Credits:
Creator/Writer/Letterer: Benito Andino III
Artist/Colorist: Roman Gubsky
 
I read a fantastic comic book the other day.  It was even in digital format and I STILL loved it!  Usually, I have a hard time reading digital.  I’m just an old fashioned person, I like to have the book in hands, turn pages, etc.
 
However, this was truly a very unique and intriguing comic.  First and foremost, is the clown, Tortura.  The artistic rendering of this character is only enhanced and bolstered by the writing of his personality.  The whole comic is just creepy but, Tortura is, by far, the creepiest thing in the comic.
 
It’s so hard to find an introductory issue of a comic book that really makes you want to read the series. This one happens to be very enticing. We meet a variety of characters, all with their own distinctive traits.  And troubles.  These characters are really what got my attention.  The creator of this comic has really dug deep to come up with something incredibly different for readers.  Andino pulls zero punches in the creation of this comic.
 
We start at a comedy club with a gal who is nervous as hell to go out on stage and do her set. Throughout her performance we meet our various characters and how they are woven together in this story.  
 
While I like the artwork and it’s definitely very stylized to the artist himself, it’s the story that has peaked my interest so much.  In my opinion, it’s very creative.  The story is complex with a number of characters making appearances in the first issue but, that made for a very exciting read.  There was some kind of action on practically every page.
 
I highly recommend this comic book.  Especially for horror fans or someone looking for something new and different. Definitely worth the read!!!

Get yours and more at the online store below!!!

http://rareformatcomics.storenvy.com/

​RATINGS
Overall 5/5
Artwork 5/5
Story 5/5

Credits
 
Created, Written and Drawn by Rob Guillory
Colors by Taylor Wells
Lettering and Logo by Kody Chamberlain

This issue focuses mainly of the daughter of local body part farmer Jed.  We start with her in a military hospital with a number of injuries including an amputated leg.  Her CO comes to her in the hospital with orders to return from Germany to stateside. She initially thinks it’s because she so badly wounded but, then he tells her that they have a mission for her in her hometown.  It turns out that mission is to spy on her father and his body part farm and technology and then report back to the government agent in charge of the matter.
 
You can tell she is really uncomfortable and rather pissy about the whole thing.  It sounds like she never had any real plans to return home to start with.  So, needless to say, she’s not thrilled about this.  It really comes across in her meeting with the agent in a bar.
 
Then, while getting another drink, some sleazebag sitting at the bar starts talking to her as if they are friends.  He asks her if Jed is her father and then starts razzing her about how her Dad swindled his Dad and blah blah blah.  She tells him to back off, finishes her drink and walks out of the bar.
 
Meanwhile, Zeke, her brother, is reminiscing about the day his father gave him his rifle and then goes outside to shoot wolves and coyotes prowling the farm.
 
When Andy exits the bar, a group of men follow her and start heckling her outside in the parking lot. One man, the bitter boy at the bar, starts screaming at her these insults about her father and her family. Eventually, Andy can’t control herself anymore and she swings on this douchebag…and hard.  Then the other fools join and she whoops each one’s ass, one by one. They had no clue she trained military. Jackasses.
 
After the fight at the bar, Andy goes to Monica Thorne’s house, the woman running for Mayor against the current Mayor, Randall Lafayette.  It’s a rather encounter.  Monica says that she’s been expecting Andy’s visit and they have much to talk about.
 
THE END
 
While this issue didn’t have near the excitement of #3 it was still a good informative issue.  It also introduced a lot of things foreshadowing some things to come in future issues.
 
Normally, I have a hard time following a story when they cut back and forth between things happening concurrently or when there’s a lot of flashbacks.  But this time, it was done so well it was easy to read and added a little suspense to the whole reading experience.
 
The artwork is still great, very unique and stylized to the artist.  It’s almost cartoony in a way.  But, somehow, it just fits the premise of the series perfectly.  I can’t imagine it being down by any other artist.
 
Also, I give mad props when the creator of the comic is also the writer and artist.  I admire that they are part of more than one aspect of creating such a great series.
 
So, go grab your issue of #4.  My description here is not as detailed as it could be so, you still have things to learn in this issue.  Hope you all enjoy it!
 
RATINGS
Overall 4/5
Story 4/5
Artwork 4/5

Credits
 
Costume Party
Written by Dave Franchini
Artwork by Deivis Goetten
Colors by Jorge Cortes
 
Jack-O’-Lantern
Written by Terry Kavanagh
Artwork by Julius Abrera
Colors by Fran Gamboa with J.C. Ruiz
 
Scarecrow
Written by Erica Heflin 
Artwork by Marcelo Basile
 
Poison Candy
Written by Ben Meares
Artwork by Eman Casallos
Colors by Ceci de la Cruz
 
Letters by Fabio Amelia

This was a great Halloween issue.  Three smaller tales inside the main tale.  That makes for a very interesting read.  The stories are all Halloween based and are entertaining to read.
 
It starts with a group of people in costume arriving at a house for a costume party.  While their host (Red) is leading them to the party room, she decides to give them a little history lesson and a tour of the building. She talks about the lore behind Halloween and how some of the traditions came about.
 
The first story is about the origin of the Jack-O-Lantern and its power to ward off evil.  Then, in Scarecrow, we learn of the horrific past of one single woman and the vengeance a Scarecrow can unleash.  In the final story, which is my favorite in this issue, the age old fear of getting poisoned candy on Halloween is brought to life…with a twist.  (Honestly the last tale would have made an excellent Twilight Zone episode.
 
Each tale has its own pizzazz, its own punch and style.  Each is written well and the art is fantastic, as usual.  I like that we had three stories inside the main story because it makes the issue easier to read, it reads a lot faster and you feel like you got more out of the single issue.  It’s almost like a three for one kind of deal.  I also think they did a really good job embodying the whole spirit of Halloween and spookiness and trying to scare people.  It turned out really well.
 
As always, I recommend the Grimm Tales of Terror comics to any horror comic fan.  There’s nothing super gory in this issue so I think even non-horror fans might like it due to the folklore story telling aspect.  But mostly, all you fellow horror comic fans would be the ones to like it.
 
RATINGS
Overall 5/5
Story 5/5
Artwork 5/5

Credits
 
Written by W. Maxwell Prince
Art by Martìn Morazzo
Colors by Chris O’Halloran 
Lettering by Good Old Neon
Cover A by Morazzo and O’Halloran
Cover B by Fábio Moon
Design by Ashley Walker

In this issue we meet Lucy, a nine-year-old girl who recently lost her best friend to cancer.  It’s been a hard time for Lucy.  Her parents have watched her cultivate a relationship with an imaginary friend…of sorts.  Lucy’s imaginary gal pal is Kayla, her recently deceased BFF.  Lucy is the only one who can see or hear her.
 
The fact that this is not just an average imaginary friend situation, since it involves a dead girl, worries Lucy’s father a great deal.  He thinks she may be having a schizophrenic break or something.  He reaches his limit when Lucy sets a place for Kayla at dinner and involves Kayla in the dinner conversation.  He yells at Lucy and storms out of the room.
 
That night while she is sleeping, Lucy is woken up by Kayla to go on an adventure into the woods. Although reluctant at first, Lucy believes this is her best friend so, she trusts her, ya know?  So, Lucy sneaks out of the house and off into the woods she goes, alone but not alone.  While traipsing through the woods Lucy comes upon a trail made of ice cream sprinkles. She decides to follow the rainbow sprinkle road.
 
Meantime, her parents wake in the morning to find her gone.  They are in pieces with panic and are worried sick.  Terrified something bad has happened to Lucy they decide to call the police.  They are informed that the police can’t get involved until the child has been missing for seventy-two hours.  That sends them into an anger filled frenzy.
 
This is just about the time Lucy finds the end of the sprinkle trail.  It’s led her to a cabin.  After some taunting from Kayla (who isn’t really there…), Lucy goes inside the cabin.  There she finds the Ice Cream Man, torturing and mutilating a live person.  He soon notices Lucy is there and turns his attention to her.  He ties her up in anticipation of her being his next victim.
 
Back at the house, her parents are fearful and trying to comfort each other.  Her father is crying from his guilt over his last exchange with is little girl being him yelling at her.  He is now realizing that it just wasn’t a big enough deal for him to freak out on her like he did.
 
Meanwhile, at the cabin, Lucy is getting a glimpse of the evil inside the Ice Cream Man.  As he continues to play with the man he has skinned alive, a voice comes from the doorway.  It’s a tall man in a dark suit.  His name is Caleb.  He calls the Ice Cream Man “Riccardus”.  He also wastes no time cutting Lucy free and she takes off out the door.  Caleb has a small chat with Riccardus and then leaves.
 
When Lucy returns home she finds her parents overcome with joy and relief.  Later that night, at dinner, Lucy’s father sets a plate for Kayla with a smile.  Lucy and her parents go to Kayla’s grave and leave a rose for the deceased child, letting Lucy conclude her grieving process and start to move on with her life.
 
THE END 
 
This issue made me sad. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve lost both my parents recently or if it’s because it involves a grieving child or a child losing the battle to cancer.  It just seemed like such a sad issue.  
 
The only good part was when the Ice Cream Man comes in and he is super creepy in this issue.  And the appearance of this Caleb character, that must be leading into something.  He just makes a quick appearance and then he’s gone.  But I have a feeling we will see him again.
 
The artwork remains good in this series but I’m wondering if the writer is getting off track.  The stories are getting more emotional based and less horror based…in my opinion.  I’m not seeing the same kind of terror be thrashed across the pages as I did in the first few issues.  It’s going to be a choice to make at the end of the series whether or not I want to continue to get it.  
 
Although it’s not a bad issue in any way, I just can’t say that I would recommend this one to anyone, it’s just sad.  It left me feeling all bummy.  I don’t like that.  So, I’m guessing a lot of others don’t dig that too much either.  But, if it strikes you, go for it, get the issue.
 
RATINGS
Overall 3/5
Story 2/5
Artwork 4/5

Credits:
 
Created, Written, Drawn by Robert Guilllory
Colors by Taylor Wells
Lettering and Logo by Kody Chamberlain
 
If you guys haven’t jumped on this series, YOU SHOULD.  It just keeps getting better and better.  In issue three, we spend most of our time with the children of the family.  Poor Riley, the son and youngest, is getting picked on at school.  Kids are calling him weird.  (Aren’t all kids in elementary and middle school weird?)  Anyways, after school they are supposed to “intern” at their grandfather’s body part farm.  Grandpa’s goal is to train the family to take over the business.  The jobs they are assigned sound ridiculous.  They prune the fingerlings (the finger plants), they shave the scalp bushes (a plant that grows new heads of hair) and the do dental work on a Venus teethtrap (which looks like a plant with the chatter teeth in it).  It is truly a strange and funny sight.
 
We also see Zeke having a conversation over coffee with a former friend of his Dad’s.  This is where we really start to see things take a slightly darker turn.  Now we start getting into the thick of the idea behind the farm and the upheaval it’s caused.  It seems Jenkins Sr. has ruffled some feathers in his pursuit for health and glory.
 
Then we get another taste of the outrageously strange.  Some lady sneaks a dog into the farm, which is completely against policy, and the dog eats some of the “Jedidiah Seed” plants and everything gets turned upside down and inside out.  This lady was slick too.  I have to give her that.  She got this little dog through six security checkpoints.  (Sounds like TSA.)  This new, genetically modified pooch, whose name is Mr. Fuzznuts (no, I’m not making that up), wreaks havoc on the farm and everyone’s stress level.  It’s like a radioactive, monster mutt on permanent puppy mode.
 
When Zeke finds out his children were subjected to such chaos he is none too thrilled.  It seems the tension is building and building.  Zeke finds out during that coffee chat this “friend” stopped talking to Jed once he started believing the Jedidiah Seed was from the world of Evil, the Devil perhaps, but definitely something unholy and sinister.
 
THE END
 
I’m really enjoying this series even more now that we have some action going on.  I read that the writer on plans this to be a 25-30 issues series in 5-issue arcs.  That being said, we are almost through the first arc.  The story is really getting interesting and I have already read issue 4. I just need to get the post up for you guys.
 
The artwork is still excellent, albeit somewhat cartoony but, I like that it is different and unique to this artist.  I feel he has a fun and possible twisted sense of humor and I’m guessing that permeates his life in all aspects, including his work.
 
There are a few panels and page spreads in this issue that really stand out because of the color usage. It’s bright and vivid.  It’s in your face and full of life.  Then there are some parts that are a much more muted color scheme allowing it to be easily distinguishable which panels are current and which are flashbacks.
 
I am telling you guys, you really need to get this series.  The idea of a body part farm alone should have already enticed all of you horror comic fans.  Snap to it!
 
RATINGS
Overall 4/5
Story 4/5
Artwork 4/5

Credits:
 
Writer: Ralph Tedesco
Artwork: J.G. Miranda
Colors: Dijjo
Letters: Fabio Amelia
 
Okay, so we are still on the Urban Legend kick, although, I have to be honest, I’m still waiting for the typical Urban Legends that we are all familiar with.  The ones in these issues are legends I have never heard of…and can’t find information on…anywhere.  And seeing as how I’m not a huge video game fan, this issue didn’t really do much for me. 
 
In this issue we have a video game and a guy that is obsessed with it.  Our main character is Donnie.  Donnie has a car accident and gets a lift from the tow truck driver who is, you guessed it, our friend Red.  She drops him off at an arcade he used to hang out at as a kid.  He sees a really hot chick playing his favorite game, Polybius, and they chat and take a trip down memory lane over a couple beers.
 
He brags about his Polybius triumphs but, how tragedy has always seemed to follow him around.  He says he’s the reason his Dad killed his Mom, a good friend of his killed himself and his poor wife even hanged herself. Seems like everyone this guy loves, dies.
 
Then, while they are talking, the hot chick morphs into some sort of video game spirit, an evil one, that claims ownership of Donnie’s life, success and tragedies.  Then the actual arcade game absorbs Donnie and he exists no longer.
 
The hottie starts playing the game and a new hapless unwitting video game loving victim walks in…and wants to play Polybius and walk down memory lane.
 
THE END
 
There wasn’t a whole lot about this issue that I could get excited about.  I mean, I guess I just don’t get the story.  Maybe it needs to be longer and more detailed but it really left me wondering “what the hell is going on?” and I hate that.  It seemed like the outline of a story rather than a complete tale.
 
The artwork is fantastic and I think that is what makes this issue.  Great use of color and line work to create some fantastic and startling images.
 
The rest, I’m sorry to say, left me feeling a little unsatisfied.  Frankly, this could be an issue to pass on if you aren’t a diehard GTT fan like I am.
 
RATINGS
Overall 3/5
Story 2/5
Artwork 4/5