Hungry Ghosts #3

Hungry Ghosts #3

Credits:
Written: Anthony Bourdain/Joel Rose
Artwork: “Deep”- Sebastian Cabrol/”Boil in the Belly”- Paul Pope
Colors: Jose Villarrubia
Letters: Sal Cipriano
 
Cover Art by Paul Pope
 
This issue was an incredible change from the first two.  It’s almost like they were saving up the most twisted and demented stories for those that stuck it out through the first issues.  These two stories are completely wild.
 
The first one, crudely titled “Deep” is a pure example of nastiness.  The whole idea of this story is that there is a very mean and very cruel head chef in this particular kitchen.  And, since everything seems to always trickle downhill, as we go through the different ranks of the kitchen staff, each one is extremely antagonistic to the chefs he outranks. 
 
Then, we focus on one chef in particular.  A sous chef.  This guy gets very and disgustingly close to his subordinates.  In this day and age, he would probably be considered a pervert (at minimum) and a sexual predator (at most).  There would definitely be a sexual harassment suit, maybe even criminal charges. He literally pokes and prods at his chefs until there is actual physical pain, focusing the majority of his efforts on one poor guy.  He gets his ears pulled and twisted, his arms held tight and high behind his back like bullies do and worst of all, this sous chef very aggressively “gooses” his employee.  Apparently, he doesn’t just poke or pinch someone’s ass…he gets at them like he’s digging for gold.
 
Our battered chef (no pun intended…but, it fits nicely don’t you think?) meets a co-worker that seems to have the answers this young man is looking for…and a solution to his problem.
 
The second story is “Boil in the Belly”.  This is a story that could make your stomach churn.  This is the story of an actual hungry ghost.  One that takes up residence in the form of a boil on a young chef’s stomach. 
 
As if that wasn’t already nasty enough, the boil grows into a mouth and talks, requesting to be fed…constantly. This thing cannot get enough food and frankly, watching this boil eat, our young chef can’t stomach to eat anything himself and starts to starve to death.
 
His fate is not sealed though.  There IS a way to remove this ghost from inhabiting his body.
 
I will let you read the endings for yourself…(gags)…I think maybe, that’s best this time.
 
As I stated before, these were stories to make you cringe.  I can’t get over the elements that they chose to put together in these tales.  Some of this stuff DEFINITELY doesn’t belong in the same story, conversation or even the same room as food (whether it’s raw, being prepared or already cooked…it makes no difference).
 
Still, what a great and gigantic leap into the horror genre.  This is where this series should have started.
 
RATINGS
Overall 4/5
Story 4/5
Artwork 4/5

R.I.P. Anthony Bourdain 1956-2018