Ghastly Awards June 2012 Update

Horror comics are becoming more and more frequent in our reading culture, and the Ghastly Awards are here to recognize, through peer nominations, those that shine the brightest. As a matter of fact so far this year, this entire list of titles (and some self published books) have already come out. We encourage all Comic Creators to take the time to head over to www.ghastlyawards.com and nominate those who you think are the best so far in your eyes.  
 

Creators please remember that you can nominate up to 5 times throughout the year, so make your voice heard! For the month of June 2012 the judges are recommending you take a look at:

Steamcraft #1 (Antarctic Press) I had expected, even wanted to hate this comic. I mean, the whole Cthulhu thing has become an overused hipster joke perpetrated by people who have never read a word of Lovecraft. And in my opinion, "steampunk" is just another useless, trendy label. Imagine my delight when I read this book and found out that writer and artist David Hutchinson really gets it!! His story is legitimately Lovecraftian; well told with just the right amount of florid prose and horrifying moments. His pen and ink artwork is superb; the delicate crosshatching and detailed compositions would fit into any classic issue of Creepy! Normally, I would never have picked this one up based on the title and cover, but it's a gem of a horror comic and I'm glad I did. I recommend this one!  - Mike Howlett

Mars Attacks #1 (IDW): IDW relaunches a new MARS ATTACKS series by John Layman and John McCrea, and pulls a truly cosmic conundrum for collectors by making it available with nearly 60 different cover variations (reprinting all of the classic painted Norman Saunders art from the original trading card series plus one more rare variant.) Cover hoopla aside, it's a tensely written story and the art is top notch, this feels like the Mars Attacks series we've all been waiting for!  

Also recommended: Mort Meskin, Out of the Shadows. Another reprint collection of stories by an overlooked Golden Age great, and though this collection contains only a minimal amount of Meskin's stylized horror work, it's still a worthy archive for anyone who loves great visual storytelling with a maniacal edge. - Steve Banes (http://thehorrorsofitall.blogspot.com/)

American Vampire: Lord Of Nightmares #1 (Vertigo):   Scott Snyder is an absolute comic book writing beast, there's no two ways about it. When he began writing a vampire series with the legendary Stephen King, we all knew there was something special about this young gun, but I don't think any of us expected this much from him. His last "American Vampire" mini-series spin off won a bunch of awards, and after reading issue #1 of "Lord Of Nightmares", I have a feeling it will draw equal praise. This mini-series finally brings the most revered blood sucker of all into the American Vampire world, Dracula. I can't wait to see Snyder's take on Dracula because I know it will be nothing but refreshing. I doubt Snyder and Albuquerque need any help with award nominations, but this is my pick for the month because it's damn good. If you are reading any vamp comics, this one better be in your pile. - Lonnie Nadler (www.Bloody-Disgusting.com)

Grim Leaper #2 (Image): I think I am in love people. I am in love with tree shavings and octopus juices, because they bring things like Grim Leaper to my eyes. If I didn’t say it enough when I reviewed issue #1, Santos is an amazing artist. Just the death scenes alone, are enough to show how GORE-Geous his style is. When you add in the other panels it just makes my black heart skip a beat. This is a visual treat, so make sure to savor it. The story by Wiebe moves right along and only gets more and more interesting. I love the concept and how it is being played out. I find myself enjoying the chemistry that Lou and Ella have, but then I flip-flop and I root for them to die. I guess I am just a romantic. This series is so much more than I could have ever expected, and I don’t want to see it end at #4. I say death to the mini, lets ride this one out for years and years, it has so many different ways it can go. Just think of their first fight when they kill each other. Read it people, it really is that damn good. - Decapitated Dan (www.decapitateddan.com)

So we ask all comic book creators, what are you enjoying? Make sure to go over to www.ghastlyawards.com to nominate your favorites for 2012! So far this year, these titles have come out:

30 DAYS OF NIGHT
30 DAYS OF NIGHT 10 BLOODY YEARS TREASURY ED
30 DAYS OF NIGHT TP VOL 01
68 SCARS
ALABASTER WOLVES
ALPHA & OMEGA CRY WOLF VOL 01
ALPHA GIRL
AMERICAN VAMPIRE
AMERICAN VAMPIRE HC VOL 03
AMERICAN VAMPIRE TP VOL 02
ANGEL & FAITH
ANIMAL MAN
ANIMAL MAN ANNUAL
ANIMAL MAN TP VOL 01 THE HUNT
ANITA BLAKE VH LAUGHING CORPSE ULT COLL TP
ANNE RICE SERVANT OF THE BONES HC
ANNOTATED SANDMAN HC VOL
ARMY OF DARKNESS
ARMY OF DARKNESS OMNIBUS TP VOL 02
AVENGELYNE
BALTIMORE HC VOL 02 CURSE BELLS
BELA LUGOSI TALES FROM GRAVE
BETRAYAL OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
BIG BOOK OF KOLCHAK NIGHT STALKER TP
BILLY FOG GIFT OF TROUBLE SIGHT HC
BLOOD FEAST
BPRD HELL ON EARTH DEVILS ENGINE
BPRD HELL ON EARTH LONG DEATH
BPRD HELL ON EARTH PICKENS COUNTY HORROR
BPRD HELL ON EARTH RUSSIA
BPRD HELL ON EARTH TP VOL 02 GODS AND MONSTERS
BPRD HELL ON EARTH TRANSFORMATION ODONNELL
BPRD PLAGUE OF FROGS HC VOL 03
BRIMSTONE
BTVS SEASON 8 LIBRARY HC VOL 01 LONG WAY HOME
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 9
BULLETPROOF COFFIN DISINTERRED
CARNAGE FAMILY FEUD TP
CARNAGE USA
CHARLAINE HARRIS GRAVE SIGHT GN VOL 03
CHARMED
CLASSIC JURASSIC PARK TP VOL 04 RETURN JURASSIC PK
CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE LIVING DEAD
COURTNEY CRUMRIN
CRAWL TO ME TP
CREEPY ARCHIVES HC VOL 12
CREEPY COMICS
CRIMINAL MACABRE DIE DIE MY DARLING
CROSSED BADLANDS
CROSSED HC VOL 03 PSYCHOPATH
CROSSED PSYCHOPATH
CRYPT OF HORROR
DANCE IN THE VAMPIRE BUND GN
DARK SHADOWS
DARKNESS
DARKNESS ACCURSED TP VOL 07
DARKNESS COMPENDIUM HC VOL 02
DARKSTALKERS ULTIMATE ED TP
DEAD OR ALIVE
DEAD RISING ROAD TO FORTUNE
DEADLANDS BLACK WATER
DEMON KNIGHTS
DEVILS ISLAND GN
DIABLO
DOMINIQUE LAVEAU VOODOO CHILD
DPD DOKTORMENTOR JAIL BABE SURGEON
DREAM REAVERS
DREAM REAVERS TP
DRESDEN FILES FOOL MOON
EERIE ARCHIVES HC VOL 09
EERIE ARCHIVES HC VOL 10
EERIE PRESENTS HUNTER HC
FANBOYS VS ZOMBIES
FATALE
FEARLESS DAWN SECRET OF THE SWAMP
FERALS
FRANKENSTEIN AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E.
FRANKENSTEIN ALIVE ALIVE
FUBAR II EMPIRE OF THE RISING DEAD
GHOST RIDER
GHOST RIDER BY DANIEL WAY ULTIMATE COLLECTION TP
GHOST RIDER CYCLE OF VENGEANCE
GHOSTBUSTERS
GODZILLA KINGDOM OF MONSTERS
GODZILLA KINGDOM OF MONSTERS TP VOL 02
GODZILLA KINGDOM OF MONSTERS TP VOL 03
GODZILLA LEGENDS
GOON
GORE
GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES
GREEN WAKE
GREEN WAKE TP VOL 02 LOST CHILDREN
GRIM LEAPER
GRIMM FAIRY TALES
GRIMM FAIRY TALES MYTHS & LEGENDS
GRIMM FAIRY TALES THE LIBRARY
GRIMM FAIRY TALES TP VOL 11
HACK SLASH
HACK SLASH EVA MONSTERS BALL TP
HACK SLASH OMNIBUS TP VOL 04
HACK SLASH TP VOL 10 DEAD CELEBRITIES
HAUNT
HAUNT TP VOL 03
HAUNTED CITY
HEAVY METAL
HELLBLAZER
HELLBLAZER PHANTOM PAINS TP
HELLBOY TP VOL 12 THE STORM AND THE FURY
HELLDORADO
HELLRAISER
HELLRAISER ANNUAL
HELLRAISER MASTERPIECES
HELLRAISER TP VOL 02
HOAX HUNTERS
HOUSE OF NIGHT
HOWARD LOVECRAFT & UNDERSEA KINGDOM GN
HP LOVECRAFT THE DUNWICH HORROR
HP LOVECRAFT THE DUNWICH HORROR TP
I VAMPIRE
INFESTATION 2
INFESTATION 2 DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
INFESTATION 2 G.I. JOE
INFESTATION 2 TEAM UP
INFESTATION 2 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES
INFESTATION 2 TRANSFORMERS
INFESTATION HC
IZOMBIE
IZOMBIE TP VOL 03 SIX FEET UNDER AND RISING
JURASSIC PARK DANGEROUS GAMES
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK
KEY OF Z
KEY OF Z TP VOL 01
KOLCHAK AND LOST WORLD SC
KOLCHAK NIGHT STALKER FILES
LADY DEATH
LADY DEATH
LAST ZOMBIE NEVERLAND
LEGION OF MONSTERS
LEGION OF MONSTERS TP
LENORE
LITTLE GREEN MEN TP SMALL PACKAGE BIG FUN
LITTLE SHOPPE OF HORRORS
LIVING CORPSE EXHUMED
LOBSTER JOHNSON THE BURNING HAND
LOCKE & KEY CLOCKWORKS
LOCKE & KEY TP VOL 04 KEYS TO THE KINGDOM
LOVECRAFT ANTHOLOGY TP VOL 01
MARVEL ZOMBIES DESTROY
MONSTER HUNTER ORAGE
MONSTERMEN AND OTHER SCARY STORIES HC
MONSTERS ARE JUST LIKE US
NANCY IN HELL ON EARTH
NAZI ZOMBIES
NEW DEADWARDIANS
NIGHT OF 1000 WOLVES
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD HC VOL 03
NINJAS VS ZOMBIES
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
OCCULT FILES DOCTOR SPEKTOR ARCHIVES HC VOL 04
ORC STAIN
PANDEMONIUM GN
PATRICIA BRIGGS MERCY THOMPSON MOON CALLED TP VOL 02
PENNY FOR YOUR SOUL FALSE PROPHET
PLANET OF THE APES
PLANET OF THE APES TP VOL 02
POSSESSIONS GN VOL 03 BETTER HOUSE TRAP
RACHEL RISING
RACHEL RISING TP VOL 01 SHADOW OF DEATH
RAGEMOOR
RAISE THE DEAD II HC
REBEL BLOOD
RESIDENT ALIEN
RESURRECTION MAN
RETURN OF THE MONSTERS PHANTOM DETECTIVE VS FRANKENSTEIN
REX ZOMBIE KILLER
ROTTEN LOST DIARY JOHN FLYNN US AGENT SC
SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING TP BOOK 01
SALEMS DAUGHTER HAUNTING
SAUCER COUNTRY
SCHOOL BITES SPECIAL SEMESTER COLL TP
SCOURGE
SCREAMLAND DEATH OF THE PARTY TP
SECRET HISTORY OF DB COOPER
SERVANT OF THE BONES
SEVERED
SEVERED HC
SHINKU
SIXTH GUN
SIXTH GUN VOL 3
SPAWN
SPAWN COMPENDIUM TP VOL 01
SPONTANEOUS HC
STRANGEWAYS THE THIRSTY GN
SUPERNATURAL
SWAMP THING
SWEET TOOTH
TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE
THE LAST ZOMBIE INFERNO TP
THE OCCULTIST
THE PACK
THE STRAIN
THEATER
TRUE BLOOD (Ongoing)
TRUE BLOOD FRENCH QUARTER
URSA MINOR
VALEN OUTCAST
VAMPI OMNIBUS TP VOL 01
VAMPIRELLA
VAMPIRELLA ARCHIVES HC VOL 04
VAMPIRELLA MASTERS SERIES TP VOL 07
VAMPIRELLA SCARLET LEGION TP
VAMPIRELLA TP VOL 02
VAMPIRELLA VS DRACULA
VAMPIRELLA: THE RED ROOM
VENOM
VOODOO
WAKING DREAM END
WALKING DEAD
WHISPERS IN THE WALLS GN
WITCHBLADE
WITCHBLADE REDEMPTION TP VOL 04
WITCHFINDER TP VOL 02 LOST AND GONE FOREVER
XENOHOLICS
XENOHOLICS TP VOL 01
YOUNG LOVECRAFT GN VOL 02
ZOMBIE RECOGNITION GUIDE GN
ZOMBIES HC
ZOMBIES VS CHEERLEADERS
ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS ANNUAL 2012
ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS THIS MEANS WAR PROSE SC