Nightmares Illustrated 033 The Dark Horse Issue

*********************************************************************

Top Five Picks…Buy These Right Now.

1. Man-Thing Omnibus (Marvel).

2. A Fistful of Blood (Heavy Metal).

3. Ghost #1 (Dark Horse).

4. Ghosts #1 (Vertigo).

5. Eerie (Volume 2) #1 (Dark Horse).

*********************************************************************

I have been highlighting some of the mid-level publishers over the past few months – IDW, Image – but I really haven’t said much about Dark Horse outside of their Creepy and Eerie archive series. That is an oversight. There is quite a lot to like from the publisher, so I thought I would take a quick pass this time around by a few of the newish items to give you a nudge in the right direction.

*********************************************************************

Grandeville Bete Noire (Dark Horse). Sub-titled “A Detective-Inspector LeBrock of Scotland Yard Scientific Romance Thriller,” this fantasy is not heavy on the horror or violence, but does have the thrilling elements of turn-of-the-[20^th]century adventure fiction done up in a Duncton Wood style. Is that reference too obscure? How about a Wind In The Willows style? OK, how about this: talking animals. It is a little cutesy, but Bryan Talbot’s work here is top-notch. I might not normally recommend this sort of book, but the way the author handles transitions and the adult and steampunk elements are too good to pass by. One book like this a year is a nice addition to your reading diet. This is the one to eat.

*********************************************************************

House of Night (Dark Horse). House of Night is a school for teenage vampires. Now, before you click away in disgust, I’m with you, normally, on teen angst writ large vis-à-vis vampires, werewolves, hunchbacks, et cetera … stinks like low tide. P. C. Cast’s take on it here, however, is more elegant and mature than the typical entry. Divided into five parts counting the four elements with the fifth section titled “Spirit,” the story evolves through changes in tone, and artists, to create a genuine tableau that is bigger in the whole than in the pieces. I thought of the whole thing as a dream and, while it is nice and light, it also left me with a pleasant, sated feeling.

*********************************************************************

Falling Skies: The Battle of Fitchburg (Dark Horse). Paul Tobin and Juan Ferreyra take us back to the Falling Skies television series for another invasion romp. The invaders are hideous bug-like creatures (kind of like in Starship Troopers) and the action centers on many chase scenes and lots of shooting the bugs in the face. The book reads like a movie outline – or in this case, a television program – because it is based on theatrical elements. When you think about it, movies are designed from storyboards so this all fits together nicely. It is good, end of the summer bubble gum entertainment. Fun for the whole family, you might say.

*********************************************************************

Criminal Macabre: The Iron Spirit (Dark Horse). This comic is long on narrative and short on show, which is not something that often appeals to me. Steve Niles, when he is on, is one of the best writers in the genre. This time he is definitely on. Typeset as if beaten out on an old manual typewriter (anybody out there still know what that is?), the noir elements are fully cured in this murderous mystery tale of possession and salve on the pulsing sore of mortality. Scott Morse overlays his thin pencil lines with loose water colors that hold up the Niles script likely a finely prepared canvas. In all, a big success for the duo who I hope to see work together again.

*********************************************************************

Marked Man (Dark Horse). Who doesn’t like a book with a sick and twisted sense of humor every now and then? If you are in that kind of mood, Howard Chaykin’s Marked Man fits the bill. With equal parts criminal senselessness, greasy sex, and headshots, this is the kind of thing you don’t leave on your coffee table but you do refer to late at night on a regular basis when the gin (or maybe scotch) has softened your apprehensions to the appropriate consistency. Chaykin goes way back as an artist. It is nice to see such a sharp and entertaining book from a veteran creator. He has not lost any of his edge. This one goes on the shelf. Highly recommended.

*********************************************************************

Buy These Too…

Man-Thing Omnibus (Marvel). It is on the Top Five list, too, but I want to make sure that you do not somehow miss it. If you like the swamp beast at all, this book is a gigantic bundle of beauty. I am stunned that Marvel actually released this – I guess I am underestimating the appeal of the shambling mound. Save your nickels and dimes and pick this up as soon as you can.

Prophecy #3 (Dynamite). It seems like this mega-crossover was on hiatus for a while, but issue three has finally arrived. There is some good action in this issue and a lot of horror potential. I do not yet have a good feeling on where this if going or any solid prediction on the outcome. Crossovers often disappoint, so I remain apprehensive. But I am still reading it.

American Vampire Volume 4 (Vertigo). I hesitate yet still put this one down on the list. I copped an attitude about this book because of the gimmicky way it began (page back through the earlier Nightmares Illustrateds for my review) but after a some time passed, I find American Vampire to be enjoyable. It is at least worth a look.

**********************************************************************

Bargain Bin…

Heavy Metal is selling classic back issues at (relative) bargain basement prices. Back issues, some way, way back, are going at eight bucks a pop. I have added a number of them to my personal collection. It is fascinating to look at these older issues and revel in the variety of artwork and the subject matter that probably would not be published today. Get ’em while you can.

**********************************************************************