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Welcome back to Graphic Content where we cover comics, and this week we tackle Hellblazer and Killadelphia My initial impulse after the last article was to jump into another Swamp Thing retrospective. However, I also realize I have a bunch of titles I am actively reading so I figure it would be best to get back to those. Swamp Thing next time, I promise.

This week we continue with two super-star series we’ve been reading for a while. John Constantine, Hellblazer, now cancelled, and the fantastic Killadelphia.

John Constantine, Hellblazer #10

John Constantine, Hellblazer #10, DC Comics
Two dodgy Brits, alike in spirit but different in wrinkles

“The Wake Up Call,” the tenth issue of the 2019 run of John Constantine, Hellblazer, lays all the cards out on the table and establishes the central conceit behind the series: John is fighting guilt over the trail of broken and destroyed bodies, minds, and souls that come into his orbit. We’ve seen bits and pieces of it throughout the run, but the grim and bloody thesis is laid bare in this issue. The issue follows John Constantine and Old John Constantine who comes to John in a dream to mention their bargain and a new wrinkle; he wants John’s soul, of course, just not yet. What follows is a surge of dream logic that travels from John’s apparent death in the War of Magic from the mainline DC Universe, where he sold his soul to Old John, to the Dreaming. All the while, John’s allies Nat, Noah, Tommy, and even Vestibulan, the demon in his smartphone, are subjected to horror because they are his allies.

The writing is good, as it has been since the start; a kind of Hellblazer road trip across the mind of John Constantine, all presented through dream logic. John the Younger shows his wit and trickery, but it still outmatched by his older, asshole self. it’s all very fascinating and just raises further questions about the nature of what Old John wants – or his very nature. We see glimpses of Ravenscar Sanitarium, the Dreaming, and nightmarish places including a bar filled with Constantines of all kinds. The threads are fairly dense, however, having an expectation that the reader is familiar with Constantine’s current incarnation and the immediate past. Some periodic reminders of issues or runs would have been helpful here. It can be a lot to keep track of.

Bergara’s art here is wonderful, especially in dealing with the strange visuals of the dreamquest and the uncanny presence in the dream logic of the issue. The revelation of the “heart” of the matter is particularly stunning and is some fantastic horror imagery. The usage of light and shadow is particularly dramatic and something you’d only ever seen in comics, which is incredibly fitting. The brightness of The Dreaming also stands out as perhaps some of the most visually bright material in the run, but is nonetheless disturbing, given what exactly is at stake.

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I have not finished Spurrier’s run, just yet. I’ve been taking my time and savoring it. With this issue, had I not know the series was coming to and end, I would have been thrilled about the long haul. Now, though? I dread that I won’t get my answers. I resolve myself to enjoy the rest of the ride as best I can, however. 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5)

John Constantine: Hellblazer #10, written by Simon Spurrier and illustrated by Matías Bergara, is available from DC Comics and your local comic shop.

Killadelphia #10

Killadelphia #10, Image Comics
“Can’t we just go fishing for a change, Dad?”

Killadelphia #10, aka “Burn Baby Burn, Part IV, Kill Them All,” while ridiculous in the title, continues the strong work laid out so far by writer Rodney Barnes and artist Jason Shawn Alexander. The issue mirrors the previous, only this time we look back at the wild west, Deadwood, specifically, and get to know “Toppy,” formerly Fergus. Toppy has been in the periphery of Killadelphia for a while, now, but this is the most complete picture we get of him yet. This issue continues the trend of revealing the vampires have their own tragic histories that feed into their vampiric lives. Structurally it is very compelling: we progress the current narrative, but take time to look at motivations and reasons. I did express apprehension in previous reviews about the pace of the series, the constant momentum, but I am pleased to see that things are slowing down a bit. The pieces are in place, the plot is moving – why not wind the clock back a bit? I really am appreciating getting to know the various vampires in Abigail’s orbit.

Meanwhile, the present-day narrative concerns the series of mass vampire attacks on the city, specifically following up on the Sangsters’ raid on a vampire brothel. It’s a small scene in the grand scheme of things, with the narrative importance falling on the aftermath: John and John Sr.’s relationship is still struggling, with Sr. snapping after a botched mission as Sr. is still raw from being deprived of rest alongside his wife a couple of issues back. Lastly, we also see a horde of vampiric prisoners escaping from prison, and “Jupiter” (don’t call him that) makes his way to Abigail’s home for a very specific purpose. To say much else would spoil a satisfying ending.

The issue also presents another installment of the werewolf story “Elysium Gardens.” I’m never quite sure how to address it in these reviews as it is its own entity. May I will need to review the bunch of them assembled as their own release eventually. It’s good stuff, a nice companion to Killadelphia. It of course also makes me wonder what else might Barnes want to tackle in this horror universe. I’d love to see Barnes and Alexander work on zombies next; the news report and set-up presented in the first few pages give me Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead vibes.

Speaking of Jason Shawn Alexander, his work is consummately professional. Issue after issue Killadelphia looks great. When the series first rolled out I had expressed concerns with some of the artistic choices, but since then the style has refined itself. The splatter of ink feels a little more pointed now, like a flourish or signature. The likenesses and character designs feel more consistent overall. The carnage of vampiric slaughter is appropriately messy but never ill-defined. I find it can be a challenge to write about the art from week to week when the work is so good. I do wonder about some staging, however. The emphasis on Abigail’s posterior on one page practically served as the center mass the panels orbited around. A little cheeky, but may not the best decision thus far. I can see this choice possibly biting the title in the ass when the inevitable streaming series happens. Only hindsight will tell.

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Alright, enough butt puns.

Killadelphia slows down a bit to take in the sights and memories of one of the vampire crew in a fun issue that gives us just enough forward momentum while rewarding long time readers who ask: “what is with the vampire in the top hat?” 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5)

Killadelphia #10, written by Rodney Barnes and illustrated by Jason Shawn Alexander, is available from Image Comics and your local comic shop.


Again, Swamp Thing next time, I swear. In the meantime, please let me know what you think about these comics, the review, or please suggest titles you want to see reviewed. You can also find me on Twitter where I pick fights with nerds. See you next week for Graphic Content #12.

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David Davis is a writer, cartoonist, and educator in Southern California with an M.A. in literature and writing studies.

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Horror in graphic novels

Graphic Content #33: Week of Oct. 3

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After a brief aside, we are back with Graphic Content this week. Last time we returned to the pages of the classic 1972 run of Swamp Thing. If you haven’t read my coverage of ol’ Swampy, consider checking out all the stuff I have written about my favorite DC Comics character! However, we now return to a Last Podcast comic and some new books.

We have Sweetie: Candy Vigilante from Dynamite Entertainment and a new Mike Mignola-penned comic, Leonine the Vampyr, from Dark Horse. We also return to the world of Soul Plumber this week, the Last Podcast comic, after I never finished the run over a year ago! Oops!

Soul Plumber #2 - a Last Podcast comic from DC Horror

Soul Plumber #2

I read Soul Plumber #1 about a year ago and never had a chance to sit down and read the following issues, so this week’s Graphic Content gives me a chance to catch up, starting with #2. This issue follows up directly with Edgar’s earnest but misguided attempt at soul plumbing on a local man named Scuzz, which goes about as well as you’d expect from the minds of Henry Zebrowski, Marcus Parks, and Ben Kissel. The series is part of the DC Comics horror imprint.

The story is sacrilegious and gross and carries the general aesthetics of projects in the orbit of Last Podcast on the Left and Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell. It is pretty much what the target audience expects. It is quite fun. There is also some fun plot trajectory by the end of the issue as Edgar and Elk seek to clean up a mess, and two forces appear to have an interest in Edgar in particular. I am also intrigued by the entity that is Blorb and its interest in the realm of humans.

The art continues to suit the writing quite well, with fun combinations of gore, vomit, and liquid shit when needed. John McCrea and PJ Holden’s art carries plenty of texture; plus, the grungy colors of Mike Spicer help this version of Indianapolis feel lived in. The mild screen tones add a little more texture here and there.

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Overall, the Last Podcast comic delivers what you’d expect.

Impressions of Soul Plumber #2

My impression of Soul Plumber, two issues in now, is that it will be an acquired taste. It probably isn’t for every horror comic fan. The particularly gross-out nature of the supernatural elements is much more tongue-in-cheek than other horror series. I enjoy it, but I am also a fan of Last Podcast on the Left. When it comes down to it, the comic is pretty much for the show’s fans – a true Last Podcast comic. The storytelling isn’t groundbreaking, but it is funny. The art is gross but cool. This is just a fun little ride without rattling the cages of comics too much. We’ll see how much soul is left to plumb in the remaining run. 4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5)

Soul Plumber #2 is written by Marcus Parks, Henry Zebrowski, and Ben Kissel. John McCrea and PJ Holden illustrate the comic. You can find more about the comic from DC Comics or your local comic shop. You can learn more about the Last Podcast comic team at their official website.

Sweetie: Candy Vigilante #1 - a violent, candy-coated comic from Osaka Popstar

Sweetie: Candy Vigilante #1

You have a problem when your issue synopsis says more about your comic than what is said in the comic. To say I was unimpressed by this comic is putting it in the most diplomatic way possible. Sweetie: Candy Vigilante #1 is also based on a character designed for an Osaka Popstar album which seems to be a branding attempt for the band.

The writing annoyed me by spending excessive time in a scene that said nothing, complete with unnecessary and pointless moments of sexual assault and inane dialogue. The story offers nothing that indicates any form of parody, so I found the whole approach by writer Suzanne Cafiero to be more annoying than entertaining.

I am okay with ridiculous violence and shocks for humor, but generally, those are supplemental to a story for me, and nothing here makes me want to read further.

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The art is okay, but Jeff Zornow’s style feels inconsistent between panels at key points. There are inconsistencies in figures, faces, and proportion shifts in many characters. Honestly, the art style here evokes the early to mid-2000s for me. It’s not terrible and pretty polished overall, but the style also feels uninspiring. Also, I saw a particularly blatant inconsistency in the dialogue balloons on one panel. How something like that slipped is concerning.

Impressions of Sweetie: Candy Vigilante #1

Sweetie: Candy Vigilante #1 is not the worst comic I’ve ever read, but I am struggling to justify the existence of this non-existent story. The comic seems like an indulgence of a band who came up with a sexy character for a project, but I do not see it being an ongoing thing beyond an arc. Given the issue comes packed in with Osaka Popstar’s take on The Archies’ “Sugar Sugar,” I don’t see this as much beyond a “why not” kind of project. 1 out of 5 stars (1 / 5)

Sweetie: Candy Vigilante #1 is written by Suzanne Cafiero. The comic is illustrated by Jeff Zornow and colored by Antonio Fabella. If you want to know more, you can pick up a copy from Dynamite Entertainment or your local comic shop.

Leonide the Vampyr - a one-shot from Mike Mignola

Leonide the Vampyr: Miracle at The Crow’s Head (One-Shot)

Another week, another Mike Mignola release. This time we get a one-shot from the Hellboy creator that evokes classic vampiric fables combined with a more all-ages setting and approach.

Granted, even for all ages, the story is dark and has a sinister air, but it is not overly grotesque or violent. It feels like a traditional, folkloric approach seen so often in Hellboy but also gives a sense of whimsy through the art. I do feel the story itself was a little light, however. I’d have difficulty justifying the single issue’s price of $4. The set-up of an ongoing story is also quite excellent.

One thing I am confused by: The title is listed as a one-shot by the cover, but the first page suggests Leonide’s adventures will be ongoing. Will there be a series of single self-contained issues? The issue implies as much.

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Rachele Aragno’s art is lovely here, finding a fantastic blend between the heavy shadows identified with Mignola’s own work but cartoony enough to work for the book’s tone. The character designs are pleasing, and the character of Leonide is quite striking in appearance. The story was a pleasure to read and to look at.

Leonide the Vampyr: Miracle at The Crow’s Head Impressions

Leonide the Vampyr looks as though it could be a good, ongoing series to introduce a younger set to creepy comics. It’s nice to have a comic that can provide a genuinely chilling effect but not be overly beholden to shock and gore. I think the price is a bit steep given the limited story, but a collected series seems like it would make an excellent library staple for the horror-curious kids out there.

I am eager to see what is next, but I certainly hope the ratio of story to price is better. 4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5)

Leonide the Vampyr: Miracle at The Crow’s Head is written by Mike Mignola with art by Rachele Aragno and colors by Dave Stewart. If you want to know more, you can pick up a copy from Dark Horse Comics or your local comic shop.


What do you think about this week’s assembled comics? I think my winner for the week would be Soul Plumber #2, but what about you? Does this Last Podcast comic strike your fancy?

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Horror in graphic novels

Graphic Content #32: Just Swamp Things – Swamp Thing Vol. 1 #6

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We are finally back with “Just Swamp Things.” In case you missed it, last week, I reviewed three horror comics in Graphic Content #31. I decided to take this week to revisit one of my favorite comic book series ever. We last tackled this comic in Graphic Content #19. I am glad to be back at it here to cover issue six of the original 1970s run of Swamp Thing from DC Comics.

Swamp Thing #6 (October 1973)

Cover to Swamp Thing #6 (1973) illustrated by Bernie Wrightson
A Swamp Thing and a Robot wander into a clock shop when…

“The Clockwork Horror” offers a strange little tale of Swamp Thing in a Swiss village and his encounter with The Conclave’s Task Force Four. Plus, there are robots and heavy German accents. This is a weird one.

The sixth issue of Swamp Thing was published in October 1973. This issue continues the legendary pairing of Len Wein as the writer and Bernie Wrightson as the artist. Wrightson also colors this issue. As for our other contributors, Gaspar Saladino handles lettering, and the editor is, naturally, Joe Orlando.

You can, as always, find this issue in the Swamp Thing: Dark Genesis collection. Please order it through your local comic shop!

Panel from Swamp Thing #6 illustrated by Bernie Wrightson.
Surely there is nothing unusual about this town, right?

Swamp Thing #6 – Issue Impressions

“The Clockwork Horror” finds Matt Cable and Swamp Thing on a collision course in a strange Swiss village. The village, Bürgess Town, VT, is in the middle of nowhere. Their chance crossing, however, is disrupted by The Conclave. Meanwhile, Swamp Thing struggles with seeing robotic duplicates of Alex Holland and Linda Holland, opening all sorts of wounds.

Swamp Thing #6 is a largely silly affair, but it carries a level of pathos associated with Swamp Thing throughout the run and some moments of genuine sadness. Yet, it is also about Swamp Thing and Matt Cable arriving at the same clockwork village in the middle of nowhere where costumed gunman slaughter the town of robot people. All that, plus, Swamp Thing gets his dog back! Early Swamp Thing is fascinating.

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Of the run so far, this is probably my least favorite issue as it arrives at the border of “a little much.” I also found the execution of the ideas to be a bit lacking. That’s not to say this is a bad issue, either. There is a lot to admire here. I appreciate the first major showing of The Conclave in force, even if their look is a bit ridiculous.

Plus, the issue ends us at an intriguing spot. Swamp Thing is heading to Gotham City.

Hans Klochmann welcomes Matt Cable and Abigail Arcane.
Is Hans Klochmann too obscure of a cosplay idea?

Developments

The characterization remains strong in this issue, with emphasis put on Matt Cable’s continually unwinding mental state in his pursuit of truth and the emotional toll Swamp Thing’s life has been on what is left of the psychic imprint of Alex Holland. The story also gives them satisfying emotional developments; Matt is given evidence of a deeper conspiracy and that he is not obsessing, whereas Swamp Thing gets another chance to be with Linda, of a sort, and must struggle between his desires and his reality.

Unfortunately, Abby Arcane doesn’t get much to do; she is reduced to a sounding board for Matt Cable to be angry and frustrated and ask questions for the audience. I am eager to see her role expand and begin her bond with Swamp Thing because, at this point, she serves little purpose beyond being beautiful. Mayor Klochmann is every bit as ridiculous as you’d expect, down to the heavy German accent.

The robotic body Nathan Ellery controls also allows him to mock and taunt Matt Cable and Swamp Thing, indirectly allowing them to encounter their nemesis. Bernie Wrightson’s robot design for Ellery is straight out of the 1950s B-movie style, and I really appreciate that approach, especially in contrast with Klochmann’s robotic citizens. Those robots look human, even down to skeletal-like structures rendering the visuals of charged, smoldering robot skeletons evocative of the genocide it technically was.

Goddamn, Bernie Wrightson is good.

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The Conclave shatters the peace.
Up until this point, I’ve bought everything. But a red bodysuit? Really?

Swamp Seeds

These are some general notes and observations about Swamp Thing #6 I want to make. I have a few notes about continuity here, as well.

  • Mutt continues to be a good boy doing bad things. He is now with Swamp Thing but still seems to be bugged by The Conclave.
  • Matt Cable’s desk is a clever way to handle the credits for the issue while showcasing his apparent obsession.
  • We even see Maxwell Ferrett in issue #1 appear in a dossier on the desk. Very fun.
  • Less fun is that this is the first and only appearance of Bürgess Town, VT, and its residents in the DC Comics canon, as they are all wiped out by the end of the issue.
  • Next time, we’ll see the first encounter between Swamp Thing and The Batman. The connections of Swamp Thing to DC’s larger canon would become cemented then, rather than just oblique references.
  • One of my sources for tracking some of this stuff has been the DCU Guide. I only have so much memory devoted to some of this stuff.

See you next week with a batch of comic reviews for Graphic Content. Thanks for checking out this installment of “Just Swamp Things.” Please let me know what you think. I would love to hear from other Swamp Thing fans about my impressions of the issue.

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Horror in graphic novels

Graphic Content #31: Week of Sept. 12

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We are back with another batch of horror comic reviews in Haunted MTL’s original comics column, Graphic Content. We had a host of horrific new #1 titles to dig up last week; we have three more this week. Do these new comic titles offer something exciting for horror comic fans? Do we have a bold new Lovecraft comic in the rotation? What about revisiting the world of Hellboy, which is a kind of Lovecraft comic?

For the week of Sept. 12th, 2022, we have Lovecraft – Unknown Kadath #1, Castle Full of Blackbirds #1, and The Boogyman #1.

'Lovecraft - Unknown Kadath' #1 cover; a lovecraft comic

Lovecraft – Unknown Kadath #1 – “Dylath-Leen”

It’s always a good day for me when I get to start it off by reading a Lovecraft comic. I also knew I would like this title after the initial pages derive stylistically from Little Nemo in Slumberland. The rest of the comic turned out to be a fun, whirlwind tour of themes and elements of H.P. Lovecraft’s work, most notably the character of Randolph Carter, which I enjoyed quite a bit.

Something about Lovecraft’s universe lends itself well to severe and psychologically-derived horror. Still, it also makes for fun pulpy-adventure fodder, hence the longevity of the Call of Cthulhu tabletop game. The latter is where Florentino Florez draws his inspiration for his comic, it seems. Florez’s writing is solid, and he has created a breezy Lovecraftian adventure I am curious about.

As for the art, the comic opens with a lovely Little Nemo riff and establishes the dreamlike imagery found in the rest of the issue. Artists Guillermo Sanna and Jacques Salomon have created some excellent work here that, to me at least, evokes Mike Mignola in surreality and Hergé in great, lived-in details. I haven’t quite figured out each artist’s contribution to the overall work, but I am excited to learn more by the next issue.

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Impressions of Lovecraft- Unknown Kadath #1

Lovecraft – Unknown Kadath #1 is an excellent start to a series that gives me the 1920s adventure vibes I love in some Lovecraftian adventures. “Dylath-Leen” is a fun Lovecraft comic that evokes the tone and spirit of the dreamlike world that hides Kadath and pairs it with excellent artwork. Florez’s writing is well-paced, with enough explanation to keep the reader motivated. Sanna and Salomon’s illustrations are equally lovely and horrid as needed.

I am already dreaming of more. 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5)

Lovecraft – Unknown Kadath is written by Florentino Florez and illustrated by Guillermo Sanna & Jacques Salomon. You can find more about the comic from Ablaze or your local comic shop.

'Castle Full of Blackbirds' #1 cover - from the lovecraft comic world of 'Hellboy'

Castle Full of Blackbirds #1

From the pages of Mike Mignola’s Hellboy and the BPRD comes Castle Full of Blackbirds. The exponential growth of the Hellboy IP has made it hard for me to keep up, so having not read the prior material leading to this one, I am somewhat new to this side of the larger franchise.

This story is set in the late 1960s, around the start of Hellboy’s early career, if I remember my continuity, and follows a young girl named Sara May Blackburn who seeks out a mysterious Linton School for Girls. Readers immediately get the sense there is a lot of background before these first pages, including a flashback to Hellboy himself. Writers Angela Slatter and Mike Mignola provide hints at what has come before, but new readers are likely to be lost as to what is going on. At least I was. Hellboy has always had a problematic relationship with witches at best, so how a school of witches connects to his adventures is enough to drive me forward.

Visually, the comic feels adjacent to what I’ve seen in the larger Hellboy universe without skewing too hard trying to emulate the angular look of Mignola. Valeria Burzo’s art is expressive and textured when needed but is also relatively simple and naturalistic. I am less keen on the colors by Michelle Madsen. They are effective for what they are, but the coloring style feels washed out, and the non-black-filled shading appears slightly muddy. Using gradients in spots is particularly noticeable and doesn’t complement the line art.

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Impressions of Castle Full of Blackbirds #1

I find myself exploring the Hellboy universe with this new limited series Castle Full of Blackbirds. I am enjoying the ride though this is the most disconnected from the universe I’ve been. This is due to the sheer avalanche of stories out there right now. The comic serves as an introduction, yes. However, it expects that readers know more than writers Mignola and Slatter are willing to recap. Visually, the art succeeds based on the strength of Burzo’s art. Yet, I feel Madsen’s coloring choices put a damper on the issue.

I am intrigued, but I worry that the comic may ask too much of new readers. 3.5 out of 5 stars (3.5 / 5)

Castle Full of Blackbirds #1 is written by Mike Mignola and Angela Slatter. The art is by illustrator Valeria Burzo and colorist Michelle Madsen. You can find out more about the comic from Dark Horse or your local comic shop.

'The Boogyman' #1 cover depicting a nightmare scenario

The Boogyman #1

Ablaze has had a terrific week with two intriguing #1s that play with horror themes. I enjoyed the first issue of The Boogyman, and I am looking forward to what is next. I especially like that it presents a Filipino approach to childhood monsters called the Aswang.

Mathieu Salvia had crafted a fun and grim little tale of childhood trauma, murder, and fantastical guardians. Some fun questions arise from what precisely the boogymen are and their purpose that I am eager to see explored. I also find the mystery of Father Death and his relationship to the other boogymen an intriguing hook. I do wonder how far ahead young Elliott’s narration comes from, however, because I feel a misstep between what is being presented as internal expression and his status as a child. Then again, I could also be underestimating the mind of a child though, too.

Visually, I think Djet, new to my radar, is just my speed in stylistic expression and detail, finding a real sweet spot in the art for this horror comic. Character forms are overall realistic in their proportions, but stylistic choices give them expressive faces that read well on the page. The level of detail is also lovely overall, with some extra spice when it comes to the nasty, creepy stuff. The sketchy nature of the line art is also complemented well by the coloring choices using some fun lighting overlays and a subtle but effective shading style.

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Impressions of The Boogyman #1

The Boogyman looks to be a strong contender for an ongoing horror comic. The juxtaposition of children’s fears and what seems to be deeper mythology is compelling enough. The cliffhanger written by Mathieu Salvia has inspired me to await the second issue. I think the artwork by Djet is particularly strong. It finds the right mix of exaggerated expressiveness and serious, grim tones. Consider me intrigued. 4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5)

The Boogyman #1 is written by Mathieu Salvia and illustrated by Djet. You can find more about the comic from Ablaze or your local comic shop.


What do you think about this week’s assembled comics? There seems to be a bit of a Lovecraft comic theme between the topics of dreams, witches, and Hellboy. Do any catch your eye? Let us know in the comments.

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