Blokes Tomb Of Horror 2011 Annual – Review

Issue: Blokes Tomb Of Horror 2011 Annual
Writer: Jason ‘Bloke’ Crawley
Artists: Mike Hoffman, Jason Paulos, Lyndal Ferguson, Fernando Ignatius, Mirella Menciassi, Vincenzo Balzano, Ju Gomez, Tony Karnes, Lou Rusconi, Jason Miller, Jeiko Despotovich, Robert Smith, Michael Joseph, Tim Tyler, Alessandro Borroni & Silvano 
Publisher: Virus Comix
Release Date: 2010
Pages: 130
Price: $14.99

“11 Tales Of Terror written by Jason ‘Bloke’ Crawley to keep you entertained this Halloween and beyond! 130 pages of terrorific horror guaranteed to leave you craving more. Available with two cover options for you to choose from and a slew of artistic talent from all across the globe that will leave you drooling with delight!

Hot on the heels of the award-winning 2010 Annual this years collection of stories once again features a worldwide collaboration of artists including Mike Hoffman who has illustrated one of the stories and Mark Kidwell who drew the Cover B Werewolf option.”

Dying Breath: 4.0 out of 5
The 2010 ComicMonsters.com award winning anthology is back with 11 stories to turn your stomach inside out! I really do love the Bloke line of books and I think that these Annual collections are the top of the line when it comes to what they do. I have known Jason Crawley since I got into the horror comic game and watching his writing grow over time just puts a smile on my face. This collection is very well done, and I was not let down at all. Some of the best writing I thought were on the stories, Night Creatures and Sticks & Stones. The artwork holds up for the most part, but I did find a story or two to not be up to the same level as some of the others. Overall though you get names like Hoffman, Paulos, Percival and Ignatius. How can one go wrong looking at the work of these guys? I will say this, Despotovich was like finding the gold at the end of the rainbow. His style on the Sticks & Stones was so perfect, that it quickly became my favorite of the bunch. No matter how I break it down this 2011 Annual has it all. 11 great short horror stories and then a picture gallery at the end. For only $15 you seriously can not go wrong, matter of fact I think you’re stealing from Virus Comix by paying that price. Another great year, I can not wait for 2012!

Artwork: 4.0 out of 5 • Story: 4.5 out of 5

If you would like to buy or know more about Blokes Tomb Of Horror 2011 Annual you can find it at http://viruscomix.ning.com/

Flesh and Blood Book 1 – Review

Issue: Flesh and Blood Book 1
Writer: Robert Tinnell
Artist: Neil Vokes
Publisher: Monsterverse
Release Date: October 2011
Pages: 104
Price: $14.99

“From acclaimed writer and artist team Robert Tinnell and Neil Vokes (THE BLACK FOREST, THE WICKED WEST) comes a sensuous horror epic in the spirit of European horror cinema of the 1960s and ’70s. The death of Carmilla, the seductive vampire, sets in motion events that lead to a monumental struggle between the forces of darkness and a brave band of mortals. Its members include a reluctant young Abraham Van Helsing and a mysterious monster hunter struggling to keep his own inner monster at bay. When Baron Frankenstein is recruited to add his scientific genius to the group’s arsenal, Dracula and his undead kingdom face the possibility of total annihilation.”

Dying Breath: 4.0 out of 5
I really think that the only 2 main monsters not making an appearance in this book are The Mummy and The Creature from the Black Lagoon. This is a monster fun house that is waiting for your eyes and brain to come and join in on the fun. The artwork in this issue is GORE-Geous. I love the character designs. I love the fight scenes. I love the colors. I love it all. This book is so easy on the eyes that you have to remember to read the story as well. The story was a fast paced, in your face, hard-hitting thrill ride, and I think that is kind of what I found took away some of the build here. The story is so enjoyable from start to finish, don’t get me wrong, but I found that the pacing took away from some of the building and description of the cast that was needed. Over the course of the book I did get more of a feel for this large cast, but I think that taking a little more time in brief backgrounds when they first show up, or even a character glossary might have helped out a little but. Overall though this is a book and I can not recommend high enough. Any monster fan needs to have this book on their shelf, and every horror fan needs to check this one out. I can not wait to see what comes next because there is one hell of a great reveal at the end of this book. More please!

Artwork: 4.5 out of 5 • Story: 4.0 out of 5

If you would like to buy or know more about Flesh and Blood Book 1 you can find it at http://monsterverse.com/

The Vessel of Terror Ogn- Review

Issue: The Vessel of Terror
Writer: Magnus Aspli
Artist: Dave Acosta
Publisher: AAM/Markosia
Release Date: October 2011
Pages: 128
Price: $17.99

“Out in the Arctic Ocean, the research vessel Alesia manages to capture a mysterious Magnapinna squid, an animal never before captured by mankind. The researchers, led by Maria, decide to take the specimen back to port in Bergen, Norway.  However, what they bring home isn’t just a scientific wonder but also a thing more horrific than Pandora’s Box. Soon, madness creeps into the crew of the Alesia and friends become monsters.”

Dying Breath: 4.5 out of 5
ARRGH! Shiver me spine and turn on the lights, this is one creepy sea monster comic by the team of Aspli and Acosta! Okay, well wait can I technically say sea monster? Yeah I can say that but I need to add some Lovecraft style to it so let say Sea Cthulhu. The artwork in this book is just above and beyond on a few levels. I will point out some parts where angles seemed odd which is the reason I did go a little lower on the score, but people seriously, one artist… 2 different styles… and he delivered on a scare factor that is rarely done in comic books. The story telling at first seemed jumpy, until I really got what was going on. There are 2 stories being told here and they work so well in the way they break each other up. Now I am not a Lovecraft aficionado, I know the basic of the basics, but I do know that when I read a story with these themes, they typically have an ending that makes me happy and puzzled at the same time. This book was no exception. I was so satisfied with how it ended but, is there more to come? What happened to _____? Oh you tricky writers and your great storytelling. This book is worth every penny you pay for it. I feel horrible having it sit in the review pile for as long as I did, because now I have to sing its praises after it has been released. Plain and simple Lovecraft fans, Slasher Fans and Monster Fans this one is a must own.

Artwork: 4.5 out of 5 • Story: 4.5 out of 5

If you would like to buy or know more about The Vessel of Terror you can find it at http://www.markosia.com/

Shadow Hunters #1 – Review

Issue: Shadow Hunters #1
Writer: Jason Dube
Artist: Benjamin Jordan
Publisher: Scattered Comics
Release Date: October 2011
Pages: 36
Price: $5.50

“Shadow Hunters is the new supernatural comic book that revolves around the lives of 3 teenage girls. As they seek vengeance on the dark demon that wiped out hundreds of lives, they encounter both a vast array of darkness that dwell around them and a shadow army that combats it. This is a new series from Scattered Comics that is written by Jason Dube and drawn by Benjamin Jordan. It is a comic that is recommended for more mature reader with its heavy themes of death, mature subject matters, and violence.”

Dying Breath: 4.0 out of 5
Shadow Hunters is the latest and greatest horror comics to come from Scattered Comics. The story in this issue is fun and action-packed, from its jokes to its great pacing. There was not a single moment where I was not happy to be reading this book. There were a few moments where I did find the dialogue to be a little off, but it did not take away from the overall joy of reading this issue. The artwork is BOO-btastic! Haha, I just made myself laugh. No in all seriousness this issue does feature some top-heavy women, who look great in most panels. At times the angles seem to not be their friends, but it does not distract from the overall look of the issue. Great colors and a great use of effects add depth to the scenes that you don’t find in most comics. I also can’t forget to talk about the awesome design on the monsters. Overall I liked and I want some more of it right now. I think that Shadow Hunters #1 is a great first issue in what seems to be a fun action title.

Artwork: 4.0 out of 5 • Story: 4.0 out of 5

If you would like to buy or know more about Shadow Hunters #1 you can find it at http://www.scatteredcomics.com/

Nightmare World Vol. 3: Demon Days – Review

Issue: Nightmare World Volume 3: Demon Days – Review
Writer: Dirk Manning
Artists: Various Artists
Publisher: Image Comics – Shadowline
Release Date: October 2011
Pages: 128
Price: $16.99

“The Armageddon is over and The Devil has won. In this latest collection of stories culled from the hit Shadowline Web comic series, learn how the previous NIGHTMARE WORLD tales of Irish fairy-folk, vengeful zombie killers, alien ultra-heroes, Cthulhu and more combine with these 13 new tales of terror to reveal Lucifer’s sinister plan to control Creation, revealing the haunted underbelly of a monstrous world all too similar to our own in the chilling tradition of Tales from the Crypt and The Twilight Zone.”

Dying Breath: 4.5 out of 5

Dirk Manning has something hidden in his name that eludes to describing his writing on this book… the “MAN”! I love Nightmare World, I love how complete each short story is, and that sense of being horror-full after reading it. Vol. 3 follows up the first two with nothing but some damn good top-notch horror work. I have to admit that to me the highlight of the book is a story called “Hungry Like the Wolf.”  No words, simple images and yet such a solid piece. The artwork from story to story is on point, readers of previous volumes will notice who has come back. A great point that Dirk will make in interviews is explaining how he would pair up stories with the right artists, and it shows. Some of my favorites were “Paranoid”, “In the Meantime” and “Extraordinary Machine.” Like I already stated, Manning’s writing is fantastic. He has such a solid grasp on being able to present solid story after story in 8 pages or less. The over arching story plays out and is brought together nicely in this final collection. I don’t think I can make this review any easier on you reader, the Nightmare World series needs to be in your collection. This volume may be the last for now, but I know that there are 13 more stories to tell, so have no fear I will bother Dirk until they get printed!

Artwork: 4.5 out of 5 • Story: 4.5 out of 5

If you would like to buy or know more about Nightmare World Vol. 3 you can find it at http://www.shadowlineonline.com/

The Zombies that Ate the World: Book 1 – Review

Issue: The Zombies that Ate the World: Book 1 HC
Writer: Jerry Frissen
Artist: Guy Davis
Publisher: Humanoids
Release Date: November 2011
Pages: 120
Price: $24.95

“In Los Angeles in the year 2064, the dead have risen and corpses live again, cohabiting among us…well, somewhat. As a zombie apocalypse engulfs America, we follow a group of friends on a their journey to start a little business of their own…zombie catchers!”

Artwork: 4.5 out of 5
It is not as often as one would think that a comic book has what I consider to be the perfect pairing of artist and writer, however The Zombies that Ate the World is one of those books. I have been a big fan of Guy Davis from his early days on  Baker Street. So it is no surprise to me that I really love the look of this book. However the perfection in the pairing comes in when you get to see how well his style fits the storytelling. This is one specific case of being spot on from panel to panel where the artwork can tell just as many jokes as the dialogue. I absolutely loved looking at this book.

Story: 4.5 out of 5
This story is this odd mix of politics, humor and of course gore! Personally I don’t know how it works so well, because I don’t care for political type stories, but this book is seriously great. The humor in what is going on, and I will not spoil anything here (which is very hard to not do), can easily stand the test of time. Hell it should since the book takes place in 2064 right? Frissen has a great voice for this undead world, and this is not your typical zombie comic. The sad thing is that there is so much more that I would love to see get explored, but the book ended at page 120!

Dying Breath: 4.5 out of 5
How sad is it that I have a few issues of Metal Hurlant lying around and I totally forgot about this story being in them until I began to read it. I loved it back then, but this refresher totally has me on the hype train. I think most zombie comic fans would love this book, especially those of you who enjoyed Dead Eyes Open. To me it kind of played on that same idea, but then added in the funny and this book just raised its entertainment value because of that. I really want to thank Davis and Frissen for this one, it is a solid read. From the time I started reading this until the time I stopped I felt like a zombie, but I wasn’t craving brains, I was craving more The Zombies that Ate the World!

If you would like to buy or know more about The Zombies that Ate the World you can find it at http://www.humanoids.com/

The Zombies that Ate the World: Book 1 – Review

Issue: The Zombies that Ate the World: Book 1 HC
Writer: Jerry Frissen
Artist: Guy Davis
Publisher: Humanoids
Release Date: November 2011
Pages: 120
Price: $24.95

“In Los Angeles in the year 2064, the dead have risen and corpses  live again, cohabiting among us…well, somewhat. As a zombie apocalypse  engulfs America, we follow a group of friends on a their journey to  start a little business of their own…zombie catchers!”

Artwork: 4.5 out of 5
It is not as often as one would think that a comic book has what I  consider to be the perfect pairing of artist and writer, however The Zombies that Ate the World  is one of those books. I have been a big fan of Guy Davis from his  early days on  Baker Street. So it is no surprise to me that I really  love the look of this book. However the perfection in the pairing comes  in when you get to see how well his style fits the storytelling. This is  one specific case of being spot on from panel to panel where the  artwork can tell just as many jokes as the dialogue. I absolutely loved  looking at this book.

Story: 4.5 out of 5
This story is this odd mix of politics, humor and of course gore!  Personally I don’t know how it works so well, because I don’t care for  political type stories, but this book is seriously great. The humor in  what is going on, and I will not spoil anything here (which is very hard  to not do), can easily stand the test of time. Hell it should since the  book takes place in 2064 right? Frissen has a great voice for this  undead world, and this is not your typical zombie comic. The sad thing  is that there is so much more that I would love to see get explored, but  the book ended at page 120!

Dying Breath: 4.5 out of 5
How sad is it that I have a few issues of Metal Hurlant lying  around and I totally forgot about this story being in them until I began  to read it. I loved it back then, but this refresher totally has me on  the hype train. I think most zombie comic fans would love this book,  especially those of you who enjoyed Dead Eyes Open. To me it kind of  played on that same idea, but then added in the funny and this book just  raised its entertainment value because of that. I really want to thank  Davis and Frissen for this one, it is a solid read. From the time I  started reading this until the time I stopped I felt like a zombie, but I  wasn’t craving brains, I was craving more The Zombies that Ate the World!

If you would like to buy or know more about The Zombies that Ate the World you can find it at http://www.humanoids.com/