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Graphic Novel Review: Road of Bones by Rich Douek, art by Alex Cormack

cover art for Road of Bones by Rich Douek

Road of Bones by Rich Douek, art by Alex Cormack

IDW, 2020

ISBN-13: 9781684055982

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition, comiXology  ( Bookshop.org | Amazon.com )

 

It’s 1953. Roman Ivanovich Morozov is a prisoner in the Siberian gulag of Kolyma for slandering Stalin, given 25 years of hard labor as punishment. He and his fellow prisoners are forced to work in harsh conditions. If the frozen environment doesn’t kill them, the guards certainly will. One evening, Roman is caught leaving food out for a domovik, a creature from fairy tales that protects a household.

This is survival horror at its finest. The story continually keeps the reader on their toes, wondering if the creature stalking the escaped prisoners is real or if it lives solely in Roman’s head. The isolation and paranoia the men experience both in and out of the gulag is intense. The artwork is excellent, but at times it is confusing to decipher who is communicating. I had to continually go back and reread a few sections to make sure I was keeping characters straight. It was somewhat easier to track at the beginning. The escaped prisoners have similarities in appearance. There are very subtle differences, including the color of different pieces of their clothing and even eye color. The landscapes and color choices are amazing. Even the panels when the men are sitting around the campfire are effective. The shadows are deep and definitely add to the oppressive atmosphere. Cormack is clearly a talented artist. Highly recommended.

This volume collects issues #1-4.

 

Contains: blood, cannibalism, gore

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Editor’s Note: Road of Bones is a nominee on the final ballot of this year’s Bram Stoker Award in the category of Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel. 

Posted on May 3, 2021 by , Reply

Graphic Novel Review: Her Life Matters: (Or Brooklyn Frankenstein) by Alessandro Manzetti and Stefano Cardoselli, art by Stefano Cardoselli

cover art for Her Life Matters: (Or Brooklyn Frankenstein) by Alessandro Manzetti and Stefano Cardoselli

Her Life Matters: (Or Brooklyn Frankenstein) by Alessandro Manzetti and Stefano Cardoselli, art by Stefano Cardoselli

Independent Legions Publishing, 2020

ISBN-13: 9788831959827

Available: Paperback  ( Bookshop.org )

 

Dr. Jamaica Foxy, a brilliant scientist, creates Franky, an eight-foot tall gentle giant. Dr. Foxy teaches Franky life lessons, essentially raising him. Franky even calls her Mom. He loves his mother, John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, and watching baseball games. Apart from his mother, Franky has only one friend in the world: thirteen-year-old Mary Shelley. Set in the summer of 1977 in Brooklyn, New York, the Son of Sam killings keep people off the streets… most people, anyway. One morning, Dr. Foxy’s path crosses that of some white supremacists wandering the streets looking to start a fight. When Dr. Foxy doesn’t return home after hours of waiting, Franky searches for her himself. What he discovers enrages him, turning him into a force of vengeance.

 

I love seeing what authors can do with the Frankenstein story. While this isn’t the first one where the authors have used Black Lives Matter as a focus, it is one that has a unique take on the monster tale. Dr. Foxy is a Black woman striving to improve her community through her science, teaching and raising Franky to be a caring, thoughtful individual. Against the backdrop of a tumultuous time in history, the authors call out the racial injustice faced by Black Americans today. The authors created a powerful story in Her Life Matters: (Or Brooklyn Frankenstein). The artwork is stark in its presentation, black and white art using negative space effectively. I would put Cardoselli alongside Mike Mignola and Frank Miller in its presentation.

 

Linda D. Addison provides a short but powerful introduction to this incredible graphic novel.  Recommended.

 

Contains: depictions of white supremacists, gore (in silhouette), violence against Black community, violence against women

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

 

Editor’s note: Her Life Matters: (Or Brooklyn Frankenstein) is a nominee on the final ballot for this year’s Bram Stoker Awards in the category of Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel. 

Posted on March 31, 2021 by , Reply

Women in Horror Month: Graphic Novel Review: An Elvira-straganza, Part 2! The Shape of Elvira, vol. 1 by David Avallone, art by Fran Strukan (issues 1-3) and Pasquale Qualano (issue 4)

cover art for The Shape of Elvira by David Avallone

( Amazon.com )

 

The Shape of Elvira, vol. 1 by David Avallone, art by Fran Strukan (issues 1-3) and Pasquale Qualano (issue 4)

Dynamite, 2021

ISBN-13: 9781524111977

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition, comiXology (for single and TPB digital issues), preorder (release date is May 4, 2021)

 

The Shape of Elvira is a one-volume detour from the main Elvira series, reviewed in part 1 of our Elvira-straganza. This limited series collects issues 1-4.

 

Issue #1: Chapter One: Diving In: Elvira has landed a role in “The Heart is a Black Lagoon”, an art film about the romance of a human and a gill monster. Her co-star, Gill, is introduced as a method actor, preferring to remain in costume and character at all times. Director Billy Bullworth runs a tight ship, so there is no real opportunity for the stars to get to know each other. Will there be an award, or something else in their future with this peculiar film?

 

Issue #2: Chapter Two: Love Means Never Having to Say You’re Soggy: After an intense day of shooting, that glass of champagne goes right to her head. She dreams of a romantic, yet silly, rendezvous with her scaly co-star, only to wake up finding him hovering over Elvira in in her bed. The Queen of Halloween’s co-star makes a swift retreat as Elvira tries to put things together from the evening. The issue ends with a car chase between Elvira and… the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife?

 

Issue #3: Chapter Three: Waterwhirled: Elvira, and everyone else, discovers Gill’s secret. Plus, a murder has taken place on the set.

 

Issue #4: Chapter Four: It’s A Soft G: Gill and Elvira awaken after a blow dart incident to find themselves strapped to metal tables. When they discover the film was a front for something far more nefarious, everyone learns more about Gill and just what he can do. A breakout of epic proportion ensues in the conclusion to this four-part miniseries.

 

I’m glad this was a short departure from the main Elvira series. It was fun and campy, and included a little bit of actual romance. I think it had just enough to warrant a separate storyline, but I don’t think it would have made a good addition to the main series. I would recommend this title to those readers who want to read everything in a series. Highly recommended for Elvira fans and lovers of campy horror.

Contains: a plunging neckline, plenty of innuendo, and puns galore

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on February 10, 2021 by , Reply
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