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 NOTE: Yes, I know these are in Spanish, the writer of the comic intended them to be that way. This was not an image mistake on my part. Thank you.
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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 Writer: Joe Brusha
Artwork: Babisu Kourtis Colors: Leonardo Paciarotti Letters: Taylor Esposito of Ghost Glyph Studios This was a good issue for an introductory issue. It definitely got the curiosity going. I’ll go ahead and give you the little blurb from the inside cover and then I’ll tell ya what I thought. “While taking a cross-country trip, a young couple stops to visit one of their long-lost friends who live in an idyllic gated community. Not long after they arrive, they find that something sinister may be lurking behind the mansions and well-manicured lawns of Paradise Court.” Paradise Court is a gated community. A gated community so perfect it’s creepy. I mean these people have perfect hair, perfect clothes, perfect teeth, perfect houses, perfect lawns, perfect pools, perfect cars, perfect lives…just perfect, perfect, perfect. Until someone goes missing. Then the illusion of perfection is shattered and the suspicions begin. Fingers are being pointed. Questions are being raised. And skeletons are being found. THE END I enjoyed this whole issue. The artwork is good. The colors are lively and vibrant. The writing is also excellent. The suspense factor is good with a fantastic build up all the way to the end. There’s enough meat to the story that it’s interesting to read but not so much that it’s overwhelming or boring. The issue covers a good span of time and there’s even some comedy that’s good enough to make you chuckle. The issue also has a great mysterious feel to it as you flip through pages. All in all, a good first issue. As usual, there’s not a lot to say about an introductory issue. But, I really think this is going to be a good mini-series. RATINGS Overall 5/5 Artwork 5/5 Story 5/5 Credits: Written and Created by WRGII & R. Lopez Cover Art and Story Illustration by Mel Dawdy Cover B Art by James O’Barr Table of Contents Image by Travis Haight Editing and Layout by P. Stacy This is the second book in this four book series. You will see, as you read through this one, things just keep getting better and better. The guys at Crude Comics Inc. never seem to disappoint and have made a true fan out of me.
We have this character, Driver. He is a vigilante of sorts. A vigilante on the fly, I guess you could say. But he’s not just any kind of vigilante. This guy is special. He can sense the evil and the terrible things inside the people he comes into contact with, knowing their intentions before they get the chance to act on them themselves. He is a protector, stalking the horrid and vile through the night, wreaking havoc on all that he finds offensive and wrong. This issue was fantastically written and leaves you wanting nothing but more. No disappointment. In fact, the ending is, in my opinion, is perfect. Like I said, when you’re done reading you’re in this mode of “NO! Wait! What happens???? Tell meeeeee!!!”. But, you just have to wait and read the third one. Probably best if you get both two and three at the same time, if you can. It’s senseless to cause yourself the suspense when you can have it right there in your hot little hands. The artists have a true talent for recognizing when color is needed and when color is an accessory. Here, they expertly use small splashes of color amidst black and white, the impact of the colors almost popping off the pages. This gives a phenomenal effect to the feel of the story. Plus, it adds to the beauty of the basicness of the book. Simple art. Simple story. No clutter. No frills. Just good old fashioned storytelling and artwork brought together in a creepy harmony of horror. This series is a definite must read. I have book three waiting for me to read already. Do you have yours? RATINGS Overall 5/5 Story 5/5 Artwork 5/5 Credits: Written and Created by WRGII & R. Lopez Artwork and Cover by Santtos Lettering by Chris Johnson Table of Contents: Art by Thulasi Dasan Colors by Jermael Lessey This was the conclusion of a two book mini-series. And what a way to finish! These guys give us more blood, more gore, more disgusting comical depravity and more kill scenes than one could ever expect. Packed with gory, seedy violence and full of cries for mercy splashed with spurts of blood, the meat of this story is told less and less with words and more with the images these fellow horror lovers have expertly created.
Stuffed with dark comedy and the ever so perfect stereotype of male chauvinism, we get the crude enjoyment of other people’s demise that we have come to count on from Crude Comics Inc. There’s a spectacular use of color and the contrast of that with sections of black and white really make the splatter scenes jump off the page at you. We are gifted with blood on almost every page and the joy of getting right down to the dirty dying instead of being bombarded by a bunch a needless and un-natural chatter between characters. This issue is a fast read with tons of nasty and raunchy blood splashed action. I’m telling ya, these zombies are literally dripping with nastiness. I love it!!! I think the guys have hit a home run with this two issue series. But, perhaps it should come with some kind of warning, for those of you with weaker stomachs and all. (Non-offensive eye roll inserted here. Buck up people.) Seriously though, you REALLY don’t want to pass this up. It’s got everything you need: chicks, beer, sex, death, drugs, blood, zombies, gore, bikinis, spring break, young stupid people…I mean how picky are you about your horror???? What more do you want?!?!?! RATINGS Overall 5/5 Artwork 5/5 Story 5/5 Credits:
Story: Joe Brusha, Ralph Tedesco, Dave Franchini Writer: Ben Meares Artwork: Jason Muhr Colors: Marco Lesko Letters: Fabio Amelia This issue deals with an urban legend involving gang initiations. I AM familiar with a number of versions of this story. Basically, a group of gang prospects all pile into a car at night and drive around with their lights off. Once someone flashes their own lights to tell them to turn their headlights on, they follow that person and shoot them, then flee. There’s also a version where the prospect hides under a car and waits for the owner to walk up and open the door. Once their feet are visible and within reach, the prospect slashes the Achilles tendons of the victim and runs off (or steals the car), leaving the victim there to bleed and helplessly wait for someone to come by, which could take hours if not days. In this story, it’s a car full of guys. One is already a member and the other three are getting initiated, one a night for three nights. The first one did his deed the night before. The second waits for the lights to flash on a passing car and shoots her as she driving down the street. Her car crashes and she and the vehicle both catch fire. She is burned alive as the gunshot wound didn’t take her life, only wounded her. Then it comes time for the third guy. But he’s having second thoughts. Especially after they watched that young woman screaming as she burned to death. One of his friends finds out that he is having second thoughts and threatens him that, if he doesn’t go through with it, he is a witness to the murders the other two prospects committed and must therefore be eliminated. Left with no choice, he decides he must take his turn. Meanwhile, a family across town is getting up before the sun to get on the road for their family vacation to Zappyland (does that ACTUALLY sound FUN to anyone? Sounds like a place for electric shock treatments.). They get in the car and begin their journey. As all kids do, the two children in the backseat start to complain about being hungry. Dad says they’ll stop on the way and get something. While on the hunt for someplace to eat so early in the morning, the family spots a car driving in the dark morning hours without its lights on. As the Dad flashes his lights the guys in the gang car start trying to amp up the last prospect, telling him to start shooting. But he just can’t bring himself to do it…no matter the risk to his life, no matter how much cocaine he snorts, no matter how much he drinks and no matter how much the gang members yell at him, he just can’t do it. This is a huge problem because the leader points out that the family in the car had to have seen ALL their faces. They MUST eliminate the family. There is no other option in their eyes. So, the leader decides to make a quick U-turn in the middle of the street, speed up behind the family wagon and crash into the back end, hurling them into the air, flipping the car and sending it into a streetlight pole. The Dad crawls out of the car and tries to escape but, the gang chases him down to shoot him and kill him. But, they are in for a surprise. Meanwhile, our friend with a conscience goes to check on the family. As the wife and children are laying in the car he tries to apologize. He is catastrophically interrupted by the screams and cries of his cohorts, who have trapped their victim in a dead end alley…or should I say, their victim has trapped them. Mr. Morality looks up in time to see this disgusting monster with a huge and grotesque mouth carrying out his pals by their feet, covered in blood. Then, all hell breaks loose. The whole family has transformed into these hideous creatures of death and are ripping the gang to shreds, feeding on them in a delicious gorge. Our guilt ridden pal is the only one there when the cops show up. Standing in the middle of the gory massacre he is apprehended immediately. When he’s asked what happened he tries to explain that there were monsters that ate his friends. The cops don’t believe him but, can’t see how one man could have done such extensive damage due to the animal type bites and tears. They take him into custody and plan to get the “real” story once he comes down from his cocaine bender. But, they’ll never get the story they WANT to hear…just a babbling fool rambling on and on about monsters eating his friends. THE END This was a good twist on the regular urban legend this is based off of. I like the addition of monsters and the idea that this guy has to take the fall for a triple homicide when he was the only one that didn’t hurt anyone or anything, except himself. It’s just the kind of sick and twisted joke life would play on someone who was pushing their luck with tempting fate. I will say there is a lot of back and forth in this issue and it was a little hard to follow at first. The layout and flow is a little jagged. Plus, there’s a lot of panels (or frames) with a time stamp on them. Normally, that kind of thing doesn’t bother me but, I think this time they took it a little too far. I mean, in some parts they pointed out the time second by second. Does it really run that deep? Talk about obsessing. The artwork is pretty good in this issue but, I feel the way it’s all laid out takes away from the skill and finished look of the art itself. The best images are of the monsters. These are great pictures of some pretty nasty looking monster villains. And we still see part of their human characteristics so, that DOES make the monsters look somewhat creepier. But, again, the twist in the ending is really what makes this issue. It’s such a smack in the face with irony…REAL irony, making it new, fresh and interesting. Definitely a fun little story for bedtime. RATINGS Overall 4.5/5 Story 5/5 Artwork 4/5 |
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