Posted by Decapitated Dan |

Horror Comic Roundup - 10/22/13

Horror Comic Roundup Image drawn by Travis Wayne Pursell, colors by Decapitated Dan

Welcome to the Horror Comic Roundup! Join Decapitated Dan,  Billy Dunleavy, Denise Dutton and friends each week as they review new and old Horror Comics that you will either be dying to read or terrified to check out!

B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth #112 (Dark Horse)
Billy Dunleavy: With Fenix on the run, huge mutated beasts wreaking havoc everywhere, and the military seemingly powerless to stop it, the BPRD needs help. Johann then makes a call to his friend Iosif, over in Russia. The two begin to collaborate, but after a few minutes, Johann disappears. Over at the hospital where Liz is rehabbing, that mad scientist dude unleashed one of his pets on her, and she’s fighting for her life. She gets away long enough to try and meditate, as she was taught by monks, years earlier. They taught her to focus, and use her mind to control her power over fire. Initially,  it seems as though she’s lost it, but then, she seems to get control of it, and that is bad news for anybody on her bad side! Great issue that’s finally showed what long time fans were waiting for!  Rating 4/5

Baltimore: The Infernal Train #2 (of 3) (Dark Horse)
Billy Dunleavy: As we watch the brawl between Duvic and Baltimore, hundreds of vampires are ravaging the city. Not that they’d notice, but a few dozen come crashing through the door, so, they can’t ignore it any longer. Before that happened though, both men were going at it tooth and nail, with neither one having a distinct edge. In the end, Baltimore gets captured, Duvic is left to fight vampires, and somehow try to get after Baltimore as well. The Elders that are on the train are growing anxious, but they realize they only need one or two more towns to convert, and their engine will have enough power to summon their ancient master! There has honestly never been a boring issue with this series. DO yourself a favor, and grab it while you can!  Rating  5/5

Crossed Badlands #38 (Avatar Press)
Decapitated Dan: Shout out time! Simon Spurrier, Rafael Ortiz, Digikore Studios and Jaymes Reed, you all KILLED IT on this issue. When I reviewed issue #37 I was excited about this arc, really excited, but now that I have read #38, I am going freaking nuts over it. The overall art and look is the book by Ortiz, Digikore and Reed is GORE-Geous! I know I said it with the last review, but I love the way these panels are laid out, and how the wording in the gutters plays into it all. The story by Spurrier is so much fun, and I love how the focus is not really on anything Crossed related yet. This story is being driven by the fantastic cast who shouldn’t be anywhere near each other. Yet they all have something in common and are working together perfectly. This arc is so good, so so so so so damn good. - Dying Breath 5.0 out of 5.0

Extinction Parade #3 (Avatar Press)
Decapitated Dan: There are 2 things that wondered while I read this issue, first when are the zombies coming back, and second, this is a lot of history on the vampires. Now that is not a bad thing at all. This is so full of story, that like I mentioned before, it’s really like reading a novel that has pictures. Those pictures look great too. I really am beginning to love the art in this comic, but the story is the real highlight. I love how the past 2 issues have been done, but going back to my first wonder, when are the zombies coming back? So far a great start, very different from how we typically look at comics. - Dying Breath 4.5 out of 5.0

Ghost Rider/Captain America: Fear (Marvel-1992)
Billy Dunleavy: This one-shot from back in the day starring Captain America, Ghost Rider (Dan Ketch), and the villain Scarecrow, was nothing short of awesome! You see the villain on an operating table, and some doctors are performing surgery to augment his physical strength, and also to give him implants that will emit something to paralyze fear in his enemies. The dude’s a psycho, and has a body count in the dozens by the end of the book. It’s up to Cap and Ghost Rider to put him down. But will they or can they, is the question? Howard Mackie, Lee Weeks, Gregory Wright, and Al Williamson tell a gruesome tale fit for this time of year, for sure! Rating 4/5

Heart of Stone #1 (N.A.S. Studios)
Decapitated Dan: Oh my! Oh wow! OH HELL YEAH! Now this is a book worth demanding more of! Folks this is a time when I like to admit I made a mistake, I had this book in the review pile for too long, that now I am apologizing to all of you for how long it has taken me to tell you about it. Stefano Cardoselli is a man who is now on my comic radar. I will be watching closely for anything he touches, because if it’s anything like this, it is a winner. The artwork in this issue is GORE-Geous and gritty as hell and some big props go to Craig Gilliland for the colors. That gritty look is so perfect for this Western Horror tale. I will say that this felt more like a #0 then a #1 only because it was complete, and basically just this brutal history of the main character. However it is really good, and the story is on the same level as the artwork. This is a great start, to something that I hope we get more of very soon. - Dying Breath 4.5 out of 5.0

The Strain #4 (Dark Horse)
Billy Dunleavy: This issue might be the rare occasion where the action was outweighed by the dialogue. And it was a good thing. We see a nice conversation between the Professor and Zachary, about everything from God, to a Swiss Army Knife. A special silver sword is also part of the conversation, and one can’t help but wonder if that’s a little bit of foreshadowing. Ephraim is about to try and do something that he believes will help put this nightmare to an end, but who’s helping him? More awesomeness from Lapham, Huddleston, and Jackson, as expected!  Rating 5/5

Suckers #2 (Zenescope)
Decapitated Dan: I love it when horror and comedy come together, and they do just that with Suckers. I remember a lot happening in issue #1, so I was hoping the recap page would have had a little more info then it did, however I was able to recall everything needed as the issue went on. With this issue Shand really seems to have the comedic timing down. The scene were the “sidekick” goes running in to take care of John and Chad had me rolling. Then add in some great Blade jokes and it’s just solid reading on all levels. It never tries to be too over the top, which is a HUGE plus, because that can easily be done. The artwork by McGinty is right on pace with the story. He has a great touch for being able to carry the humor over visually through facial expressions. Overall this book is just fun, and when things can seem overwhelming in terms of Horror Drama, this is what exactly what Dr. Decap prescribes. - Dying Breath 4.5 out of 5.0