Frog Wife
 
By Ryan Heshka
 
This comic book is a fresh reminder that simplicity is very effective.  This throwback styled comic uses less dialogue, more direct but minimal storytelling and few colors to bring to life this woeful tale of the age-old triangle.  This story involves a beautiful woman, her love for her man and her struggle against the other woman.  Plus, ya know, there’s radioactive stuff, foul language, sarcasm, sex and humor.  
 
So, I ask you…what’s not to love????
 
The first thing I noticed about this comic was the throwback style and I was immediately taken by its cover art.  Then, I noticed that this whole thing was done by one guy…mad respect.  But, the simplicity…genius!!!  Not only does Heshka use the most basic color palette, he also writes the story seemingly using as few lines as possible.  These two things coupled together are the core of the throwback feel.  
 
Here we have a beautiful woman, changed forever (along with everything else) by radioactive material into a frog-woman.  And she tries with all she has to make her husband happy at home but, soon his eyes wander to the neighbor lady next door.  Oh, that ugly situation of a scorned woman that every man dreads!  Only now it’s a scorned radioactively altered frog wife.  Is that something, well, someone you’d want to have pissed at you?  I think not.  
 
So, what’s a frog wife to do?  With her broken heart and philandering husband…
 
Read it and find out.

Purchase at:  https://ryanheshkastore.bigcartel.com/product/frog-wife-comic-book
​ 
This comic has a quick pace. It’s well written with perfectly placed puns that are absolutely hysterical.  Fantastic artwork and adult humor round out the whole issue.  It definitely left me wanting more to read, it was that enjoyable.  I highly recommend this one, especially for classic comic fans.
 
RATINGS
Overall 5/5
Artwork 5/5
Story 5/5

Story by Joshua Williamson
Art by Mike Henderson
Colors by Adam Guzowski
Letters & Book Design by John J. Hill
Edited by Rob Levin
 
Okay, so, yes this series has been out for quite a while and yes, I didn’t know about it until my wonderful guys at my comic book store said, “Hey, this has serial killers, blood and death, do you-?” and I interrupted them and said, “YES!”.  And so, here we are…
 
So far, this story centers around a few things…

1. A town named Buckaroo in Oregon where an unprecedented number of serial killers have been born
2. A guy named Eliot Carroll, an FBI profiler who is investigating Buckaroo trying to figure out why so many serial killers come from this town (it’s not just something in the water okay people?)
3. Another guy named Nicholas Finch, an NSA Intelligence officer that’s on suspended leave pending investigation because he went off the rails while interrogating a suspect during a case
4. One of the many serial killers from Buckaroo, a group aptly named “The Buckaroo Butchers”, they call him The Nailbiter.  Buckaroo Butcher #16.  His name is Edward Charles Warren.  His big thing was to kidnap men and women who bit their nails, hold them captive until their nails grew back and then bite them off himself, along with their fingers down to the bone, before killing them.  Approximately 46 victims in California.  
5. Sherriff Crane, she dated Warren The Nailbiter in high school.  The town won’t seem to let her forget that.  She’s been working with Carroll on the serial killer mystery aspect of the town.
6. Teen rebel Alice, always talking smack, can take care of herself for the most part but, definitely going to end up in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 
Now, Carroll is obsessed with figuring out why all these serial killers keep being born and raised in this particular town.  No one can explain it.  They are born, they grow up, they leave and move to other states and then become one in a long line of new age Ted Bundys.  He wants to figure out why.  And he thinks he has.  So, he calls his old pal Finch.
 
Finch is suspended, so Carroll figures he’s got nothing but time, and tells him to get to Buckaroo on the double.  But, when Finch gets there, Carroll is missing.  He can’t find Eliot anywhere.  So, now he starts trying to quietly look around but, that plan is quickly squashed when he runs into Alice.
 
Alice seems to have gotten into a spot of trouble with two meatheads from the local football team and Finch steps in to help, not that she even needed it.  By this time, Sherriff Crane shows up to find Alice bitching about Finch taking away her thunder, two football players groaning and bloody and Finch, well, saying it’s a misunderstanding and that the girl was in trouble.
 
After the smoke clears, Crane and Finch quickly figure out they are looking for the same person, Eliot Carroll.  And they decide there’s only one person to go talk to since Finch is under the impression Carroll figured out the secret to the serial killer town.  So, they go see Warren.  And when Warren answers the door, the first thing they see is a smile on his face and blood all over his clothes.
 
THE END
 
So far, I’m loving this series.  There’s action and suspense and blood almost everywhere.  Warren is a creepy character and every single time his image appears on the page he gives me the willies, so major props to the artists because yeah, he definitely looks like a sicko.  
 
The whole idea of a bunch of serial killers being from one town is super cool.  I am convinced it’s NOT the water and I’m am very curious to see what happens. I have this series in volumes of trade papers, not in individual issues so I might tie a few issues together here and there, I’m not sure yet.  There are A LOT of volumes, people.  So, this might take a while to cover the whole story.  
 
But, so far, Warren is the star.  He’s definitely what you are waiting for on every page turn.  So, while we are waiting to find Carroll, who seems like quite a nut by the way, waiting to see if Finch is going to unleash some kind of homicidal rage on someone or something because the look on his face is always like “I’m gonna rip your head off!” or like “FINISH HIM!” from MortalKombat, we get the entertaining antics of an annoying but mouthy teen with anger issues and a serial killer with a sense of humor and a bit of a bite. (See what I did there?)  We’ll see what happens in issue two.  Well, I already know what happens.  But I’ll be letting YOU know soon enough.
 
RATINGS
Overall 5/5
Artwork 5/5
Story 5/5

Story by Joe Brusha, Ralph Tedesco, Dave Franchini, Brian Studler
Written by Brian Studler
Artwork by Babisu Kourtis
Colors by Fran Gamboa w/ J.C. Ruiz
Letters by Fabio Amelia
 
This is a story based on Ancient Navajo lore.  They have a legend about something called “Skinwalkers”.  A skinwalker is an evil witch of sorts.  It’s a creature that can shapeshift and take the form of any animal or person it chooses.
 
This story takes us to the arid state of New Mexico.  There have been four murders, the police are calling them incidents, in the span of as many weeks.  The first victim has obviously been recovered but they have been unable to identify that person.  The second victim was a backpacker, mangled and eviscerated beyond comprehension.  The third unlucky person to cross this maniacs path was a local businessman named Thomas Cothran.  He was found mutilated in his own backyard.  Law enforcement is thinking they have a serial killer in their midst as all as of the victims were mutilated, decapitated or dismembered.  So they call in help from the big guys, The FBI (the fibbies).  
 
The local detective assigned to the case is a Navajo man named Roy Jenson.  Claire Morse has been loaned out to local police by the FBI to try to track down this horrible killer.  Now. Roy is a big believer in the whole Skinwalkers idea but, his boss thinks it’s nothing to pursue and orders him not to babble on about it to the FBI agent.
 
But, when the two get in the car and they start talking about the case, Roy finds out that Claire is half-Navajo and that she very much DOES believe in the Skinwalker theory. Together, they track back and forth through town and across the desert, looking for clues and information on their murderous suspect.
 
Will Jenson and Morse find their killer before they can strike again?  The only way you’re going to find out is to read it for yourself, because I am not telling you this time.
 
THE END
 
This is kind of a werewolf story.  The Skinwalkers are like shapeshifting werewolves except that they can shift into any person they want, not just the host body they are assigned to, which I think is kind of cool, except that their target has to die in order to be impersonated. That could totally ruin your day.
 
The artwork and color usage in this issue is fantastic.  The two artists (well three actually) really come together to bring the story to life. With these three particularly talented people we get a wonderfully bloody and gore filled issue that just leaves me that sweet little warm and fuzzy feeling most people get from looking at pictures of baby ducks.  I also feel like there is a spectacular use of shading and highlighting in this particular issue.  Especially in the faces of the characters.  It really brings out their unique expressions and emotions, adding yet another layer of the same kind of gut wrenching panache that the writer uses to make your skin crawl.
 
I found this to be an interesting and entertaining take on the idea of a lycanthrope.  It is definitely a more dangerous one compared to the regular old legend of the werewolf.  This is a tale that can make you think for a minute.  This isn’t that Twilight nonsense.  Give it a try.  It might be nice to get a new perspective on the subject.
 
RATINGS
Overall 4/5
Artwork 4/5
Story 4/5

Written by Aleš Kot
Drawn by Danijel Žeželj
Colored by Jordie Bellaire
Lettered by Aditya Bridikar
Design by Tom Muller
 
This is a killer and interesting comic.  Originally released in January of 2018, it is a hugely politically charged comic series. Civil and political unrest has divided the country many times over.  Social injustice reigns supreme and war is among the citizens everywhere.  The ignorance of one race being better than any other has risen to power and in a sad and unfortunate turn of darkness, it is White Supremacy at the helm.  A war has ensued between the population and the White Supremacist Regime as the people of the land try to reclaim their country, their way of life, their rights and their very souls for survival.
 
In this story, America is in a serious police state.  It’s definitely filled with hate and propaganda, decisive divides that are corroding all kinds of relationships and values.  I mean, the country is just in shambles.  The government, or what’s left of it, is operating with impunity. People must be very careful as to what they do and say. 
 
Danger is all around. There are many underground groups. There are loyalists and radicals, anarchists and detractors.  Everybody seems to have been wronged and they all have their own agenda.  It’s only a matter of time before things start REALLY heating up.  The war is just beginning.  It’s only going to get worse before it gets better.  That’s the only option now that it’s begun.  And for a lot of people, this is personal.
 
THE END
 
I think this is going to be a fantastic series.  I really wish I would have found it when it first came out so I didn’t have to play catch up.  This one would have been fun to look forward to each month.
 
But, it does seem to be very politically charged, like I stated in the beginning.  That doesn’t bother me but if there are some super sensitive people out there that are so emotionally attached to their political views that it skews their ability to be entertained then, this comic is not for you. 
 
In addition to great overall content, you’ve got a best-selling author and an award-winning colorist working with a stellar team to create some of the wall depictions and descriptions of what very well could be the near future (if certain people don’t get certain parts of anatomy out of other certain parts of anatomy, that’s all I’ll say, no politics). 
 
Definitely worth the read and there’s even a second round to the series so it doesn’t end with just the twelve issues.  You might want to give it a look.
 
RATINGS
Overall 4/5
Artwork 4/5
Story 5/5

Written by W. Maxwell Prince
Artwork by Martín Morazzo
Colors by Chris O’Halloran
Letters by Good Old Neon
Cover A by Morazzo & O’Halloran      
​Cover B by ​Juan Ferreyra
 
As my faithful readers well know, I have been becoming more and more displeased with this series with every issue that comes out.  In a recent review, I posed the theory that the writer might be going through some personal issues.  I am now revising that theory on the basis that this issue has provided me more insight. I now have a suspicion this guy has got to be either on some heavy-duty serious pharmaceutical grade LSD type stuff OR he’s going way out of his way to tiptoe around making some sort of political statement and doesn’t want to be razzed for coming right out and saying it, so it does it in an abstract and roundabout way, so he can cover his ass.
 
So, this issue is a part two to the last issue.  To me that means that if you want part one to be completed or make sense you need to read part two.  However, part one was all in English.  Also, it was definitely NOT a stand-alone comic story.  THIS issue, the first seven pages are in Spanish.  I have nothing against Spanish or Spanish speaking people.  I love foreign languages, I love accents, I’m fascinated by other cultures and traditions.  (I’ve always wanted to be multi-lingual.  I took French in high school.  Little did I know Spanish would have been so much more beneficial, especially in a career.)  But, I don’t read or speak Spanish so I felt like I was watching a foreign film with no subtitles.  
 
I bring that up as a complaint ONLY because if you are going to tie two issues together and make it apparent that they are story dependent on each other, you might want to make them both in the same language.  Honestly, I could have just as easily purchased a copy in German and been just as successful.  (However, had it been in French, I may have had better luck.)
 
The story…hmmm…did it tie into issue nine?  Loosely, I guess.  These stories are getting stranger and stranger.  This issue would have been okay as a stand-alone.  But, like I said, I think this writer is really starting to turn away from the horror aspect and fall into, well, I don’t know what.
 
This story was about a white guy and a Hispanic girl that fall in love.  Now this guy is arguing with another man who I believe to be his brother.  Apparently she is already promised to a General or something like that.  The brother is telling the guy in love that it’s not going to work out the way he wants it to or thinks it will.   Anyways, the two lovebirds make plans to run away to the United States together but, her Aunt rats them out to the General.  A fight ensues between the two men for the hand and fate of the girl. Unfortunately, her true love dies in the battle for her freedom.  And in all her love stricken grief, she turns to her lover’s brother for comfort, showing up unannounced at his home, saying she had nowhere else to go.

Nice girl, huh?  I always thought brothers of boyfriends and former boyfriends were off-limits.  Isn’t that like an unspoken rule or something?  Or am I being old fashioned here?
 
Still, I have NO IDEA what this has to do with the nonsense from issue nine and I don’t care enough to go back and try to figure it out.  These guys better get back to the Ice Cream Man tricking and killing people or they will have lost a reader for good.
 
RATINGS
Overall 2.5/5
Artwork 3/5
Story 2/5

Writer/Letterer: Joel Rodriguez
Artist/Cover Artist: Roman Gubsky
 
This was a fun a different kind of comic to read for a change.  It still had the horror aspect with a little gore.  Yet, it was more nostalgic of childhood fears and thoughts, bringing those same mental processes to life right before your very eyes, bold and in color, leading you down the path NOT chosen.
 
We all had that moment of thinking our parents would be served right if something bad happened to us…or them.  It was a flash in the pan thought but, you’re lying to yourself if you say you didn’t think it sometime between the ages of oh, say, 5-10 years old.  It’s the same thing as in “A Christmas Story” when Ralphie thinks he’d be the winner against his folks if he went blind because of LifeBuoy soap poisoning.  
 
In addition to wanting that revenge for being displeased and angered by our parents, almost all of us feared SOMETHING at one time or another in our childhood…basements, the dark, bugs, snakes, the deep end of the pool, monsters in the closet or under the bed, the dangers that lurk in the woods.
 
The genius makers of this comic book have put together something really for all ages, in my opinion but, then again, I’m totally confused on censorship nowadays. Besides, cartoons have always had violence in them, not to mention slapstick comedy and then you have the news, which we beg kids to watch for what used to be called Social Studies in school.  (I’m not saying let children watch The Exorcist or Saw, I mean, have some common sense.  But, don’t tell me that comic books are not okay and regular TV programming is, have you SEEN the crap on television these days???)  Anyways, I’m getting sidetracked…back to the geniuses!!!
 
These guys have taken the most common thoughts of the most common children and formed them into a comic book series that anyone can relate to and enjoy.  (Unless you’re just a complete moron or outcast from another planet in another galaxy far, far away perhaps.)  The writing is short and sweet, concise and clear.  The addition of levity brings the humorous relaxation of comic relief as we read and remember our own childhoods, smiling in the assurance that no such things happened to US as children.   The artwork completely fits the theme of the comic and I salute the guys for that.  Even though most of the short stories take place at night, the colors are still well used, giving the book a good look and feel, not dull and lifeless.  Plus, it read extremely fast and caught a smile on almost every page.
 
While right now this is only in digital format, the guys have a KickStarter campaign going to help raise funds for the first print run of the comic book.  I have included all of their website and social media information below.  Please feel free to visit them and contribute.
 
Kickstarter campaign - duskcountychronicles.com
Facebook - Metal Ninja Studios - facebook.com/metalninjastudios
Facebook - The Dusk County Chronicles - facebook.com/DuskCounty
Instagram - instagram.com/metalninjastudios
Twitter - twitter.com/MNinjaStudios
 
 
RATINGS
Overall 5/5
Artwork 5/5
Story 5/5

Story: Joe Brusha, Ralph Tedesco, Dave Franchini
Writer: Howard Mackie
Artwork: Renzo Rodriguez
Colors: Fran Gamboa w/ J.C. Ruiz
Letters: Fabio Amelia
 
In keeping with their theme of twisted tales and urban legends, the people at Zenescope and the makers of Grimm Tales of Terror take the four hundred plus year mystery of The Lost Colony of Roanoke and turn it into a fantastic tale of the environment versus an evil corporation wreaking havoc on the environment.
 
We have a big, bad energy company tearing down trees and poisoning the earth through the fruits of his business.  The President and CEO couldn’t care less and his wife, who is also a real piece of work (drunk or sober) thinks that taking out the trash is pitching it in the river behind their mansion-like house.  Couple of real winners in society huh?  They both are killing the earth and environment and neither care.  In fact, the hubby is outraged that the forest isn’t being chopped down as fast as he wants it to be and starts raising holy hell in hopes that people will get their butts in gear and get the work done.
 
And yet, while walking to their car one night they are approached by a man, an activist, a person that touts a careful warning that they should stop what they are doing. But, like most rich egotists, they don’t listen.
 
So, what happens to the rich and stupid when they poison the earth and seek to destroy?  We could wait for the end of this presidential term to find out OR you could just read this issue and find out for yourself.  It IS much faster and will probably be more satisfying, from what I can tell.
 
RATINGS
Overall 5/5
Artwork 5/5
Story 5/5

Written and Created by WRGII and R. Lopez
Illustrated by Neal Anderson
Cover Art by Mark Bloodworth
 
Okay, so I’m gonna keep this short as not to give anything away.  I do want to tell you that this is a series that is steadily building.  With each new issue the plot thickens and the story becomes more emotionally charged than it already was.  We’re at issue three of four and it seems that the final issue is going to be a doozy.  
 
This issue was packed with blood and violence.  This, of course, comes on the heels of almost non-stop action at the flip of every page. I love the brooding main character, seemingly pushing himself through the world, anger and vengeance guiding his way. A vigilante of sorts, making his way to those he finds unredeemable, unworthy and unloving.  He’s determined to dispense his own version of justice, no matter what the cost, even to himself.
 
The idea of a sole vigilante dispensing his own justice is a favorite of mine.  It reminds me of The Punisher.  A lone man doing wrong in the hopes of doing right in the bigger picture. What I find so intriguing is how Nightcall is centered around so much violence and vengeance and it spirals out from there.  It makes the story incredibly heavy and dark and truly carries the whole weight of the series.
 
The artwork is still awesome as well.  It remains simple yet, pure and effective.  The hard lines and black and white color scheme give an interesting psychological feel to the essence of the tale as our character sees what he is doing in a kind of black/white, right/wrong way.  As if there is no gray area, only right and wrong, only black and white. The bulk of what color we do get is the in your face impact of red that is sometimes splashed in a scene here or there. But the true genius I am finding out, and I don’t know if it was intentional or not, is the parallel between the character’s thinking and logic and the style of the artwork.
 
I don’t have the final issue yet but, it’s coming.  These guys aren’t going to leave us hanging.  You can visit them at crudecomicsinc.comto get this series and others.
 
RATINGS
Overall 5/5
Artwork 5/5
Story 5/5

Part One: Western Story
 
Written by W. Maxwell Prince
Art by Martín Morazzo
Colors by Chris O’Halloran
Lettering by Good Old Neon
Cover A by Morazzo and O’Halloran
Cover B by Kyle Smart
 
Guys, I’m not going to spend a lot of time on this review and I’ll tell you why from the very beginning. There really wasn’t anything in this issue to write about.  I’m not sure what is going on with this author but, he’s almost pulled a bait and switch on his readers here.  The first few issues were full of horror and violence, full of gore and evil.  Now, it seems like we’ve gotten stuck in his world of a depressive search for more meaning in life.  No offense people, but if he wants to go on a philosophical journey to find a deeper meaning to his existence on this planet, he surely doesn’t have to drag the rest of us through the dirt along with him.  Now, not only are we not getting any horror, this series has turned into a family drama series with a father and two feuding brothers at the helm.
 
While the artwork and coloring still remains fairly stellar, the writing is becoming more dull and listless with every turn of a page.  I’m truly starting to wonder if I am just throwing my money away by continuing to purchase this series.  Luckily, I can still find SOME value in the artwork so at this point it’s not a total loss. Yet, with every issue I acquire I feel more and more discouraged and let down.  I mean, when did a depressing family dynamic with no violence or blood become the qualifier for a horror comic?
 
Before you go waste YOUR money on anything in this series, take my word for it and DON’T.  I’ve already wasted mine.  Plus, it’s ten minutes spent reading something I wish I hadn’t read and that I’ll never get back.  Too many more issues like this and I’ll be axing this series from my collection completely.
 
RATINGS
Overall 3/5
Artwork 4/5
Story 2/5

Credits:
 
Written and Created by R. Lopez and WRGII
 
Cover and Illustration by Neal Anderson
 
Edited by P. Stacy
 
I knew this story was going to get crazy and this issue was definitely a wild one.  An issue that surely is not for the faint of heart or those who are easily offended.  But then, you should know by now (and honestly by the name Crude Comics, Inc.), none of these comics are for those with soft stomachs.  
 
There was a lot of action in this issue…of ALL kinds.  Which is always good.  It keeps the pages turning and eye moving.  The story reads quickly still and is still very well written.  I’m anxious to see what the last two issues bring. 
 
There was also a lot of violence and blood and gore in this issue.  A great splatter scene that really got my attention takes up an entire two-page spread.  The artwork is fantastic too.  It’s all black and white.  It’s detailed enough to get the point across but not tedious.  
 
I’m really becoming a big fan of these guys over at Crude Comics.  They really do have a knack for the more lewd and lascivious side of comedy. The crude toilet almost high school humor is a comic relief element to the blood and gore splats and splashes.  They translate it very well into the comic book world.  I always get a good laugh reading their work.  And they have just the right amount of suspense and horror in there. It’s great.
 
AND they are right on the trail of Yeti!  It’s only a matter of time before they come face to face with this blood thirsty monster of a creature.  (I swear, if I get to issue four and this Yeti turns out to be all rainbows and smiles and tries to lick them to death like an over loving happy-to-see-you puppy, I’m going to have a conniption fit.  I mean, I love irony and twists and turns but, that might just start the war to end all wars right there.)
 
We’re only half way through the mini-series so, you still have time to get caught up.
 
RATINGS
Overall 5/5
Artwork 5/5
Story 5/5