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Graphic Content returns with another catch-up post covering the final three issues of the indie horror and crime series, Sink. Sink was a consistent and surprising comic for me issue after issue, and I enjoyed the ride. However, it also must come to an end. However, do the intertwined stories of Sinkhill culminate into a more significant idea? We last left Sink off with issue #7. How do the remaining three issues play out? Here are some impressions.

Sink #8 – #10

Issues #8 – #10 of Sink are comprised of the stories “Graphite Green,” “Graphite Green: Part Two,” and “BedBug.”

Sink #8 cover
Sink #8 – “Graphite Green”

“Graphite Green” follows a group of Kurdish immigrants invited to a revolutionary new form of public housing in Sinkhill. Yes, that Sinkhill. The same Sinkhill that has been full of murder and horror we’ve experienced over seven previous issues. Rojan, the patriarch, is naturally suspicious, and I found myself breathlessly expecting the shoe to drop on the circumstances behind the building. Then the murders start. I applaud the story’s pacing, especially when taken with the larger context of the series. We are conditioned by John Lees’ writing across the run that the slow reveal of what is going on at this building is a fantastic example of tension. We also get an answer to a question that has been on our minds since the start of the series: who is the man in the fox mask? Who is Mr. Dig?

“Graphite Green” gets a specific color overlay about midway through the issue, which conveys the chaos and horror of the events but also feels a bit strong and muddles the overall look of the issue. Alex Cormack’s illustrations are always gritty and full of energy, and usually, the colors highlight that. The choice of the red overlay across a significant portion of the issue by Alex and Ashley Cormack washes out the art, especially given the critical reveal by the end. I think that deserved more.

Sink #9 cover
Sink #9 – “Graphite Green: Part Two”

“Graphite Green: Part Two” offers John Lees an opportunity to craft a taut thriller of an issue that evokes J.G. Ballard’s High-Rise, and he succeeds admirably at the two-parter. I do not want to get too deep into the story, but the two-parter of “Graphite Green” and “Graphite Green: Part Two” is like a concentrated vessel for the themes and aesthetics of Sink and the tale I think that might best serve for an adaptation. I am thankful, however, that it remains a comic for now. It feels like an example of one of those stories you can only see in comics these days. Plus, there is also another tease at a greater purpose to the chaos as well.

“Part Two” manages the red-colored overlay in a way that is much less overwhelming and allows different colors to shine through within the building. Gore is more discernable, and characters are rendered a little more recognizable. The one-two punch of the reveal of Mr. Dig and his shovel at work is a fantastic page, made of only two panels. Cormack does a tremendous job on this issue. The action scenes can be confusing with some stiff posing and the actions depicted as being somewhat vague, but the overall effect is still quite strong.

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Sink #10 cover
Sink #10 – “BedBug”

“BedBug” serves as the final issue of the current run, and I have no idea if the series will continue in the future. The issue follows the first date of two people who met online; only this date is in the city of Sinkhill, so you already know something terrible is about to go down. However, the issue is one of those rare brighter spots in the series; what starts with a home invasion ends with a hilarious table-turning involving sex toy beatdowns. The insanity is rendered wonderfully by Cormack, and the juxtaposition of the violence and blood with the candy-colored sex toys is hilarious.

Ever seen someone beat to death with a dildo? You will here.

I think “BedBug” is a fine issue, but I also feel like it might have worked better coming before the “Graphite Green” two-parter. I get a better sense of resolution and meaning from that story, and the catharsis of “BedBug” would make for a nice break in the intensity of volume #2, consisting of issues #6 – #10.

Final Impressions

As it stands, Sink is over with issue #10. As a whole, I applaud the run. This gritty crime and horror book was a real treat to read. Disturbing, hyperviolent, and with some sharp commentary woven in, the series as a whole is worth a read, and I suggest checking it out if you can handle it.

While I have had minor quibbles from issue to issue, the overall project is an incredible run with a richly developed world, tight plotting, and a strong sense of design and visual storytelling. 5 out of 5 stars (5 / 5)

Want more Sink? (Sponsored)

If you want to start your journey into the horrible world of Sink in the most efficient way possible, consider buying the Kindle edition of volume one from Amazon using our affiliate link. You get a great horror comic, and Haunted MTL gets a little money for the referral.

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

Horror in graphic novels

Creepy Comics Collages by Jennifer Weigel, Part 5

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Well, you won’t get rid of me that easily… Ha ha, I lied about coming to the end and the afterlife in the Creepy Comics Collages segment, it was just an opportunity for rebirth. Besides, it’s World Collage Day! So having come into another comic book to rework, here we go again…

The Voice creepy comics collage by Jennifer Weigel
The Voice creepy comics collage by Jennifer Weigel

Creepy Comics Story 9: The Voice (of God or Reason or perhaps an homage to my ex)

“Come to me my children, the voice of God awaits!… Don’t let them escape!” Please beam me up out of this weird comic collage alternate reality. “God I am your hand! Lift me… to your place. I commend my spirit!” I want to go back to dreaming about starfish.

The computer programmer behind the scenes turns to face us and smiles. “Guardians! This is a place of God!… Come to the true voice of God!” “I am everything.” “Come to the voice!” And the horrific AI generated creatures abide by his every coded word.

Just like last night in the — signs posted for Nightmare, No Exit. The deer spirit faun screams in surprise, “Eeek!” “No! I defy you!” She returns to the form of a little girl with arms outspread to the open sky. “Y’know, a day like today makes all the stuff that happened last night seem just like a bad dream!” The dream seems so real…

Somewhere in the city, the computer programmer sits up at night in pensive monologue, “You try to make a difference… But it doesn’t really matter.”

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The City creepy comics collage by Jennifer Weigel
The City creepy comics collage by Jennifer Weigel

Creepy Comics Story 10: The City (Metropolis becomes self-aware)

This segment is brought to you by Dead Artists and Talking Dinosaurs. No really, wait for it…

Woooooo Uhhhh Wooooooo Uhhhh… Wump! Uff! Wump! Uff! “She belongs to The City!” The Glenn Fry 1985 hit single looms ominously overhead as Metropolis becomes self-aware. “The City… will live!… The City… will breathe!” The City gasps for air, “Got to… breathe!… Got to… Breathe!

Her breath is the wind… Her eyes are windows. Her heart pumps fluid through buried plumbing… “I’m The City!” Her mind is The City!

And we have a celebrity appearance by Rich Koz “Son of Svengoolie” WFLD 1973: “I take a nap for 10,000 years and look what happens… some-body builds a city!” Kerwyn chimes in, “Geez! Somebody’s been busy!” And we cut out to a scene of Svengoolie standing alongside his coffin.

Portrait of myself with dark makeup and crow skull headdress, backlit by the sun.
Portrait of myself with dark makeup and crow skull headdress, backlit by the sun.

Well, that’s all folks. Or is it? For now, any way… until I get more comic books… Duh duh DUHHHH…

If you want to see more art, check out more of Jennifer Weigel’s work here on Haunted MTL or on her writing, fine art, and conceptual projects websites.

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Horror in graphic novels

Creepy Comics Collages by Jennifer Weigel, Part 4

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Wow, I can’t believe you’ve stayed the course through four whole strange story posts of these creepy comics collages. But this is the final frontier, the last segment, the standing ovation as it were. So here goes…

The Grave creepy comics collage by Jennifer Weigel

Creepy Comics Story 7: The Grave (shallow enough for ya?)

“It should take longer, it seems to all of them. Such holy flesh should not give before a blade so easily.” “His brow is growing so cold.” “Yes it would be. He’s dying.”

“My god… I’m not dead.” Put the shovel down. “Life is a no-win situation. Besides… You’re already dead!”

“I’m not dead. I’m not dead!… Oh, Oh my god… I can’t move… What’s happened to me?” Buried alive. Or maybe not.

“Dead?” Perhaps I am actually dead. I was expecting something… I dunno… different.

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“I’m not hungry, I’m dead. I’m not sure what I’m doing here, in fact.” At least I’m not a zombie. That seems a small consolation right now though. “My organs are shutting down. It is a relief.”

“Three days have already passed.” We’re just sitting here, rotting. Like Norman Bates’ Mother. At least someone was kind enough to supply a rocking chair. “Oh, one last thing before I go… You’re doing my fucking head in.”

Adrift Afterlife creepy comics collage by Jennifer Weigel
Adrift Afterlife creepy comics collage by Jennifer Weigel

Creepy Comics Story 8: Adrift Afterlife (why you save the best gold coins for the ferryman)

How’d we get here? “I do not stand alone. I am sat in a boat.” “.. to be millions of miles away from any care in the world.” Was that the Ferryman? “Only liberty I know.”

“He does not remember arriving here, or if he has been here before. It is not the island he grew up on, though it feels so very familiar… He has been waiting for the night tides to come in, for they will bring starfish. He has always liked watching them cling to the beach before the current pulls them back into fathoms.”

“And the ocean brings him starfish… Perhaps his father had nothing to do with this place at all.” The ferryman stands on the far shore. It makes no difference now.

“Beneath the ocean, razor-sharp coral grows and plunges towards the surface, sent by a green place that would not like to burn.” “The sand is soft between his toes and he is not ashamed of anything.” The ghosts are here, contentedly it seems.

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Portrait of myself with dark makeup and crow skull headdress, backlit by the sun.

Thank you for joining us for these creepy comics collage art stories. But here’s where we have to leave it off. Trust me, it’s best that way. Besides I’m out of creepy comics to collage with.

If you want to see more art, check out more of Jennifer Weigel’s work here on Haunted MTL or on her writing, fine art, and conceptual projects websites.

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Horror in graphic novels

Creepy Comics Collages by Jennifer Weigel, Part 3

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We’re ba-ack… Are you ready for the next creepy comics collages graphic story overload? After the last time and the intermission I wasn’t sure I’d see you again, but here we are, together again. You’d almost think we put something in the water – wink.

Now where were we? Oh yeah, the world was going to hell… or was it?

Alien Invasion creepy comics collage by Jennifer Weigel
Alien Invasion creepy comics collage by Jennifer Weigel

Creepy Comics Story 5: Alien Invasion (A Fist Full of Physics!!!)

“Elsewhere… months… earlier…” “It begins as a flicker pin-point of light getting closer ever closer until it takes form.” The sky is falling, damn you Chicken Little.

“…unconfirmed rumors of extraterrestrials have surfaced this evening following reported sightings in upstate New York earlier today.” There’s the news for you. Always blowing things up to increase viewership ratings.

“Then I would suggest a test immediately.” ‘K Doc, we get it; maybe there’s cause for concern. Guessing these aren’t friendlies based on intel, or that the government pissed them off. “Where’s William Shatner when you really need him?”

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“Next morning… City Hall…” “A Fist Full of Physics” Blamm-o! “As if that’s some kind of homage.” It’s the end of the world as we know it, and I was feeling fine but now I’m not so sure. “All of this is on your head.” You can thank the world governments with their shoot first, ask questions later policies for that.

“The act was deplorable. It’s ramifications were permanent.” Doc looks unamused. “And the doctor drones on in his cold monotone… ‘Then we all die.’”

Werewolves creepy comics collage by Jennifer Weigel
Werewolves creepy comics collage by Jennifer Weigel

Creepy Comics Story 6: Werewolves (Londoners, eat your hearts out)

“Fables Werewolves… no one can hear you howl.” So now we’re elbow-deep in lycanthropy? This story just keeps getting weirder and weirder…

“… I feel so… disoriented… is this vertigo?” No, you wouldn’t be so lucky. Once bitten, twice shy. It’s The Change. Prepare yourself for the transformation.

“Hello dear.”

“What now?” Enough with the damned interruptions already, can’t you see I’m at work?!

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“Shall we start a war?”

“No! No! Leave me alone! Leave me alone! No!

“What now?”

“I know one thing.” “Never will you suffer the indignity of this animal’s touch again.” The wolf seems somewhat offended by that statement. No really. And probably rightly so.

“Maybe it’s just an excuse, a fucking cop-out for when we inevitably fuck-up our lives and hurt people… We’re not cursed, we’re rotten, or mad or…”

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“I don’t deserve this!” he howls. Stop blaming the werewolves for your own human indecencies. Teacups get broken and the London werewolves get angry.

Portrait of myself with dark makeup and crow skull headdress, backlit by the sun.
Portrait of myself with dark makeup and crow skull headdress, backlit by the sun.

Thank you for going all in with us over this series, there’s… one… more… final… huzzah… In the meantime, check out more of Jennifer Weigel’s work here on Haunted MTL or on her writing, fine art, and conceptual projects websites.

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