Welcome back to Graphic Content. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? 2020 has been an odd, challenging year threatening to kill us all and I haven’t written a comic review since September. How nuts is that?
John Constantine: Hellblazer #8
We conclude John Constantine’s tragic mermaid case with “Britannia, Rule the Waves, Part Two.” This issue stands out as a strong conclusion to a bitter, dirty little parable about the dangers of love with the wrong kind of person. Ultimately, nobody wins. John’s scheme to track down his interloper doesn’t reveal much, yet, and the mermaid suffers a traumatic fate. I will not spoil what happens, but the story borrows heavily from the almost supernatural exploits of the salmon.
Most of the issue is comprised of heavy narration by Constantine where he fills in the facts around the situation involving the fishmonger and the mermaid. Simon Spurrier has a strong command of Constantine’s voice, here tackling the relaying of information with John’s signature wit and dickishness, but not neglecting the sadness and frustrations he experiences as a situation he could have intervened in earlier. It’s a complicated and messy story, emphasized by Aaron Campbell’s gritty illustration style. The coloring also has a profound effect here, mostly using shades of greens and blues until the necessary splashes of red come into play. The color choices here playing well into the theme and setting of the story.
The whole package just works so well as a modern continuation of the Vertigo era and it is a shame the series never really found its audience. The comic ended with issue #12. I’ll enjoy the remaining four issues, however, as this run has been one of my favorite Hellblazer runs I’ve experienced.
(4.5 / 5)
John Constantine: Hellblazer #8, written by Simon Spurrier and illustrated by Aaron Campbell, is available from DC Comics.
Advertisement
Sink #5
With “White Dog” we return for more Sinkhill weirdness, only this time out inciting incident is a missing dog, one of several in a rash of dognappings in the community. It turns out, sadly, that Sinkhill’s ultra-violent streak doesn’t limit itself to the human residents only. This is definitely a triggering issue for dog lovers. I will put it at that. The art is particularly sharp in this issue and while not as “gory” as previous issues in terms of volume, there is something about animals being the target that is particularly affecting.
We also seem more of the larger community intersect. Florence, from issue #3 returns at a club in the area called Black Hole. Beyond that, in the final pages, we glimpse the leads from the previous four issues, including our fox-masked friend from issue #1. But more sinisterly we see the return of the blue van and the sinister clowns that have haunted the series thus far. Though these stories are connected by location, the framing here indicates something more. We’re on a collision course with something, and it is going to be messy.
(4 / 5)
Sink #5, written by John Lees and illustrated by Alex Cormack, is available on Comixology.
Killadelphia #8
James Sangster Jr. is something of an authority on the very real presence of vampires in Philadelphia, and he now finds himself at the forefront of starting new developments of the vampiric population. Led by Abigail Adams, the vampires are putting something in motion, taking advantage of terrorism to stir up fear in the city. The newest vampire on the current scene, Jupiter, makes a particularly big splash as well at a concert. The way vampires are becoming very public entities and making themselves known is very entertaining and gives the book a feeling of constant escalation.
Some very fascinating stuff comes into play in this issue. Particularly involving James Sr. and a journey to the afterlife. We learn a bit more about the metaphysical and mystical of the world, which is an interesting contrast to the reality by which the vampiric strain is presented in Jr.’s reality. Father and son cross paths as well, in a hilarious punchline. All told, Killadelphia continues to build a fascinating world and again I need to remark on the pace by which it is doing so.
Visually, the comic continues to be quality work. Jason Shawn Alexander’s linework matches the tone of the book well, but can still offer a number of surprises. Especially in one of the visions of the afterlife. We are presented with something, visually, that we’ve not really seen in Killadelphia yet… serenity.
The backup feature, “Elysium Gardens” continues. Vampires and werewolves… it makes one wonder if the vampires of Killadelphia aren’t the only creatures of the night around. Given the way the world is expanding, it might not be out of the question for a werewolf to arrive in Philly. Won’t that complicate things?
Advertisement
(4 / 5)
Killadelphia #8, written by Rodney Barnes and illustrated by Jason Shawn Alexander, is available from Image Comics.
I am hoping to move this column into a bi-monthly sort of thing, so now more than ever I ask for any reading suggestions you may have. What horror comics do you think I should read and review? Let us know in the comments or hit me up on Twitter.
After her 2017 debut novel, If We Were Villains, captivated readers and skyrocketed to Tik Tok fame readers have been holding their collective breath for anything from M. L. Rio. Seven years later we are presented with Graveyard Shift, another dark academic horror, though a novella this time around. The question is, was it worth the wait and why are readers split in their reactions to this story?
The Plot.
In the opening scene of Graveyard Shift readers encounter five people who often meet in a graveyard on smoke breaks from their various nocturnal jobs.
On the night in question, they discover a freshly dug hole near where they regularly gather. This sounds unremarkable until they realize that no one has been interred in this graveyard for over one hundred years. With the mystery revealed each character returns to their night, each eager to find the purpose of the hole.
Highlights.
Writing a novella that includes the viewpoints of five main characters is a considerable feat. Despite allowing only two chapters for each character in the entire story M. L. Rio successfully juggles these viewpoints without dropping any balls. From the driven editor-in-chief Edie Wu to the enigmatic Tuck. Each character possesses a distinct voice and plays a crucial role in unraveling the mystery. Whether it’s the insomniac ride-share driver Hannah or the bartender at Rocker Box. Each character stands apart, making this novella a compelling read.
Advertisement
Another highlight of this novella is that this is not just another horror novel claiming to be dark academia because it’s set in or near a university. This story is soaked in the academic and the dark side of medical research.
Drawbacks.
The length of this story really went against M. L. Rio, there was so much expectation and hype around its release that when the 100-odd-page story was delivered there were many sighs of disappointment.
And it is not just reader expectation that caused the length to work against her. It must be said that the complexity of the story and the depth that Rio goes to to set up each character would have benefited from being rounded out by another, let’s say 200 pages. The last chapters seem rushed and the ending is ambiguous to say the least, but not in a good way.
I read this on a Kindle and was confused by the story ending at 85%, then slightly angry that the remaining pages were filled by a playlist, an excerpt of If We Were Villains and cocktail recipes??? Although I usually enjoy this type of extra content in fiction, I think Rio’s time might have been better spent writing a few more chapters.
The Final Take.
I approached Graveyard Shift with high expectations, but was ultimately disappointed. While the novel’s form, with its focus on multiple perspectives, initially drew me in, the abrupt and unsatisfying conclusion left me wanting more. Presenting this story as a novella did not do justice to the characters of the story. The mystery of the empty grave was intriguing, and following each character through their nocturnal routines was enjoyable. However, the rushed ending undermined the overall experience.
You can’t beat a good old haunted house story. One of the classic tropes of the genre, it allows for some old-school spooks while providing some character development. Now dress it up in a new generation suit and you get something completely different. How does Haven measure up as an addition to the trope? Let’s find out!
Plot
We start the story with a family of four headed on a month-long holiday at a distant relative’s mansion. We have Jeff, the ever-so-average husband, Jenna, the thriller-reading health nut wife. The kids are JJ, the loner gamer son with a passion for swimming, and Jessie, the social media addict with severe insecurities.
I would say that personally, their dynamic was the most interesting and promising part of the novel. It’s clear from the get-go that Jeff and Jenna are trying against all odds to preserve the American Dream. Except right away there is resentment bubbling underneath. Jeff is a pretentious asshole who thinks Jenna’s taste in books is inferior (as a domestic thriller fan I take great offence). Jenna wishes for him to have more career ambition so she can afford the lifestyle she wants. Safe to say there is barely any intimacy between the couple.
Advertisement
When it comes to the kids, both JJ and Jessie feel like an extension of the worst traits of their parents. Jessie’s entire world is social media and her following. For JJ, he is arguably the character with the least development. His main traits are that he hates his family and can’t wait to move out. Oh, and the food.
This is something that I found more discomforting than the horror in the book. Both of the kids have severe food issues, with JJ overeating to the point of obesity while Jessie starves herself and has developed bulimia from the pressure to stay ‘perfect’. The horrifying thing is that neither of the parents notice these things about their kids or if they do, they choose to ignore it.
The haunting in this story is very family-focused. Missing things, Jenna’s harassment, Jeff’s seduction – all these things seem to be specifically catered to break whatever was left of this family unit. Not that it takes much to push them over the edge. This begs the question that whoever is haunting this place is methodical and feeds off their misery.
Gussie’s excerpts break up the pace but personally, I wasn’t as engaged with them as I was with the main story. That being said, I understand its necessity in order to develop the lore.
Advertisement
Writing style
I would say one of my biggest gripes with Haven is not the story itself but rather the way it’s told. The writing style seems like it was trying to adapt to the new times and be tongue-in-cheek. This has varying degrees of success, with some genuinely good nuggets of writing scattered. However, some of it falls flat, especially in the beginning, with the characters doubling down on the points we already knew through the narrative.
Overall thoughts
Haven is a good effort at a haunted house story where there are scarier things than ghosts. It does a good job exploring family dynamics and dealing with negative emotions. The setting is also a strong point of the novel, the house and the forest surrounding it being quite immersive.
As I mentioned, for me the main negative was a bit too try-hard type of writing, although it got better as the book went on. I found the end to be a bit too soft for my liking but it fits with the story. Overall I would still recommend.
A chilling blend of The Devil Wears Prada and classic ghost story. Tiny Threads by Lilliam Rivera is a gripping exploration of the fashion industry’s dark underbelly. Published in September 2024, this contemporary Latina horror novel delves into themes of gender, hierarchy, gentrification, and human trafficking. All while keeping readers on the edge of their seats with its supernatural elements.
The Plot.
When Samara, a young Cuban American woman, lands her dream job working as the Executive Director, Global Brand Voice for renowned fashion designer Antonio Mota, she cannot move away from Jersey and her close-knit, although sometimes suffocating, family fast enough. Arriving in Vernon, California, Samara hopes this could be a new start. She finds the people nice enough and her new apartment is to die for. She has even met a new love interest, a wealthy investor of Mota’s fashion line.
If only she were not woken at 2am every morning by the mice living in the walls of her apartment. She also wishes the local abattoir was not so close by. It gives off the stench of death that the locals refer to as ‘the Vernon perfume’.
However, beneath the surface, cracks begin to appear. A reoccurring name, a rude seamstress and a spontaneously appearing and disappearing model, it doesn’t take long before her fragile sense of normalcy begins to unravel .
Advertisement
As the pressure mounts to deliver a successful fashion show, Samara’s coping mechanisms spiral out of control. She turns to alcohol and pills, blurring the lines between reality and dream. With her sanity teetering on the edge, Samara faces a critical choice: succumb to the darkness or fight for a brighter future, even if it means confronting a trauma she thought she had left all but forgotten.
Highlights.
One of the highlights of Tiny Threads is the inclusion of Spanish dialogue. In many stories featuring multilingual characters, the non-English language is often translated directly into the text or presented in a different font. However, Rivera has chosen to maintain the original Spanish, which I found refreshing and immersive. Translating certain songs and names, such as the name ‘Piedad,’ which means ‘Pity,’ enriched my understanding of the story. In regards to this, I was very glad that I was reading on my Kindle with the translation tool open and ready.
Drawbacks.
Don’t begin this book expecting a constant barrage of ghosts and supernatural occurrences. Tiny Threads is a more of a slow-burn psychological horror novel, where the otherworldly elements are subtle and understated. The narrative takes an unexpected turn into a revenge story, which is both surprising and satisfying.
I think the main drawback is the repetition of Samara’s days. This might have been purposeful representing the drudgery she was experiencing in a world that is toted as being glamorous and vibrant, but it slows down the pacing and deadened the tension of the story. The repetition began to feel like Groundhog Day. The only thing that drove time forward was the buildup to the fashion show which is counted down in each chapter. The final quarter of the book, culminating in said dramatic fashion show, picks up the pace significantly.
The Final Take.
Tiny Threads is a supernatural horror where the ghosts, surprisingly, aren’t the most terrifying aspect. Rivera expertly captures the harsh realities faced by lower-level fashion industry employees and the lengths people go to for success in this often brutal field. Despite its difficulties with repetition and pacing, this is a must-read for those who appreciate a complex protagonist grappling with self-deception. Rivera’s Tiny Threads is a thought-provoking exploration of the fashion industry’s darker side.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.