any library's graphic novel collection and are wonderful for reaching out to reluctant readers.

List of Graphic Novels by subgenre

Zombies

Vampires

Victorian Undead #2-6 by Ian Edginton with art from Davide Fabbri*New Review

Wildstorm, 2009-2010

ISBN: 9781401228408

Available: New

Trade paper back release October, 2010

    The saga continues as famous sleuth Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson find themselves in the middle of a zombie plague. It is up to Holmes to uncover the source of the undead before they engulf all of London and he finds himself face to face with an enemy he thought dead.   The folks at Wildside have done a fantastic job of bringing the undead masses to England while keeping the focus on Holmes.  While there are a few traditional Holmes moments in the series, Holmes also takes on more of an action hero role with more battles and physical actions versus exhibiting the power of deductive reasoning.  While it is understandable given the context of the story it would have been nice to see more of those moments.
    Victorian Undead brings forth some excellent zombie art with all the gore that comes with it and a good story to boot. It comes along at an excellent time, as the graphic novel of Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies has been released and this would make a fine complement.   It is important to note that Victorian Undead is not a mash-up, where a classic book has additional content added to it by another author.  Rather, this is an imaginative Sherlock Holmes pastiche, which takes the familiar characters of Watson and Holmes and throws them into the incredibly popular zombie plague.   This is a highly recommended title for libraries when it comes out in trade paperback in October.  While a fun story on its own, it could also be paired with the original stories by Arthur Conan Doyle Holmes, other Sherlock Holmes pastiches, and other graphic novels such as The Hound of the Baskervilles (Illustrated Classics): A Sherlock Holmes Graphic Novel by Ian Edginton, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and I.N.J. Culbard.

I, Zombie #2 by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred*New Review
Vertigo Comics, 2010           
           In this installment of I, Zombie, we begin to see a little more of the lives of Gwen and her friends.  Scott, the were-terrier, is an I.T. guy at a retirement center and unfortunately has to take a bit of ribbing from his co-workers when he has to turn them down for a night out.  We see Gwen is a bit of an artist, as she is painting what she sees from Fred’s memories (the murder victim we were introduced to last month).  The painting helps Gwen make sense of the memories she’s seeing….as well as introducing us to our first villain.  As for the paintball business, we learn about the vampires who own and run Blood Sports Paintball…and I for one love them!  What’s not to love about independent, entrepreneurial women…even if they are vampires?  And last, but not least, we learn a little bit more about our agents….mostly just their names and the fact that they are hunters of the supernatural.
           If you remember from my review of I, Zombie #1, I liked what I had read to that point….as a matter of fact, I liked it so much I went out and bought myself the second issue at my local comic shop.  The story is original and different from anything I’ve read so far.  I also like that most of the major characters are female.  As for the artwork, it’s killer, especially the cover art.  If you picked yourself up a copy of the first issue, then I suggest you pick this one up, too.
For mature readers
Review by Colleen Wanglund
 


American Vampires #2 by Scott Snyder and Stephen King*New Review
DC/Vertigo, 2010
ISBN: N/A
Available: New
           In this second installment, Scott Snyder continues his tale of Pearl, a young aspiring actress, found bloodied and wandering the desert after a run in with the vampires from Europe which have found their way into the upper echelons of Hollywood.   Near death, she is turned into a vampire by Skinner Sweet, who then tells her that she has been turned into a different breed of vampire, one at odds with their old world brethren.  The second half of the comic has Stephen King continuing Skinner Sweet’s origins story, with a new, vamped-out Sweet released into the world.   American  Vampires is a satisfying read, with Pearl having to deal with being turned but realizing she now has some power to exact revenge, and more of the origins of Skinner Sweet who is shaping up to becoming one of the more interesting monsters/villains to grace comicdom.  The story pacing is tight, and moves along beautifully, and the art continues to impress.  American Vampires has created itself a nice spot in the post-Twilight vampire world with a bloody good vampire tale that any guy would be glad to have in his hand. The second issue reinforces that this is indeed when released is going to be a graphic novel that libraries will want to add to their collection.  Highly recommended


 

I, ZOMBIE #1 By Chris Roberson (writer) and Michael Allred (artist)

Vertigo Comics, July 2010

ISBN: N/A

Available: New

    Gwen works as a gravedigger at an eco-friendly cemetery by day.  By night, she sneaks into the cemetery and digs up the bodies to feed.  Gwen is a zombie…but no ordinary zombie.  She functions as a living person, needing to eat brains only once a month to avoid becoming a mindless shambler.  Her friends include Ellie, a ghost who died in the 1960s, and Scott, a were-terrier.  Lately, after feeding she has been experiencing the dead person’s memories, and her most recent meal was a murder victim who is crying out for justice.  Can she right a wrong and make the bad memories go away?

     It’s not necessarily easy to review a comic.  You only get a piece of the story.  That being said, I like what I have read so far.  I think it’s a very cool concept…human-like zombie as detective.  We are also teased with a paintball site run by female vampires.  I like the idea of multiple supernatural creatures in the same story.  At one point there is a conversation between two characters where they talk about “an increase in postmortem activity”.  My daughter read I, Zombie and liked it…and she’s not a horror fan.  When I asked her if she’d continue reading the series, she said she would.  What she told me was she thought it was “different”.  Well, I’ll also continue reading the series.  It sounds like this is going to be a nice little series, so I recommend reading this one.

Contains: some nudity and adult content.

Review by Colleen Wanglund

Bone Chiller:Cold Blooded Chillers by Robert Heske

Heske Horror, 2009

ISBN: 9781427635259

Available: New and Used

and

2012: Final Prayer by various
Heske Horror,2009

ISBN-13: 978-1427636980

Available: New and Used 

        In a two-for-one review we look into the dark world of independent comic publisher Heske Horror, helmed by the ambitious Robert M. Heske. First up is Bone Chiller, a trade paperback collecting the first three issues of the series Cold Blooded Chillers. Let me preface this review by stating that I know all too well the trials and tribulations associated with navigating the shark-infested waters of publishing small press comics. I beat my head against that wall for well over a decade. I am the first guy in line to herald those who take on the herculean struggle to carve out a niche in the industry, which is why it pains me to see Bone Chiller fall short of the mark. With uneven artwork and a clichéd, heavy handed narrative, Bone Chiller offers little in the way of innovative storytelling.

     Slightly better is 2012: Final Prayer, an anthology that features a wide variety of writers and illustrators, including Bone Chiller scribe and publisher R.M. Heske. These stories too are a minefield of amateur art and writing, filled with the potholed and irregular narratives that often make up the small press landscape. One very noticeable exception is "Bird’s Eye View" by Arlo Hunter and David Edwards, who pack an emotional punch in their allotted space and show real promise by creating something engaging and memorable.

     All in all, the publisher should be credited for his admirable attempt to showcase young and aspiring talent, but greater care should be given to the editorial process as the majority of the stories would have benefited from a guiding hand to reach their full potential.

Review by Bob Freeman

Remains by Steve Niles Illustrated by Kieron Dwyer

IDW,2004

ISBN: 978-1932382389

Available: New and Used

      Remains, the latest zombie-themed graphic novel from the prolific Steve Niles, is thematically derivative of the author's earlier works. He uses a very cinematic approach, capturing the essence of a high-octane, adrenaline-fueled summer blockbuster. The story comes across as somewhat clichéd, but is elevated by the kind of snappy dialogue that one comes to expect from Niles. What truly sets Remains apart however is artist Kieron Dwyer’s exceptional illustrations. Muddied colors wash over bold, chaotic linework, bringing a true sense of a world in ruin. It makes for a marvelous visual experience, gruesome and visceral in its execution. While I do wish that more thought had been put into the story, the elegant and barbaric ferocity of the illustrations makes this a must-have for horror aficionados.

Review by Bob Freeman

American Vampire #1 written by Scott Snyder and Stephen King with the art by Rafael Albuquerque*New Review

Vertigo/DC, 2010

ISBN:

Available: Pre-order

    American Vampire #1 is the first issue of a new series from Vertigo with tales of vampires set in America.   The recent flood of sparkly vampires from Twilight, and the tormented “good” vampires found on TV and in books such as True Blood and The Vampire Diaries, is enough to make a blood and guts vampire fan stake him or herself.  American Vampire is a promising start to bringing back the plain, old-fashioned, evil “I have come to suck your blood” vampire.  This first issue contains two stories.“Big Break”, written by Scott Snyder, with the art by Rafael Albuquerque, is set in 1925 Los Angeles. It tells the tale of two aspiring actress who are extras in a movie , until one of them catches the leading man’s eye and gets invited to a special party.   The second is “Bad Blood”, written by Stephen King, with the art by Rafael Albuquerque, set in Sidewinder, Colorado in 1880. A train transporting the notorious criminal Skinner Sweet is on its way to take him to his execution, including one very interesting spectator who is averse to the sun.     

    It is a strong first issue; Rafael Albuquerque has done a great job of creating the look and feel of both time periods and has created some foreboding imagery.   Both stories are great appetizers for tales that will be continued. In “Bad Blood”, Stephen King takes the criminal of the Old West in Skinner Sweet and ratchets him up a notch in evil.    American Vampire #1 offers up some violence, minor nudity, and some minor gore.  There is promise in the series that there could be plenty more, and the series is suggested for mature readers.  For librarians, this is currently #1 of a series that you will want to put on your radar for when it comes out in trade paperback format because it will definitely  be one you want to add to your collection.   Not only do you have the draw of Stephen King, and one of horror’s most iconic creatures, but judging by the first issue, there is also great art and writing.

Hellblazer: Pandemonium by Jamie Delano, ill. by Jock
Vertigo / DC Comics

ISBN: 1401220355

Available: New 

        John Constantine — a chain-smoking, foul mouthed, magic-wielding miscreant — is true to form in the latest graphic novel from long-time Hellblazer scribe Jamie Delano and the visual artist known as Jock. With a palate of muted colors and heavy shadows, Jock’s artistry fits the discontinuity and surreal literary style of Delano, and together they bring Constantine’s world into focus. At times the artwork put me in mind of seventies-era rotoscope animation, suggesting a real world evolving under the canvas. The story, set in war-torn Iraq, is a good one. Pandemonium is more than just a war story with a magical bent, but resonates on a deeper level the true nature of conflict and how those who truly hold power in turn benefit and profit from the war’s continuance. Not recommended as an introduction to Hellblazer (one should look to Original Sins first), but for fans of the character, Pandemonium is a welcome return to a very familiar John Constantine.

Contains:
Review by Bob Freeman

Dark Entries By Ian Rankin illustrated by Werther Dell'Edera
DC Vertigo, 2009

ISBN: 9781401213862

Available: New and Used

    My favorite comic book of all time is Hellblazer. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, the main character is John Constantine, who began life as a minor character in an issue of Swamp Thing, created by Watchmen author Alan Moore. A former Punk rocker and damned occult magician, Constantine is a badass character- one of the best the genre has ever seen. Vertigo has done an amazing job of maintaining the quality of Hellblazer graphic novels and novels by keeping the caliber of the writers high. Writers for the series have included Garth Ennis, Warren Ellis, Mike Carey, and John Shirley. Now, international bestselling crime and detective author Ian Rankin adds his name to the list.  Rankin is best known for a series of books about a detective named Inspector Rebus. Although I had never heard of Rankin before, a friend has told me Rankin's writing is criminally good, and another told me he thought Rebus and Constantine would make great drinking buddies.
    The last new Hellblazer work I read was John Shirley's excellent novel Subterranean. This is a very different Constantine book. It's a small hardcover in Vertigo's new crime line, a black and white book with minimalist drawings. I am used to Hellblazer in bold colors, and since the pages are often gore drenched, the change took some getting used to. Rankin weaves a patient Constantine tale, and there is obvious love for the character. At first, Dark Entries seems like a modern re-telling of a classic haunted house tale. John is asked to oversee a reality show that takes place in a haunted mansion. Things start taking on a life of their own and the producers need John to go in and fix things. John suspects that the producers and stars might not be what what they seem, and jumps in to solve the mystery.
    There is an excellent twist that takes the book in a more classic Hellblazer path, but Rankin does a wonderful job building up his story. I'm going to have to check out his books now. Hellblazer fans will really dig this different take on their hero. Pick up this book!

Review by David Agranoff

Blackest Night written by Geoff Johns and penciled by Ivan Reis

DC Comics, 2009-2010

Issues 1-8

ISBN

        While Marvel Comics was the first to take advantage of zombies' growing popularity by zombifying some of their most beloved heroes in Marvel Zombies, DC has now joined the fetid flesh party with Blackest Night.  Unlike Marvel Zombies, in which Marvel lets the action take place outside the normal settings of the Marvel universe, DC has firmly placed Blackest Night as a seminal event in the DC universe that will impact most major DC titles.

        Blackest Night’s major story tie in/connection to the DC Universe is to concepts introduced in the Green Lantern series, where each of the different colored power rings represents a different emotion.  The Black Lantern and the zombies that are referred to as the black lanterns are seeking to remove all emotion and life from the universe.  In Blackest Night, the physical embodiment of death brings forth the black lantern corps by resurrecting dead heroes with black power rings to eliminate both emotion and life from the universe.  Much like the Marvel Zombies, the resurrected DC heroes seem to be near unstoppable.  The series sports fantastic art, which does an amazing job of making the resurrected, menacing undead look removed from emotion and life.  

      DC has taken a nontraditional zombie storyline, thrown it into a universe of superheroes, and made it work very well.  Without giving away too much of the story, when the series comes out as a TPB it is highly recommended for teen and adult library collections, and will be definitely fun to trot out as part of a larger Halloween display. 

The Chill by Jason Starr with art by Mick Bertilorenzi*New Review

Vertigo/DC, 2009

ISBN: 978140121286

Available: New

    Released under the Vertigo Crime imprint,  The Chill follows a series of bizarre occult murders in New York in which the victims seems to have been frozen and dismembered. Eyewitnesses all report descriptions of different women leading each victim away.  It is up to Martin Cleary, formerly of the Boston Police Department, who believes he knows who is causing these deaths, and Joe Pavano, of New York Homicide, who is working the murders, to stop the murderers before they kill again.   The Chill is an excellent paranormal mystery, effectively done in amazing black, white, and gray art.    It isn’t a mystery in the "whodunit" sense, as the perpetrators are revealed to the reader early on. It blends mystery, horror, and action, and could almost fall under the category of dark urban fantasy.   Starr writes a solid creepy tale that stands on its own merits, but Bertilorenzi’s art really brings the tale to life, and the reader is given an excellent visualization of the gore, action, and nudity. This is definitely an adult title in both story and art. It is a very good example of an effective adult graphic novel, rather than the more common comic book/graphic novels with adult themes that also have appeal to a young teen audience.

    The Chill is a hard bound graphic novel that is only slightly bigger than a mass market paperback.  The quality in the story and writing and the nature of the artwork make the case for having a separate section for adult graphic novels, and for having familiarity with graphic novel titles that may have appeal outside of normal graphic novel readers. 

Victorian Undead  by Ian Edginton with art from Davide Fabbri*New Review

Wildstorm, 2009

ISBN: 6194128730

Available: New

     Since the success of Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies, there has been an increase in the crossover of zombies into classical literature.  Wildstorm throws its hat into the ring with Victorian Undead, which pits the world's most famous detective against an undead plague.  A meteor strikes London in March of 1854, spreading a mysterious infection.  Jump ahead to London in 1898, where Sherlock Holmes and Dr. James Watson are called in to investigate a mysterious case of a man who by all counts is dead, but is still attempting to attack those around him.

    Victorian Undead, issue #1, is a fine appetizer of what promises to be a combination of flesh-munching zombies and one of the most popular figures in detective fiction.  The art is fantastic and captures the feel of Victorian England, and the zombies look wonderfully menacing.  Rather than offering a complete story, or even a cliffhanger ending, this issue really sets up the frame for the series, which will contain six issues.  Libraries will need to wait until the series comes out as trade paper back, but when it does it is recommended based on the first issue.  Librarians and high school teachers may want to note that Victorian Undead has the potential to energize an introduction to Sherlock Holmes for an entirely new group of readers, and might even inspire them to read a little Arthur Conan Doyle.

 Contains: Violence and a little gore

Saga of the Swamp Thing, Book 2 by Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette, John Totleben*New Review

Published by DC Comics / Vertigo

ISBN: 978-1-4012-2532-2

Available: New

    There is such a thing as perfection. Alan Moore’s celebrated run on Saga of the Swamp Thing is just such a creation. These are not your father’s comic stories. Labeled as “Sophisticated Suspense” to differentiate these tales from those that still ascribed to the archaic inclusion of the Comic Code Authority stamp, Moore infused Swamp Thing with a literary sensibility. The stories were groundbreaking to say the least, filled with some of the most horrific scenes ever written and permeated with layers of occult knowledge. The artwork is a perfect match to Moore’s words, being at once both visceral and surreal. The volume itself is beautiful to behold, with sharp color reproduction and no degrade in the heavy inking throughout. This collection binds issues 28-34 and Swamp Thing Annual #2. Also included is an introduction by Hellblazer scribe Jamie Delano and a forward by the award-winning wordsmith Neil Gaiman.

    For mature readers, Saga of the Swamp Thing, Book 2, would make a fine edition to any private or public collection. In fact, I would almost say that it is compulsory that it be acquired posthaste.

Review by Bob Freeman

North 40, Issues 4-6 by Aaron Williams, illustrated by Fiona Staples*New Review

Published by DC Comics / Wildstorm

Continuing where issue 3 left off (the initial three issue arc is reviewed on this site), Aaron Williams again deftly submerges the reader into his Lovecraftian epic. As with the earlier issues in the series, the dialogue and plotting is strained and confusing, but Fiona Staples’ artwork is so sublime and captivating that one scarcely notices, so completely engrossing are the illustrations. These are the things of nightmare, and I dreamt of these horrors over the course of two evenings. As previously described, comparisons can be made to David Lynch in style but filtered through a more modern, dare I say ‘hip’ vernacular. Fans of the bizarro literary genre should take note. This series is for you.

For Mature Readers. North 40 has yet to be collected in any form of trade, but it is only a matter of time.

Review by Bob Freeman

Trick’r Treat written by Marc Andreyko, illustrated by Mike Huddleston, Grant Bond, Christopher Gugliotti, and Fiona Staples,
Wildstorm Press, 2009
ISBN: 781401225889
Available: New

    For those who do not know of the Halloween-themed horror film Trick’r Treat, it has been one of those eagerly anticipated films that seemed like it was never going to be released. The film is finally being released to DVD this October, and Wildstorm has taken advantage of this to release a graphic novel based on the film. Trick’r Treat is a horror anthology of interwoven short stories that take place in the same town during Halloween. The stories are straightforward and creepy. One of the remarkable things about this graphic novel is that although a different illustrator has taken each chapter, they all have done an amazing job of keeping up the same dark and foreboding atmosphere, with a hint of the mischief that comes with Halloween. The stories revolve around themes familiar to readers of horror, but are well written and effective, and will bring a smile to even the most jaded fan of Halloween horror.  Trick’r Treat is an excellent example of the cross media appeal of the horror genre that can and should be exploited more often. It is definitely for adults and should not be placed in the YA section. That being said, it is highly recommended for public libraries and could be easily integrated into a Halloween display for adults.

Dusk Vol. 1 by David Doub
David Doub, 2009
ISBN:  978-0-578-01436-4
Available:  New

    Dusk is David Doub’s first graphic novel.  The book has four chapters.  The first chapter jumps into the story without providing much background, but the reader easily picks up that Eve is the willing servant to Vampire Lord Ash, and that the two of them hunt down vampires that are causing trouble in town.  It is also apparent that Eve has a major crush on Ash.  Ash doesn’t want Eve hurt, and tries to get her to leave. In chapter two, Ash goes as far as to attempt to trick her into leaving her "hunter" life.  Eve doesn’t give in to Ash, though, and in chapter three she goes to the Alps in search of a vampire that has made a mistake. In the last chapter, Eve is after a high school boy that is also a "witch".  He is being tormented at school and appears to be trying to cast a spell that will eliminate the situation if Eve doesn't stop him.

     Dusk was penned by multiple artists and I think that the artwork got better throughout the book, which could be due to whom penned which chapter(s).The writing style is very strong , although I did get lost a bit and at times it felt like a little additional information would have clarified the story. Except for sharing some of the same characters, the four chapters do not appear to be connected stories, and it’s difficult to tell if the author intended for the stories to be connected or not. Dusk is a solid first graphic novel, though, and I would read more by David Doub in the future as I see definite potential in his work.  Recommended.
Contains: Violence
Review by Rhonda Wilson

High Moon by David Gallaher, Steve Ellis, and Scott O. Brown.

Zuda Comics, 2009

ISBN: 9781401224622

Available: New

     High Moon presents an intriguing mix of horror and western. High Noon started out as a webcomic at the Zuda Comics site and won a competition where the viewers of the site voted for their favorite comic.  The premise is fairly straightforward. Cole, a criminal who also happens to be a werewolf, is seeking redemption by assuming the identity of a deceased lawman named McTaggart. He travels the West seeking to protect the innocent from various supernatural creatures.  

    High Moon’s artwork is engrossing, and Steve Ellis provides us what can best be described as monsters on steroids.  While Cole sometimes appears as a human with lupine features, as the battle progresses he transforms into a full werewolf, with horns and bone protrusions making him even more menacing.   Gallaher’s story keeps the action flowing and the monsters plentiful, and the Wild West setting is just plain old fun.    The one complaint with High Moon is that some of the backstory on characters and events is provided through flashbacks, without a narrative. Here a picture isn’t worth a thousand words, and a little text wouldn’t have been a bad thing.  Highly recommended

Contains: Violence, suggestive illustrations.

North 40 by Aaron Williams (writer), Fiona Staples (illustrator)

Wildstorm / DC Comics, 2009

ISBN: N/A

Available: New

    What would you get if you were to cross Stephen King’s The Stand with H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos and then filter this conjunction through the mind of David Lynch? Welcome to Conover County, a fictional slice of Midwestern Americana. Fiona Staple’s artwork, surreal and sublime, elevates this story above and beyond the words on the page. There are some elements of style and structure that falter at times from a storytelling point of view, but the spirit of the work is such that they can be easily overlooked. North 40 is a graphic tale served well by strong, off-beat characters and a deliciously malevolent and creepy setting. North 40 is populated by fantastical monsters born from your darkest nightmares and a ragtag collection of quirky and compelling heroes that are oddly comfortable and familiar. Recommended for mature readers.

Contains: Violence and gore.

Review by Bob Freeman

Note: Currently North 40 is done as individual comics and is not available as a TPB yet.

Escape of the Living Dead by John Russo

Avatar, 2006
ISBN: 1592910343
Available: New & Used

    This graphic novel is a sequel to Night of the Living Dead, written by the original co-creator, John Russo. The story picks up right where Night of the Living Dead leaves off. Three years have passed and life is finally returning to normal, although the survivors of the original breakout are still haunted by the events and losses that occurred then. The local sheriffs serve a warrant on a mysterious complex and find that some of the zombies from the first attack weren't destroyed. Instead, they were preserved after the government’s experiments were supposed to be over. In an effort to escape the law, the scientist in charge has shipped all his zombie patients to a new location, and of course they just happen to get free and start running amok again.
    All stereotypical aspects of a zombie tale aside, there are excellent visuals in this book, and even in such a small space the characters take on a life of their own (the near understanding of the lead zombie is particularly creepy). Readers will find all the standard bits in this book, from the unrealistically sexy useless woman in danger to characters related to said woman solely to amp up tension.
Contains: Graphic gore, nudity, language, violence
 

Hollow-Eyed Mary by Andre Duza

Devil's Due, 2009

ISBN: 9781934692585

Available: New

  One hundred percent rage and violence, Hollow-Eyed Mary is a brutal, vivid tale of a woman wronged and killed, and back for revenge. Raised by a twisted doomsday cult, Mary is after more than revenge. She wants to use the end of the world to seize control of what people remain.

  Part Preacher and part The Crow it's a wicked concoction of horror story, art and emotion. The story is dark and twisted and the art is clear and envocative, working much like camera work to add to the drama of the story.  It might be too graphic for public collections, but could be a vital inclusion to private collectors who enjoy horror graphic novels.

Contains: Gore, nudity, sex, language, racial slurs

Review by Michele Lee

The Fall of Cthulhu written by Michael Alan Nelson, illustrated Jean-Jacques Dzialowski

Boom Studios, 2008

ISBN: Vol. 1 – The Fugue      1934506192 

          Vol. 2 – The Gathering  1934506494

                          Vol. 3 – The Gray Man   1934506508

    Putting a modern spin on H.P. Lovecarft’s Cthulhu Mythos, co-creators Nelson and Dzialowski deliver some truly original and terrifying tales sure to tingle the spine of even the most jaded horror fans. Each volume collects six issues of the ongoing monthly series produced by comics newcomer Boom Studios. The storyline has been crafted in such a way that each collected volume is self contained, though the creators have skillfully connected the dots throughout, providing a much larger picture when viewed as a whole. The plotting and scripting is tight and has a very edgy, cinematic feel, complemented by truly remarkable draftsmanship. The Fall of Cthulhu is a wildly entertaining read that should reach beyond those who are already fans of the comic medium to draw in fans of horror literature as well.
Contains: adult language and situations, graphic violent content.
Review by Bob Freeman

The Chair By Peter Simeti, Illustrator Kevin Christensen, Editor Erin Kohut

Alterna Comics, 2008
ISBN: 0979787424

Available: New

    When I received a copy of "The Chair" for review, I was rather excited. The cover is well drawn, although the printing on my copy seems to be shifted to the left, cutting the last letter of each of the authors/illustrators names half off. A quick flip through reveals that the entire book is in black and white, a nice touch.
The story follows a man on death row, surrounded by the criminally insane, who is awaiting his final trip down the hallway. The reader will quickly determine that the prison is not all that it seems. The body count is too high, although prisoners are not making trips to the room containing the chair. Reality twists and churns as our perceptions of what is really happening bubbles in the foam.
    The concept of this novel is excellent. Unfortunately, the execution leaves something to be desired. The background artwork is fantastic, but the drawings of people are weak. They are improperly proportioned, and all look similar to each other, making it difficult to distinguish them from each other. Only the main character stands out, and that's just because he has a beard and is almost always sitting. Another negative is the dialogue, which is cryptic and bland. The reader does get the gist of what is going on, but more fluid and specific dialogue would have greatly added to the reader’s enjoyment. Though this is not the worst graphic novel I have read, it certainly does not rank among the best.
Contains: profanity, violence and adult subject matter along the lines of child murder/rape/serial killers.

Review by K D P

Zombie Tales: Oblivion edited by Mark Waid

BOOM! Studios, 2008

ISBN: 1934506524

Available: New

    Zombie Tales: Oblivion collects the first four issues in the comic book series Zombie Tales, in chronological order.  Joe R. Lansdale’s “The War at Home” is a novel length story that combines action and humor nicely. The story takes place in a VA hospital, where a group of amputee veterans(and an extremely buxom nurse) are dealing with a zombie outbreak.  The choice to organize the volume chronologically creates an unfortunate break in the story’s flow, since “The War at Home” is written in several parts across the first three issues, with shorter stories in between . The fourth issue has just one story.  ”Zaambi”, by Terry Morgan, is about a boy’s journey in becoming a warrior in Asia, where zombies have overrun the world. The other stories are a very interesting mix. Standouts include the thoughtful horror in  Christine Boylan’s “Double Portrait”, the tale of an anguished artist in the zombie apocalypse, and the humorous “5 Stars”, by William Messner-Loebs, where a TV show movie reviewer gets a zombie for a co-host.   There are additional short contributions from excellent writers, including Steve Niles, Kim Krizan, Todd Lepre, and Karl Kesel. The art across the book is solid and the stories are enjoyable and offer a different take on the zombie apocalypse. As with the first Zombie Tales title, the stories in this book will offer more for adults than for the target audience of young teens… although somewhere out there a deprived, zombie- loving teen is probably jumping for joy. Highly recommended for public libraries. Recommended for high school library media centers serving large and varied populations.

Contains: Violence and gore.

Hybrid by Peter Kwong art by Pablo Churin and Mary Cataioa

Studio 407, 2009

ISBN: 9781935385004

Available: Pre-order

            Hybrid is the story of two pairs of college students who take a cruise of the Gulf of Mexico and stumble upon an old dilapidated ship with a frightened little girl on board.   When they go to save the girl, they are attacked by an intelligent deadly monstrous aquatic humanoid.  Hybrid has the feel of a classic creature feature. It’s like Creature of the Black Lagoon meets Jeepers Creepers.   For those who are familiar with the tropes of the horror genre, Hybrid won’t cover new ground, but it will entertain with effective storytelling.   For those new to horror Hybrid is a great entry point.  Hybrid is a color graphic novel and artists Pablo Churin and Mary Cataioa make very effective use of black, dark blues, and grays to create a foreboding atmosphere with sea and sky. The creature’s ship, and the creature itself, are drawn with appropriate menace. An enjoyable read, Hybrid is recommended for public libraries and could be an appropriate choice for high school library collections Note: Hybrid is being made into a movie, with filming expected to begin early in 2009.

Contains: gore, violence

Zombie Tales Vol. 1 by Andrew Cosby, John Rogers, Keith Giffen, Michael Alan Nelson, and Johanna Stokes *New Review

BOOM! Studios, 2007

ISBN: 1934506028

Available: New and Used

    Zombie Tales is a full color collection of zombie stories.  The authors are a collection of comic book and television writers who take a unique approach and fresh look at the zombie genre.  The stories range from the humorous to the horrific, and some are even touching.  Two of the stories are told in multiple parts. “I, Zombie: Remains of the Day” has three parts and “Dead Meat”, “Deader Meat”, and “Deadest Meat” are all linked.  Standout stories include “Four out of Five”, where the unlikely profession that inadvertently assists in the spread of the zombie plague is responsible for stopping it, and “Daddy Smells Different”, an effective chilling little tale about a four year old whose family has been infected with the zombie plague. 

     The artist varies from story to story. In the case of “I, Zombie: Remains of the Day”, there is a different author for each of the three sections, which dramatically changes the feel of the story. Keith Giffen’s art in the first chapter and Benjamin Roman’s art of the second chapter are both lighter toned and more cartoonish in style than the darker toned art of Fabio Moon in the last installment, giving the reader a somewhat disjointed experience.  The artist of each story does a great job of setting the tone of the story and while it does vary in style it is universally appealing.

     The publisher of Zombie Tales suggests it for teens and up.   While there may be a teen audience for Zombie Tales, this title will probably be more appreciated by adult fans of the zombie genre.   Readers advisory note: this title will probably satisfy those who enjoyed Bits of the Dead edited by Keith Gouveia  or The Undead anthologies of zombie short stories.   Recommended for public library collections. Contains: gore and violence

Jesus Hates Zombies: Yea Though I Walk-vol.1, featuring Lincoln Hates Werewolves by Stepehen Lindsay and Steve Cobb *New Review

Alterna Comics, 2008

ISBN: 9780979787485

Available: New

    In this follow up to Jesus Hates Zombies: Those Slack Jaw Blues, we follow Jesus and his zombie friend, Laz, as they try to track down a church of surviving humans in a world where the undead have taken control.. When the angel Gabriel travels to earth to give Jesus directions to the church, Gabriel is bitten and infected with the zombie infection, which makes him want to hunt down the son of God. At the end of the book is an author’s note, which introduces an original take on the story by artist Lauren Monardo.  Yea Though I Walk- vol 1, is followed by a new story, Lincoln Hates Werewolves, in which Honest Abe does battle with a bunch of lycanthropes. Lincoln Hates Werewolves is a fun little story, and a nice bonus to the story of Jesus Hates Zombies, which continues its tongue and cheek story, with just the right mix of humor and action and excellent art.    Recommended

Contains: Zombie violence, language

Jesus Hates Zombies created by Stephen Lindsey et al.

Alterna Comics, 2007

ISBN: 9780979787454

Available: New

            In Jesus Hates Zombies, a zombie plague has engulfed the planet.  God, having had enough of the plague, sends his only son, Jesus, to save some souls and right things.  Jesus in this book is a violent, cursing, and in one case, smoking, savior. He is feeling slightly aggressive and is looking forward to a little zombie butt kicking.  Jesus returns to Earth, and, while he does very little soul saving, he does fight the hordes of undead. He attacks zombie clowns, zombies at the bowling alley, and the teeming dead at a local jail.   Jesus is assisted by “Laz”, a zombie who recognizes Jesus and follows him around.  

             An interesting feature of this graphic novel is that each chapter of the book is illustrated by a different artist, and some have different authors. While each artist and author has an individual style, there’s a continuity of story that is very impressive. There is also an additional story by Stephen Lindsey, “Low Rent Housing”, with contributions by a number of artists, with each artist providing an individual interpretation of the story.  Jesus Hates Zombies is an amazingly entertaining zombie fest with a creative premise that will offend some readers and delight others. The artists and authors dive in with reckless abandon, and hilarious results. Highly recommended.

Zombies Calling! by Faith Erin Hicks

SLG Publishing, 2007

ISBN-13: 978-1593620790

Available: New

    Zombies Calling! is a fun black and white graphic novel that doesn’t take itself too seriously, with illustrations similar in style to those in Jamie Farr’s Xombie. Joss is a university student who loves zombie movies.  She has even pieced together the rules for surviving a zombie outbreak from all the movies she’s seen. When an actual zombie outbreak happens it is up to Joss to use her knowledge of the zombie rules to keep her and her friends Sonnet and Robyn alive. Although Hicks could have used more zombie tropes, Zombies Calling! is a fun filled romp.   Recommended to any fan of zombie movies and zombie graphic novels as well has public libraries.   Contains: Zombie violence

The Unwanted by Diablo, Mark Michaels, Juan Romera, and Jason Arthur

Diablo Publications, 2008

ISBN: N/A

Availability: Pre-order

            In The Unwanted, a demon is inadvertently released in a juvenile detention center when a staffer brings home an amulet from Tibet.  As the demon proceeds to hunt down the kids, a teacher in the juvenile detention center and a gang of street tough kids team up to try to find a way to defeat the demon before it can kill them.   The plot will be a familiar one to genre fans, but the storytelling, character development, and plot pacing in this graphic novel are excellent. The black and white artwork is effective and will have a strong impact on readers.  The Unwanted is a solid horror graphic novel that both horror fans and those who might not normally read horror graphic novels will enjoy. Recommended for public libraries.

Contains: Violence, gore, language

Note: The review is part of the "Spring into Terror" project, check out other reviews of horror titles available for reading for this Spring at our Spring into Terror project page.

Weirdling by Mike Dubisch

Strange Fear, 2007

ISBN:  978097898113

Available: New

    Anna Mandretta is a crew member on a space ship in the middle of fighting a war against the alien Xax.   She starts dreaming that she is a famous surgeon at Miskatonic Hospital centuries earlier dealing with a child who is supposedly the key to letting the Cthulhu god Azag-Thoth loose into the world.  Anna’s dreams become more frequent, eating away at her sanity, and she must discover what they mean before she completely loses her grip on reality. Dubisch’s black and white drawings are compelling, and the story is an interesting and well-told tale.   Fans of Lovecraft and Cthulhu will enjoy this title.  Weirdling is an excellent combination of both science fiction and Lovecraftian horror that is worth adding to any pubic library collection. Recommended.

Contains: science fiction violence

28 Days Later: The Aftermath by Steve Niles ISBN: 0061236764

Harper Paperbacks, 2007

Availability: New

    28 Days Later: The Aftermath is a graphic novel of the events surrounding the movie 28 Days Later, about a virus released in London that turns the infected into maniac killers.  The graphic novel was issued when the sequel, 28 Weeks Later,  was released, as a bridge between the two films, and is an original work, not a novelization. 28 Days Later: The Aftermath consists of vignettes that illustrate different facets of the zombie plague: the development of the Rage virus, the fate of a family that gets caught up during the outbreak, the story of a loner who is fighting not just the infected but another survivor, and, finally, the internment of the survivors in a quarantine camp by the authorities, who have regained control of London.  Each of these brief stories could have easily been expanded into a full length graphic novel. 28 Days Later: The Aftermath is a visually impressive work with fantastic art.  The depiction of a destroyed London and the degenerating infected is shocking, and zombie lovers will feel right at home.   Recommended for public library collections. Readers advisory note: The images in this book are graphic and gory in nature, and are not appropriate for children or young teens.

Contains: Gore

The Fog by Scott Allie, Todd Herman, Andy Owens, and Dave Stewart

Dark Horse, October, 2005
ISBN: 1593074239

Available: New and Used

    A prequel to the events in John Carpenter's classic movie, "The Fog," this graphic novel tells the tale of a small seaside town where a group of Chinese immigrants have arrived after fleeing their village after a terrible curse that comes in the fog kills many of their residents.   Once the fog arrives, the Americans in the town start to develop red sores all over their bodies. It is up to Richard Blake, the wealthiest member of the town, to end the crisis.  This seems like it was meant to be an origin story of the Fog and its curse, but the cause of the curse is never really revealed. The story needed to be better thought out-  even as a stand-alone graphic novel, there are many unanswered questions that leave the story incomplete.  For example, there is a plot line about a missing Chinese mineworker in the town, but when we finally see the mineworker's corpse, we don't know why he died or what it means.  The Fog had a lot of potential either as a prequel or a stand-alone story, but the finished story disappointed on both counts. Contains: 

30 Days of Night by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith

IDW Publishing, 2004

ISBN 0971977550

Available: New and Used

    Barrow, Alaska is the northernmost inhabited town in North America. The sun doesn't set from May to August, and it doesn't rise from November to December.  It is this November to December time when the town is in total darkness that our story takes place.  A group of vampires decide that Barrow would make a perfect place for 30 days of serious bloodletting and it is up to the town's sheriff and his deputy wife to try to save the populace.   30 Days of Night should be considered a core of any horror graphic novel collection.   It serves as an excellent example of combining strong writing and excellent art work to tell the tale.   Contains Violence and gore.

Criminal Macabre: A Cal McDonald Mystery by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith

Dark Horse Books, 2004

ISBN: 1569719357

Available: New and Used

    Criminal Macabre introduces us to Cal McDonald, a hard-drinking, drug-using detective with a ghoul sidekick by the name of Mo'lock.  McDonald has to uncover who is behind a plot to turn the usual Vampires and Werewolves of Los Angles into super monsters.  I wanted to check out more of Niles/Templesmith's work after reading 30 Days of Night and ran into their Cal McDonald series.  Niles and Templesmith have created a fantastic character in Cal McDonald who takes on dealing with the supernatural bad guys that the rest of society doesn't believe exists.  A recommended read.

Contains: Violence

Last Train to Deadsville: A Cal McDonald Mystery by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith

Dark Horse Books, 2005

ISBN: 1593071078

Available: New and Used

    Cal McDonald thought he would get a chance to recover from a tussle with an angry mummy- instead, a possessed teen and a couple of demons stop by for a visit.   Cal and Mo'lock then have to go and visit the town the teen came from to find  out what havoc has been unleashed.  A continuation of the story of Cal McDonald, a private investigator who specializes in dealing with the supernatural world, this time there is a bit more humor added into Last Train to Deadsville  than Criminal Macabre with some fantastically funny dialog. The art is top notch and I would definately add this to any horror graphic novel collection.  Contains: Violence

Hack/Slash: The First Cut by Tim Seeley, Stefano Caselli,  and Federica Manfredi

Devil's Due Publishing, October 31, 2005

ISBN:   1932796428

Available: New and Used

    A collection  of the first few Hack/Slash stories put out by Devil's Due. Hack and Slash follow the adventures of Cassie Hack the daughter of a Slasher (think Michael Meyer) who has dedicated her life to track down and kill Slashers with her partner Vlad, a huge monster of a man who looks very much like a Slasher himself.  The three episodes included are "Euthanized," where Cassie and Vlad take on a Slasher than can control dead animals, "Girls Gone Dead," which is Spring Break with a nasty slasher, and "Comic Book Carnage." where famous comic book artists are ending up dead.   I sought out  Hack/Slash one I had first heard of the premise, I was expecting something that might be Buffy the Vampire Slayer like and was pleasantly surprised to find something that was a fair bit darker but still with the occasional sense of humor.   Recommended read. Contains violence.

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Vampire Graphic Novels

Anne Rice's The Vampire Lestat: The Graphic Novel by Faye Perozich
Dracula (Graphic Revolve (Graphic Novels)) by Bram Stoker, Michael (RTL) Burgan, and Jose Alfonso Ocampo Ruiz
Baltimore,: Or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire by Mike Mignola, Christopher Golden
 

30 Days of Night by Steve Niles
Dark Days (30 Days of Night, Book 2) by Steve Niles , Ben Templesmith
Return to Barrow (30 Days of Night, Book 3) by Steve Niles
Bloodsucker Tales, Volume 1 (30 Days of Night, Book 4)by Steve Niles , Matt Fraction , Ben Templesmith , Kody Chamberlain
Three Tales (30 Days of Night, Book 5) by Steve Niles
Spreading The Disease (30 Days of Night, Book 6) by Dan Wickline , Alex Sanchez
Eben And Stella (30 Days of Night, Book 7) by Steve Niles , Kelly Sue DeConnick , Justin Randall
Red Snow (30 Days of Night, Book 8) by Ben Templesmith
30 Days of Night: Beyond Barrow (30 Days of Night) by Steve Niles, Bill Sienkiewicz