#alison sampson | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

neverwear · 9 months

Text

Hello all,

Many of you know that I was a roadie for many years, touring with bands to include Mötley Crüe, Tool, Britney, Gaga, Soundgarden, Black Keys and more.

My second tour in 2002 was the brilliant Tori Amos. On that tour (over 20 years ago) I met Neil Gaiman, who was hanging out backstage w/ T. He had a galley of Endless Nights. I told him that when I worked at a comic book shop (Geppi’s Harborplace in Baltimore) in my college days, I sold countless copies of Sandman—

We became friends and when Neil would visit LA, I would drive him to business meetings etc. I got a first class education in how to pitch films /stories and in 2016, he hired me full time with The Blank Corporation. Grateful for my lucky life!

Z2 reached out to both me and Neil to contribute to the newest Tori Amos graphic novel. We now have a few of these hard cover books for sale! They retail for $39.99 and we have created a code to give you $5 off that. Please enter the code : Tori5 at check out at neverwear.net, that will take the fiver right off the total. (& if you don’t want the book, the code is good for $5 off anything at the shop)

BONUS: I asked Neil to sign only one copy that we will sneak into the pile- the rest will be signed by me. (Cat) My story about ghosts & music was beautifully illustrated by Paul Roman Martinez, who did the Calendar of Tales cards for us. Never did I dream I would share a book with Colleen Doran or Margaret Atwood, but here we are…

Summary from Z2 Comics (they have sold out of all the premium versions!)

The official graphic novel celebrating 30 years of Tori Amos's breakout album: Little Earthquakes. The landmark release that established her iconic thematic voice, as well as her live intensity behind the keys with unflinching lyrics and songs that would inspire generations of artists and musicians.

This graphic novel demonstrates the lasting influence of this defining work with 24 stories inspired by the 12 songs on the album, as well as the 12 ‘B-sides’ that accompanied the album and its associated singles. With star writers such as Neil Gaiman and Margaret Atwood assembled by Z2 editor Rantz Hoseley, who previously edited the multi-award-winning Tori book: Comic Book Tattoo

Standard Hardcover Edition — $39.99

8” x 8” Hardcover Graphic Novel

WRITERS & ARTISTS: Neil Gaiman, Bilquis Evely, Margaret Atwood, David Mack, Leah Moore, Cat Mihos, Colleen Doran, Derek McCulloch, Lar deSouza, Annie Zaleski, Marc Andreyko, Neil Kleid, Alison Sampson and Paul Roman Martinez

COVER ARTIST: David Mack

DESIGNER: Lauryn Ipsum

ps. here's what my sweet husband and shipping elf wants me to add: "My wife wrote in this!!"

www.neverwear.net

#neil gaiman #david mack #tori amos #z2 comics

13 notes · View notes

fantomcomics · 8 months

Text

What's Out This Week? 8/30

Come aboard and bring along all your hopes and dreams this Thursday to our One Piece Live Action Watch Party and Craft Event!

Ancient Enemies: First Responder #1 - Dan DiDio, Mario Guevara, & Joe Prado

Trapped inside the shattered hull of an alien spacecraft and imprisoned for over twenty years, firefighter Sonny Palmer is transformed into something greater than and less than human. He is THE FIRST RESPONDER and dedicated his life to saving others while unable to save himself. In this one shot, we learn his origin and set up the world-shattering climax to the ANCIENT ENEMIES series.

Everything's Coming Up Beatrix! GN - Georgia Dunn

Join Elvis, Puck, Lupin, Tommy, Beatrix, and the whole team for spooky tales around the space heater, daring hairstyles, not-so-hilarious sweaters, an Easter egg hunt disaster, new cat foods, "Heck on the Deck!", something called a papasan, and the first ever celebration of St. Catty's Day! Tune into a ghostly broadcast when Puck makes a harrowing journey to the attic and gets in over his head.... Can Elvis and Tabitha work together to save him?

The Devil's Cut One-Shot - Mirka Andolfo, Elsa Charretier & Jock

The Devil's Cut is your introduction to DSTLRY, a new publisher redefining creator-owned comics. In the aging process, the whiskey that evaporates is called the Angel's Share. But the most potent spirits are captured in the wood-the Devil's Cut.

This is The Devil's Cut - unfiltered stories from the most fearless creators, offering a distinct taste of the quality to come. 88 oversized pages printed on premium paper, featuring a flight of high-proof work from our Founding Creators including Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Tula Lotay, Mirka Andolfo, Jock, Becky Cloonan, Brian Azzarello, Marc Bernardin, Elsa Charretier, Lee Garbett, Joelle Jones, Stephanie Phillips, Ram V, Jamie McKelvie, Junko Mizuno and friends including Francesco Francavilla, Ariela Kristantina, Eduardo Risso, Christian Ward, and more. Edited by the legendary Will Dennis.

Displacement SC - Cullen Bunn, Alison Sampson & Ray Shappell

Dr. Rachel Anderson treats those who suffer from the most extreme phobias. Fear of crowds. The fear of the outdoors. The fear of death. But after a session with a violent patient goes awry and her daughter goes missing, the only way Rachel will survive the night and save her daughter is to face her own fears.

Eden II TP - Kenny Wroten

A blistering critique of digital media and a kaleidoscopic depiction of consumer culture, Eden II is both fanciful and satirical, a combination of deft cartooning and virtuosic storytelling.

In the grungy, punk-inflected world Kenny Wroten creates, a cast of disaffected young characters struggle to find their purpose in life. Faced with a dying Earth and numbingly useless jobs, protagonists Ellis and Dr. Otis Heck invent an immersive virtual reality game, Eden II. But when Heck betrays Ellis and sells the game to a mysterious corporation, the lines between fantasy and reality begin to blur. As each chapter highlights a new character in the ensemble, the game's impact grows as the world becomes consumed by fantasy.

Far South: The Great Union Score - Rodolfo Santullo, Leandro Fernandez & Matias Bergara

Whatever the hell happens in the Far South stays in Far South! Montoya's bar has seen it all. Everyone who lives in the area frequents it, and those who don't, won't take long to do so. Everyone's a regular: scoundrels, prostitutes, thieves, truckers, bandits. There's wine and grappa to last for ages. Darkness is the only color you see there. So when the Police is looking for a culprit, they know where to knock first.

The hardboiled brutal land of the Mobsters and Gauchos continues to unfold, as bestselling international author Rodolfo Santullo and THE OLD GUARD superstar artist Leandro Fernandez present a new set of blood-soaked Noir tales, a must-read for fans of gritty crime fiction.

The Great Gatsby: The Essential Graphic Novel HC - F Scott Fitzgerald & Jorge Coehlo

An all-new faithful and beautifully illustrated graphic novel adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel, The Great Gatsby. Adapted by Ted Adams (The Island of Doctor Moreau) and illustrated by Jorge Coelho (Loki, Rocket Raccoon). Whether you already love the book or are experiencing it for the first time, we've got you covered. It's all here, the roaring '20s in all its glory --the decadent parties, the gangsters, the car crashes, the love triangle, and so much more. Young and old can appreciate the dedication of veteran comic creators, Adams and Coelho, as they adapt this American classic story into the classic American art form of comics. "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

It's Only Teenage Wasteland TP - Curt Pires, Jacoby Salcedo & Mark Dale

In the first days of the apocalypse, a group of high school boys may be the last alive in the city. When his parents go out of town for the weekend, Mexican-American high schooler Javi decides to throw a party-one that'll launch him and his buds into popularity! Or at least get them noticed by some girls. But no high school party goes off without a hitch. Javi can only watch as his friend takes a beating from the school bully, but then-BAM! The apocalypse has the worst timing. With few survivors-and even fewer sane ones-Javi and his friends will have to learn to survive together, and mend the fallout from the last party before the end of the world.

Kaptara: Universal Truths #1 (of 6) - Chip Zdarsky & Kagan McLeod

Back because YOU demanded it! Yes, you! Don't you remember? We were having drinks and you said, "Hey. Whatever happened to... was it KAPTANNA?"

CHIP ZDARSKY (PUBLIC DOMAIN, Batman) and KAGAN MCLEOD (Infinite Kung Fu, Cobra Kai) are BACK with a BRAND-NEW STORY ARC of their "beloved" "science" fiction series! Astronaut KEITH KANGA, trapped on the planet of Kaptara, is trying to find his way home, but first he needs to solve a mystery: who is stealing all the adorable CAT-TANKS? Who would DARE??? This wild and colorful series full of heart and chuckles could be yours for the low, low price of $3.99!

Kariba GN - James Clarke, Daniel Clarke & Daniel Snaddon

An African fantasy-adventure graphic novel inspired by the mythology of the Zambezi River and the history of the Kariba Dam, one of the largest dams ever constructed. Siku has always called the Zambezi River her home. But things are changing on the river-a great dam is being built-and things are changing in Siku, too, as her ability to manipulate water grows out of control, and visions of a great serpent pull her further from reality and her loving father, Tongai. When Tongai ventures to the Kariba Dam to find a cure for Siku and never returns, she sets off to find him with the help of Amedeo, the young son of Kariba's chief engineer. With the future of the Shonga resting on her shoulders, Siku must journey to the source of the river to understand the ancient power hidden within her.

The Knight Captain Is The New Princess To Be GN Vol 1 - Yakinikuteishoku

In this shojo rom-com tale, a dashing female bodyguard pretends to be engaged to her childhood friend, the prince... but is their fake betrothal really just an act to him? Christina, a.k.a. "Lady Chris," was born into a noble family and treated more or less like a boy growing up. Now a dashing young woman, Chris is not only captain of the imperial guards-she personally protects Prince Leonardo, who has been a dear friend since childhood. When his father, the king, demands he find a suitable girl to marry, Leo insists that he's already found one: Chris! Chris is shocked, but figures that Leo doesn't really love her like that; it's probably just some ploy to keep the king happy. Chris decides to play along, but as the charade goes on, she starts to wonder if maybe her princely pal has actually fallen for her!

Memoirs Of A Man In His Pajamas TP - Paco Roca

Spain's answer to Seinfeld, these observational, relatable autobio vignettes by Spanish cartoonist Paco Roca poke fun at the vexing tribulations of modern life. At 40, cartoonist Paco Roca has finally achieved his childhood dream - to spend all day at home in his pajamas! However, his blissful, loungewear-clad reverie is beset with a host of mundane problems: He dreads small talk with "the world's biggest bore," but his excuses and white lies are finally catching up with him. When a good friend breaks up, taking either side could lead to social disaster.

The simple mission to change his train ticket descends into an impossibly complicated, Kafka-esque affair. And worst of all, his partner keeps hanging the toilet paper roll the wrong way! In the vein of sitcoms like Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, Roca's comic vignettes brilliantly satirize the pesky pitfalls of modern-day life. Like most of us, Roca's alter ego just wants to be liked and to do the right thing, but finds that through crippling indecision, cowardly behavior, and the absurd machinations of the universe, he is usually thwarted. The ensuing situations he finds himself embroiled in are as hilarious as they are often painfully relatable.

Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers 30th Anniversary Special - Ryan Parrott, Hendry Prasetya & Dan Mora

A landmark celebratory special featuring 5 brand new stories paying homage to the legacy of Rangers with stories by Ryan Parrott (Rogue Sun), Mat Groom (Inferno Girl Red), the original Mighty Morphin Pink Ranger Amy Jo Johnson and Matt Hotson (Titans), and young adult author Maria Ingrande Mora (Fragile Remedy), along with current Mighty Morphin Power Rangers superstar scribe Melissa Flores!

Joining the celebration are returning fan-favorite Power Rangers artists including Hendry Prasteya, Eleonora Carlini, and Marco Renna!

Between a spotlight on Ernie in Angel Grove, Alpha 5's struggle to find his true purpose, a mind-bending "What If?" story about Tommy's powers which introduces an all-new alternate universe, an additional tale about his marriage to Kat, and a deeper look at the Ranger Academy, this anniversary issue is truly packed full of content worthy of the 30-year legacy.

Along with 40 pages of brand new morphinominal material, celebrate 30 years of Power Rangers with an additional 24 pages of classic material that fans new and old will be delighted to experience!

The Plot Holes #1 (of 5) - Sean Gordon Murphy

THE PLOT HOLES are a squad of fictional warriors who transport themselves into the pages of other books, using their unique skills to save the plots in order to stop them from being destroyed. And Cliff is their newest recruit, a comic creator who's just realized his world isn't real-in fact, it's a complete fiction that literally exists inside a novel. The other members are misfits like him, pulled from unpublished books that couldn't be saved: a manga samurai, a barbarian tiger, a kid from a comic strip, and a vampire assassin. Outclassed by the other members, Cliff sets out to prove his worth to The Plot Holes as they fight to save as many books as possible.

Punch Up GN Vol 1 - Zachary Sterling

Young orphan Pitch is an aspiring tournament fighter who has big dreams of traveling to the city and competing in the Wide Plains Fighting Tournament. He also harbors a secret wish-to be trained by aging tournament fighter Sonny Chan. Can Pitch make it in a big city filled with unsavory types that want to do him harm? And is Emperor Jayson, host of the fighting tournament, one of those people? Will Sonny decide to act decent . . . for once? Find out in this exciting blast of battle energy!

Star Wars The High Republic Adventures: The Complete Phase I GN - Daniel Jose Older & Harvey Tolibas

"For light and life!" Set hundreds of years before the Skywalker Saga, Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures chronicles a time of galactic renaissance when the Jedi are at the height of their power and the Republic is experiencing unparalleled peace... until a mysterious force known as the Nihil, threatens to cast its shadow over all the free worlds of the galaxy!

Follow the adventures of Lula, Farzala, and Qort, untested Jedi Padawans, with their Masters, Torban Buck and Yoda, on their first mission to rescue the inhabitants of the planet Symant IV in the wake of a deadly Nihil attack. But the Nihil are not the only opposition they will face. Many of the planet's citizens resent and fear the Jedi, and two of those citizens will have to decide whether to go against all they believe and trust the Jedi lest they fall prey the Nihil's evil plans. Perfect for readers of all ages, The Complete Phase I collects the entire Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures (Phase I) series, with 6 never before collected issues, a new epilogue story, and of course, fan-favorite, The Galactic Bake-Off Spectactular one-shot!

The Witch's Marriage GN Vol 1 - studio HEADLINE

Opening the Door of Truth is the ultimate goal for many a witch. Gathering enough power to do so is no easy feat however, and a popular method is entering into a "Witches' Marriage," a contractual bond that generates more power the closer they grow. Melissa is one such witch-but is her heart truly immune to the adorable Tanya as she claims?

Whatcha scooping up to close out August, Fantom Fam?

2 notes · View notes

brother-emperors · 2 years

Text

a round of applause for the gladiators, now let’s hear it for the mockery of rome!

alison futrell, blood in the arena / barry strauss, the spartacus war / plutarch, crassus / gareth sampson, the defeat of rome

juan luna, spoliarium / jean-léon gérôme, ave caesar! morituri te salutant / ulpiano checa, naumachia / jean-léon gérôme, pollice verso

#gladiator tag #comparatives tag #A Foundational Sacrifice Can Also Be A Curse 🥰

23 notes · View notes

twiststreet · 2 years

Photo

Alison Sampson’s cover to issue 2 of the Image Comic “Golden Rage” (X)

#Worst Hobby or Worstest Hobby?

4 notes · View notes

celestriahq · 3 months

Note

mw fcs, please & thank you!

* 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 ! i feel i always give way too many but here we go : adeline rudolph, adria arjona, aisha dee, aja naomi king, aishwarya rai, alexandra shipp, andy biersack, alberto rosende, alex landi, alison williams, amita suman, amber midthunder, andrew koji, bae suzy, banita sandhu, ben levin, bill skarsgard, brenda song, brianne howey, candice patton, chance perdomo, charithra chandran, charles michael davis, chase sui wonders, derek luh, danai gurira, daniel ezra, daniel henney, daniel sharman, davika hoorne, dayo okeniyi, deepika padukone, demet ozdemir, devery jacobs, dewanda wise, dichen lachman, dylan wang, eddie liu, emilio sakraya, emma d'arcy, evan mock, theo james, freddy carter, gabriel darku, gemma chan, hunter shafer, jacob anderson, jameela jamil, jamie chung, zion moreno, jesse williams, jessie mei li, jonathan daviss, kendrick sampson, lizeth selene, myra molloy, lucien laviscount, luke mitchell, mason gooding, mena massoud, melisa pamuk, nathalie kelley, raymond ablack, savannah lee smith, sean teale, sobhita dhulipala, tom holland, wakeema hollis, zendaya + zorzo natharuetai !

#appless rp #fantasy rp #mature rp #oc rp #supernatural rp

0 notes

usagirotten · 6 months

Text

Iron Maiden and Z2 Comics Announce Piece of Mind Graphic Novel

The record that features all-timers such as "The Trooper," "Flight of Icarus" and "Revelations" vividly come to life in individual chapters dedicated to each of the nine songs on the historic release. Frontman Bruce Dickinson, an author in his own right, even contributed to the "Revelations" chapter, a particularly special moment as the song was his first official songwriting credit with Iron Maiden.

Iron Maiden and Z2 Comics have announced a graphic novel based on the band’s Piece of Mind album, arriving November 21st. Below you can get an exclusive first look at the special alternate cover featuring Eddie as “The Trooper” and its accompanying collector’s card. The graphic novel celebrates the 40th anniversary of the legendary 1983 album, which contains all-time Maiden classics such as “Where Eagles Dare,” “Die with Your Boots On,” and “The Trooper.” With a solid track record of heavy metal collaborations with Anthrax, King Diamond, and more, Z2 Comics pulled out all the stops for Iron Maiden: Piece of Mind. The book features stories based on each of the album’s songs, including writing from frontman Bruce Dickinson (“Revelations”) along with an introduction penned by longtime Maiden manager Rod Smallwood. “When the idea of a Piece of Mind 40th Anniversary graphic novel first came up, I felt it was the perfect medium to expand outside the confines of the songs and to create new storylines and new dimensions through short form narrative and imagery,” said Dickinson in a press release. “With ‘Revelations,’ it allowed me to add more layers and dimensions to the lyrics and add a new twist.” He continued: “Equally as exciting was bringing together some of the top writers and illustrators in the industry who are all actual fans of the band, to add their own creative ideas inspired by the songs, Eddie, and the album itself. Z2 did a tremendous job in pulling this all together to create more than just a graphic novel, it’s what I consider a work of art.” The novel was edited by Rantz Hoseley. Other writing contributions include Steven Grant (The Punisher), Tony Lee (Doctor Who), Ivan Brandon (24Seven, Viking), Sacha Gervasi, Antony Johnston (Atomic Blonde), Leah Moore and John Reppion (Conspiracy of Ravens), Brian Posehn, Chris Roberson (iZombie), and Alison Sampson (Hit-Girl). Illustrators include Carson Thorn (Batman the Barbarian), Damien Worm (The October Faction), Francesco Dossena (Dylan Dog), Christian Rosado, Staz Johnson (Rogue Trooper), John Pearson (Mindset), Michael Avon Oeming (Powers), and Danijel Žeželj (Luna Park). “The Trooper” Cutaway Edition of the novel retails for $40 is limited to 666 copies and can be pre-ordered via Rockabilia. Meanwhile, the Asylum Edition runs $300 and includes numerous extras such as art prints, a replica concert ticket, four collector’s cards, and an Eddie asylum model kit (shipped separately). Pre-orders of various formats are available via Z2 Comics.

Read the full article

#comic #ironmaiden #metal #PieceofMind #TheTrooper

0 notes

artverso · 1 year

Photo

Alison Sampson - Love Everlasting

#alison sampson #love everlasting

22 notes · View notes

dispatchdcu · 6 months

Text

Sirens of the City #4 Review

Sirens of the City #4 Review #sirensofthecity #boomstudios #boomcomics #comics #comicbooks #news #art #info #NCBD #comicbooknews #previews #reviews #Amazon

Writer: Joanne Starer Illustrator: Khary Randolph Letterer: Andworld Design Cover Artists: Khary Randolph; Frany; Raúl Allén; Alison Sampson Publisher: Boom! Studios Price: $4.99 Release Date: October 18, 2023 Rome awakens in Bellevue Hospital. He wants Layla, the mother of his child. Instead, he finds Davi, another youth who loves the homeless girl. Where is Layla? Will this tortured girl find…

View On WordPress

#boom!#Boom! Comics #Boom! Comics Reviews #Boom! Reviews #Boom! Studios #Boom! Studios Reviews #Reviews #Sirens of the City #Sirens Of The City 4 #Sirens Of The City 4 Review

1 note · View note

ultrameganicolaokay · 6 months

Text

JIll and the Killers #1 by Olivia Cuartero-Briggs, Roberta Ingranata and Rebecca Nalty. Cover by Sanya Anwar. Variant covers by (2) Marguerite Sauvage, (3) Alison Sampson and (4) Celia Lowenthal. Out in January 2024.

"A DOUBLE-SIZED AND DANGEROUS 48-PAGE DEBUT! Rising stars Olivia Cuartero-Briggs (Mary Shelley Monster Hunter) and Roberta Ingranata (Witchblade, Doctor Who) present a new kind of game where even murder is much more than it seems... Returning to school after the unsolved disappearance of her mother, teenager Jill Estrada can't wait for things to return to normal... even as her friends become compulsively obsessed with Box Killers, a true-crime subscription game where each month's 'unsolved case' is custom-tailored to the life of its player. There's only one catch: Jill's game seems to be all too real... and when her clues begin to connect to a series of disappearances in her town, Jill and her friends must uncover the truth behind these mysterious crimes before one of their own becomes the next victim."

#jill and the killers #jill estrada #oni press #olivia cuartero-briggs #roberta ingranata #rebecca nalty #sanya anwar #marguerite sauvage #alison sampson #celia lowenthal #variant cover #comics

8 notes · View notes

smashpages · 10 months

Text

Can’t Wait for Comics | ‘Christopher Chaos’ comes to print

Check out new comics and graphic novels arriving in stores this week by James Tynion IV, Mike Mignola, Chris Roberson, Alison Sampson, Dave Stewart, Adam Cesare, Hayley Gold, Tate Brombal, Nick Robles and more.

#can't wait for comics #ncbd #new comic book day #comic books #comics #new comics day #new comics #graphic novels #out this week #this week's comics

2 notes · View notes

graphicpolicy · 13 days

Text

Crowdfunding Corner: A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts is superpowered murder in the D.C. punk scene

Crowdfunding Corner: A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts is superpowered murder in the D.C. punk scene #comics #comicbooks

Backer Beware: Crowdfunding projects are not guaranteed to be delivered and/or delivered when promised. We always recommend to do your research before backing. Eternal life of the perpetually terminally ill, teen angst, and a superpowered murder all play out in the D.C. punk scene of the 1990s. A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts #1 is a perfect-bound, double-sized issue that is 58 pages…

View On WordPress

#a ghost arm made of angry ghosts #alex diotto #alison sampson #comic books #Comics #jim mahfood #kickstarter #oliver mertz #ro stein #taylor esposito #ted brandt

1 note · View note

fictionz · 8 months

Text

Help! Looking for horror comics from diverse voices

I read a bunch of new-to-me horror stuff every October, including short comics and single issues, but hoo boy is it real research to find horror comics that aren't by white (and mostly American) men. I also try to pick out a comic or two from each decade for as far back as I can find them. I'm going through the process now of selecting this year's comics, and while I'm confident I can find diverse voices and backgrounds for the comics I'll read, I'm interested to see if any horror comic fans out there have recommendations.

So if you know horror comics and have recommendations from diverse creators, whether it's people of color, or based on gender, ethnicity, nationality, or any other diverse background, lemme know! There must be a ton of comic creators right here on Tumblr that I'm missing out on. It can be a single issue, a story in an anthology, a web comic, it's all good. Maybe there's a horror Discord I outta join?!

As a bonus, here's the list of horror comics I checked out last year:

“The Boar’s Head Beast” by George Wildman, Nicola Cuti, Wayne Howard (1975) “I toyed with forces I couldn’t control.”

This has bits of Lovecraft but it’s mostly an adventure story, and that just reminds me that so much of the adventure stuff I loved as a kid is from the action subgenre of horror.

💀💀💀

“Ill Bred” by Charles Burns (1985) “I realized her muscles were getting larger and more defined.”

The story seems to go full tilt into men’s panic about gender and sexuality norms until it pivots into a Twilight Zoneish wink at the audience as the plot resolves to an acceptable state for the normies. Pretty gnarly body horror stuff.

💀💀💀

“Don’t Go to the Island” by Sfé R. Monster & Kalyna Riis-Phillips (2016) “The skulls at your feet are laughing at you.”

It’s been almost all white American men in my horror comics this month, so I’m pivoting to other creators and eras. Fortunately, the Bones of the Coast anthology has that and also focuses on the Pacific Northwest, undoubtedly my favorite region. It’s a good pairing with the Jackson story. A moody coastal vibe, the gray sky threatening something that doesn’t reveal itself immediately, but instead lingers behind trees and corners, watching and waiting.

💀💀💀

“Some Other Animal’s Meat” by Emily Carroll (2016) “What if inside, it’s somehow the wrong stuff?”

Some inside part is always going to feel like it’s different from yours.

💀💀💀

“Greed” by Becky Cloonan, Jordie Bellaire, Travis Lanham (2013) “Kindly take your place by the dead horse.”

I liked what I read here, but it’s clear it’s not meant to stand alone. It’s too brief and it feels like we’re (rightly) meant to read this entire book and perhaps the series before getting to this point.

💀💀💀

“Goin’ South” by Nancy Collins, David Imhoff, Jeff Butler, Steve Montano, Renée Witterstaetter, Electric Crayon, Simon Bisley (1995) “He has his hate to keep him warm.”

People in the 90s really wanted to see these sorts of bouts between characters from different media properties. There’s an essay in the comic itself that comments on the fascination. Of course, this just presages our modern era of cinematic media universes. As for this first issue in a trilogy, it’s a decent setup, but not much happens since it’s focused on getting the two characters into the same room by the end of a single comic issue. I think a cross-country trip/spree featuring Jason could’ve been cool if it wasn’t so rushed.

💀💀💀

“Winnebago Graveyard #1” by Steve Niles, Stephanie Paitreau, Jordie Bellaire, Jen Bartel, Alison Sampson, Aditya Bidikar, Mingjue Helen Chen, Sarah Horrocks (2017) “Where are the people?”

Ooh good setup here. I’ll return to finish this series for sure. I hope the big bad they introduce here gets a real powerful comeuppance, though it does feel like a setup for torturing some protagonists. Bonus points for a creepy carnival setting.

💀💀💀

“Seed” by Fiona Staples, Jose Villarrubia, Michael Dougherty, Todd Casey, Zach Shields, Marc Andreyko (2015) “For this is not a woman but a demon with no soul to save.”

I remember Trick ‘r Treat being more jokey with its anthology format, but this was just a straightforward historical horror tale. But I liked the sincerity and will certainly return to this book later.

💀💀💀

“Kill Screen” by Lauren Beukes, Dale Halvorsen, Ryan Kelly, Eva de la Cruz, Clem Robins, Bill Sienkiewicz, Rowena Yow, Shelly Bond (2015) “This better not end up in a bathtub full of ice with missing kidneys.”

Some of the writing here is cringey, but the character setup is intriguing. I’ll stick with it and finish the series after October.

💀💀💀

“The Fool of the Web” by Patricia Breen, Roel, Brenda Feikema (1997) “Your belly quakes with laughter even as I tremble in disgust.”

Sometimes you follow the maiden, and sometimes the maiden follows you.

💀💀💀

“Fortune Broken” by Sandy King, Leonardo Manco, Marianna Sanzone (2015) “Death runs from me, you old witch!”

A simple one, and too abrupt in its conclusion. A bit more time at the end and I might’ve been more into it.

💀💀💀

“The Cemetery” by Franco, Abigail Larson, Wes Abbott, Sara Richard (2022) “Don’t you just want to get this over with?”

How do we learn to navigate the scary stuff? And why do some of us make it while others don’t?

💀💀💀

“The Speed of Pain” by Jeff Lemire, Andrea Sorrentino, Dave Stewart, Steve Wands, Will Dennis (2018) “I spent the week cursing God.”

Whoa nelly, this first issue is a great setup. It’s got that urban decay vibe of grungy industrial hellscape movies of the 90s like The Crow, Seven, and Dark City. I’ll definitely be coming back to finish this series.

💀💀💀

“Gestation” by Marguerite Bennett, Jonathan Brandon Sawyer, Doug Garbark, Nic. J. Shaw (2014) “I’ll deal with the corpse, my lady-love.”

It’s very satisfying when men in power are absolutely wrecked by women, so I appreciate the still too-rare opportunity to see it happen. (And you should know that this short comic story was expanded into its own series.)

💀💀💀

“Chemical 13!” by Michael Woods & Saskia Gutekunst (2009) “Everything is fine.”

Comeuppance stories about Nazis getting the wrath they deserve don’t hit the same anymore, not when they are just still around in daily life.

💀💀💀

“Hello, My Name Is…” by Nadia Shammas, Rowan MacColl, Licha Myers, Chris Sanchez (2021) “Workers have names. Management has power.”

What is a name but a tracking system? The means by which to search and destroy.

💀💀💀

“Sea of Souls” by Jenna Lynn Wright, Alvaro Feliu, Juan Francisco Mota, Ricardo Osnaya, Erik Lopera Tamayo, Jorge Cortes, Robby Bevaro, Maxflan Araujo, Walter Pereyra, Taylor Esposito (2022) “This isn’t the face I had when we met.”

The feel of a rushed committee affair, but stitched together adequately enough.

💀💀💀

“Crush” by Janet Hetherington, Ronn Sutton, Becka Kinzie, Zakk Saam (2018) “His eyes are as wild as the sea.”

Aye, that’s a Gothic story alright. The foreword by Jacques Nodell that introduces the anthology was actually a really good breakdown of the Gothic literature genre and its trappings. The ending is pretty gruesome but then I think that’s also a tendency in the scary Gothic romances.

💀💀💀

“The End of All Things” by Natalie Leif & Elaine Well (2014) “I’ll look at the lines myself.”

I wasn’t quite sure of the message here, and it’s probably a sign of a good story that I found it very compelling but wanted more. The ending evokes a sense of inevitable collapse beneath the weight of the world, that we are all inextricably linked to an entity we cannot escape.

💀💀💀

“Swamp Monster” by Basil Wolverton (1953) “You stare in unbelief at what used to be normal hands!”

There’s something appealing about these old, simple morality horror tales. I suppose it’s knowing that someone’s getting a comeuppance, or a rude awakening. So reading these is about knowing they’re gonna get it and enjoying the twisted revelation.

💀💀💀

“The Portrait of Sal Pullman” by Lonnie Nadler & Abby Howard (2019) “You fools, do you not see what this truly is?"

Abby Howard is the ruler of the kingdom of creepy illustrated faces. Er, maybe the architect. The wizard behind the curtain? Oh, the god, the god.

💀💀💀

“O Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad” by M.R. James & Abby Howard (2019) “If you see any more spooks or beasties, please do let me know."

I often fantasize about illustrating text stories if I had the skill, just to visualize what’s in the brain. It’s cool to see Howard taking that on with one of these old timey and appropriately spooky stories.

💀💀💀

“Rainbow Sprinkles” by W. Maxwell Prince, Chris O’Halloran, Martín Morazzo, Nimit Malavia (2018) “Arizona like in the movies of our dreams”

My first reaction was this isn’t horror (particularly after a more straightforward horror story in the first issue), but I think this is going to happen many times throughout the month. I’ve made the effort to seek out a more expansive range of voices and backgrounds in my horror selections and it’s going to require a broader acceptance of horror as a genre and medium for storytellers. All that said, this second issue of Ice Cream Man is more tragic and real, and horror fiction is, after all, a reflection of the horrors we face as real people.

💀💀💀

“Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall!” by Jack Davis, et al. (1953) “Why do they scream when they see you?”

First-person perspective in a comic must have been a fresh thing in the fifties, and if you’re going to do it, then you may as well pull from a classic like Frankenstein. I also recognize this sort of amnesiac monster thing from many stories since ‘53, in particular the disturbing “His Silicon Soul” from Batman The Animated Series.

💀💀💀

“The Harvest” by Shannon Campbell & Pam Wishbow (2016) “Just think of blackberry jam."

Oh fuck yeah, that autumnal folk horror. Much of this sort of thing comes out of places with traditional seasons but I love that this anthology is all about horror from the Pacific Northwest, so here you can feel the gray gloom and green hells of those thickly forested areas. This particular story also gets into the insidious and unknowable machinations of plants. Who knows what they’re thinking…

💀💀💀

“In Each and Every Package” by Reed Crandall, et al. (1954) “I kept thinking of you and that gave me the strength.”

This came up in a list of noteworthy horror comics from the mid-century due to this gnarly cover that got held up as an example of the questionable artistic merits of this sort of stuff at the time. I also doubted the horror qualities of this series since the title itself says it’s crime fiction, but I gave it a shot. It’s crime fiction for sure and I don’t think I’ll read other Crime SuspenStories, but it definitely feels like something I’d see on Tales from the Crypt.

💀💀💀

“Roots in Hell” by Richard Corben (2016) “Have some of this mango. It’s delicious!”

Kind of an abrupt ending but I dig the conceit.

💀💀💀

“Mars Is Heaven!” by Ray Bradbury, Wally Wood, et al. (1953) “And Lustig began to cry."

Looks like this story hit pretty hard in the fifties, but then the Godliness and paranoia of the nation was more potent then. Now it comes across as quaint.

💀💀💀

“Save the Last Dance for Me!” by Dennis O'Neil & Pat Boyette (1969) “Tin Toes makes the decisions around here!”

So many horror comics of this time are just peeks into the Ironic Punishment Division in hell.

💀💀💀

“Infected” by Bruce Jones, Richard Corben, Steve Oliff (1982) “You drag a shaking claw across your mouth and wipe away the sour smelling bile.“

Whoof. The casual racism is real bad in this one, even if it’s portrayed just to show the shitty attitude and personality of the protagonist. It feels more like some white guys riding the wave of edgy work like Heavy Metal to paint a portrait of “those people” and a cautionary story about getting involved with “them.”

💀💀💀

[Image missing because Tumblr has a limit of 30, but here it is.]

“Unpleasant Side Effects” by Kerry Gammill, Sam F. Park, Mar Omega (2010) “After I’ve recorded my findings, I’ll take care of this… thing.”

I liked seeing a modern take on the EC Comics comeuppance formula, and in particular an ending where the victims sorta get their due.

#horror #comics #horror comics

0 notes