Longbox Junk Halloween Horror 2022 Part 15 - Ghost Stories #35

Welcome to Longbox Junk, where nobody asked me to write any of these comic reviews!

The Longbox Junk 2022 Halloween Horror party is just about over. . .but not quite yet!  There's still a couple of days left before I wrap it up and get back to Longbox Junk business as usual.  Until then, how about another spooky retro review?

So, there I was. . .on Facebook browsing through the posts provided by the fine and friendly folk of OLD GUYS WHO LIKE OLD COMICS .  And here's a free plug. . .if you have ANY love for all things comic book-related from days gone by (as in, before 1986), then join this group!  It's one of the best comic groups out there, and I'll sing their praises any old time. Plug over. 

ANYWAY. . .

There I was browsing the posts of one of my favorite Facebook groups and I saw someone had posted a spooky comic book cover.  I said to myself, "Hey! I have that one!"  And so here we are, because why not share what's INSIDE the comic too?  That's what Longbox Junk is all about!

We're heading back to 1973, folks! Let's GOOOOOOO!!

GHOST STORIES #35

Dell (1973)

COVER: Jack Sparling

THE COVER:

Jack Sparling was a Dell and Gold Key mainstay.  If you have any Dell or Gold Key comics in your collection, you've probably got some Sparling in there.  This cover isn't his best work (my personal favorite is probably Emergency #3), but it's a solid cover.  Not bad. . .I just like Sparling's painted covers better. Let's get inside!

THE STORIES:

Four original stories in this one.  That's just a nickle apiece!

Let's give each one their own turn.

FORGET-ME-NOT

SCRIPT: ?

PENCILS: Jack Sparling

INKS: Jack Sparling

The Ghost of an ancient Egyptian King shows two archaeologists where ruins they've missed are in a valley that is about to be flooded.  The Ghost also convinces the disbelieving Engineer in charge of the project to delay long enough for the treasures of the hidden temple to be found and preserved.

 

THE REVIEW:

Meh.  A pretty bland and forgettable story.  The ending is a little abrupt and anticlimactic.  Sparling's art is pretty good.  Like the cover, not his best work, but solid visual storytelling.  An underwhelming start to this issue.

NEXT!

THE SECOND CREW

SCRIPT: ?

PENCILS: Jack Sparling

INKS: Jack Sparling

After a U.S. Navy Captain destroys a sub on the last day of WWII just before receiving notice that the war is over, he is consumed by guilt for the death of the men he killed.  He spends his lifetime trying to make amends. . .even going so far as to move to Japan and adopt the families of the submarine crew.

When he dies and is buried at sea, his ghost joins the ghostly crew of the sub and together they bring the wrecked ship home so they may all rest in peace.

THE REVIEW:

Unfortunately, another pretty bland and forgettable story.  It's not BAD, it's just sort of. . .there.  Sparling's art is once again the high point of the story and even that seems sketchy and rushed in places.

*sigh* This isn't going well, so far.

NEXT!

DO UNTO OTHERS

SCRIPT: ?

PENCILS: Jack Sparling

INKS: Jack Sparling

When an old man named Horace is killed during a robbery in broad daylight, four witnesses to the crime give various reasons why they didn't help him when they could have.  Horace's spirit rises from the grave, determined to teach them a lesson in caring.

As the years go by, Horace's ghost helps each one of the witnesses survive a life-or-death situation, revealing himself to them so they know it was the man who they let die helping them live.  In the end, the four witnesses do indeed learn how to care.

THE REVIEW:

Yet another bland and forgettable story.  Once again, the art by Sparling is about the only saving grace. . .and once again, this isn't even his best work.  So disappointing.

I don't have high hopes for the last story, but here we go anyway.

NEXT!

YOU SEE, THERE'S THIS MONASTERY IN OREGON. . .

SCRIPT: ?

PENCILS: Jack Sparling

INKS: Jack Sparling

After Carrol's best friend, Brit is killed in a car wreck, she remembers an urban legend about a monastery in Oregon where people who are supposedly dead live.  Following a mysterious hearse, Carrol discovers the monastery and the ghost of her friend!

But as she rushed toward Brit, Carrol falls off a cliff and dies.  Now she and Brit live together at the monastery. . .forever.

THE REVIEW:

Not only is this another disappointing story, but it's also probably the worst of the bunch.  It really doesn't make much sense.  Even Sparling's art is weaker than anyplace else in the issue.  This whole story just feels rushed and sort of thrown together. Not a good end for the issue at all.

CONCLUSION

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: They can't ALL be winners.

This issue isn't a winner.  

The main problem here is the writing.  It's bland and uninteresting through the whole thing, giving the reader four stories that will be forgotten moments after reading them.  The writer of this issue is unknown, and it's hardly surprising that they didn't want to take credit for such a lackluster offering.

One would THINK that with four stories, at least ONE would be decent, but no.  And it's not that the stories are necessarily bad, it's that they're all just sort of. . .there.  

This isn't a BAD comic. . .it's just so forgettable that I can't think of anything to recommend it for beyond some pretty solid art from Jack Sparling, and even THAT isn't his best work by a long shot.

It's extremely disappointing for me writing this pretty poor review because I KNOW that it's probably the first, last, and only review that will ever be written about this issue.  This is it.  Truthfully, it makes me a little sad just thinking about it.  This issue gets ONE review in almost 50 years and it's not a great one.

I guess I'll just say it again:  They can't all be winners.

Up Next. . .

I think I can squeeze in a little bit more Halloween Horror fun before the end of the month!

Be there or be square.

Longbox Junk Halloween Horror 2022 Part 14 - Dead of Night Featuring Man-Thing #1

Welcome to Longbox Junk! You want comic reviews you never asked anyone to write? You're in the right place!

The time is short.  The witching hour is almost upon us.  Halloween is just a few days away, but the Longbox Junk Halloween Party is still going!  LET'S DANCE!

Man-Thing is one of those Marvel characters that's been around for a while but isn't really known about by casual comic culture fans.  He's had a few short ongoing series in the past, but these days he just kind of pops up every now and then before shuffling back off to the swamp.  So, he's not the most visible Marvel character, but Man-Thing's got his fans. . .and I'm one of them!

That said, Man-Thing has recently had a moment in the popular culture spotlight with an unexpected live appearance on the Werewolf By Night Disney+ special (And if you haven't seen it yet. . .it's a fantastic show. Check it out.  Go! NOW!).  So, since he's getting a little bit of attention this year, how about we invite Man-Thing to the party?

Let's do it!

DEAD OF NIGHT

FEATURING MAN-THING #1

Marvel MAX (2008)

COVER: Kaare Andrews

THE COOL DARK: Part One

SCRIPT:  Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

PENCILS: Kano & Nick Percival (Framing Sequence)

INKS: Kano & Nick Percival (Framing Sequence)

THE COVER:

I like it!  It's not the BEST Man-Thing cover out there (that would probably be Frank Brunner's cover for Man-Thing #1), but I like the Golden Age pulp mag homage.  The giant red title block is certainly an eye-catcher.  Man-Thing himself is pretty nasty looking. . .a bit more on the horror side than we normally see him.  Not bad.  Let's get inside!

THE STORY:

We begin with an introductory framing sequence.  Digger, the former "host" of Tower of Shadows and Chamber of Darkness, is our narrator. . .

Deep in the swamps of the Florida panhandle, researcher Ted Sallis, along with his lab assistant/ fiancée, Ellen Brandt, and fellow scientist, Eric Schist, are hard at work on a secret government project to recreate the lost Super-Soldier serum that gave Captain America his powers during World War II. 

Their work is almost complete and government agents are due the next day to take their research to Washington D.C. Ted is relieved that the end is near and is looking forward to his and Ellen's marriage. 

Late that night, Ted hears strange noises from a shack in the swamp behind their secret lab.  When he investigates, he is horrified to discover mutated creatures imprisoned within!  Eric arrives and tells Ted that he has started human trials despite Ted saying they aren't ready. . .and the creatures are swamp dwellers that he has been experimenting on.

Ted protests and threatens to reveal Eric's unethical experiments to their government employers.  Eric taunts Ted, revealing that they have been working for the terrorist group, A.I.M. the whole time, and that Ted is but a pawn in their plans!

Ted manages to knock Eric out, then rushes to the lab to gather his research and the only sample of the new formula.  He plans to escape and take the research to the government.  But as he hastily gathers his notes, Ted is confronted by Ellen. . .who holds him at gunpoint and reveals that she is also an A.I.M. agent!

Ted realizes his life has been a lie when Eric returns, and he sees the obvious affection Ellen has for him.  Desperately, he dives out a window and runs into the swamp, but is shot in the back by Ellen as he flees. . .

As he sinks into the muck, dying, Ted swallows the vial of experimental formula.  Something happens that night. . .the formula somehow reacts with the swamp water and somehow Ted rises from the grave, but not as a man. . .as a thing! A MAN-THING!

Late that night, the hulking monster that was Ted Sallis returns to the secret lab.  After freeing the mutated humans from the hidden shack, he bursts into the lab, stunning Ellen and Eric with his terrifying and inhuman appearance!  

Man-Thing quickly kills Eric, then turns to Ellen. . .but something stops him.  Is there still a part of Ted Sallis inside the creature that feels pity as Ellen begs for her life?  If there is, it's gone again in a moment as he reaches out and horribly burns the woman with his very touch!

And, having his revenge, the Man-Thing leaves Ellen alive and horribly disfigured as he walks back into the dark water of the swamp, leaving his former life behind.

The End. . .To Be Continued.

THE REVIEW:

What we have here is a modern retelling of Man-Thing's origin.  And I have to say that it's a darn fine read!  It's a simple story that introduces Man-Thing quite well, leaning HARD into the horror elements of the character.  It's nicely written from the perspective of Digger telling the tale and has enough meat on the bone to not only be a good standalone tale, but to make me want to see what happens next!

The art is a great match for the dark tale of betrayal and revenge, with lots of shadows and fine detail.  The artist has a little trouble with human faces.  You can definitely see that his wheelhouse is in the macabre and monstrous elements of the story.  His version of Man-Thing is powerful and terrifying. . .a force of nature unleashed!  That said, I sort of wish that the artist who painted the framing story would have done the whole thing.  The painted Digger sequences are simply superb!

CONCLUSION

Although this is the first issue of a four-issue mini, it stands alone quite nicely.  It's a great modern re-telling of the origin of Man-Thing that I would certainly recommend to anyone wanting to know about the character without having to get into expensive collections or more expensive Bronze Age back issues.  It's the same basic story, but in a modern style and at bargain bin prices.  WIN!

I would also recommend this issue to any horror comic fans who are just looking for a decent little one-shot story with some dark monster fun.  Yeah, it's a Marvel Universe character, but there's nothing superhero about THIS story.

Overall, this is a nice little nugget of Longbox Junk gold!  It's the kind of thing I love to find while bargain bin diving.  It's not really "worth" anything to collectors, but it's definitely worth picking up if you should spot it.

Up Next. . .

There's not much October left, but we're turning up the music and keeping the Longbox Junk Halloween Horror party going!

Be there or be square.

Longbox Junk Haloween Horror 2022 Part 13 - Friday the 13th #1

Welcome to Longbox Junk, where the comics are cheap, and the reviews are FREE!

HEY-O! It's the thirteenth entry in this year's Longbox Junk Halloween Horror party!  So, to mark the occasion, let's take a look at a Friday the 13th comic book.

I have to admit that I'm not a big fan of the Friday the 13th movies.  They're okay and I'll watch them, but they aren't exactly the kind of thing I'll purposely look for, and I'm no expert on the timelines and trivia of the franchise.  The movies to me are just okay.

Don't get me wrong. . .there's nothing wrong with it at all if you happen to be the biggest fan of Friday the 13th there is.  We're all fans of something and that's what makes the world a great place in my book.

ANYWAY. . .

Back in 2007 Wildstorm (DC) got the comic rights to Friday the 13th, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Nightmare on Elm Street.  They WERE going to try and set up a whole horror comic mini "universe" with rebooted ongoing monthly series for all three franchises. 

 How it ended up was that the comics weren't as popular as they THOUGHT they would be, so the ongoing monthly titles were quietly changed to miniseries and future projects were standalone one shots and minis until the whole thing just sort of faded away after a while. . . another failed and forgotten project in the wonderful world of comics.

What we have here is the first issue of the Friday the 13th series.  Let's take a look inside and see if we can find out why this title only lasted six issues.  Was it just a bad break for a good comic, like I've seen quite a few times?  Or does this series deserve its current home in the bargain bin?

Let's find out!

FRIDAY THE 13TH #1

WILDSTORM/ DC (2007)

COVER: Ryan Sook

FRIDAY THE 13TH

SCRIPT: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

PENCILS: Adam Archer

INKS: Peter Guzman

THE COVER:

Ryan Sook is a great modern comic artist, and he doesn't disappoint here!  It's a simple, detailed portrait of the iconic slasher, Jason Voorhees. I really like the overall composition, with the unusual angle of view on Jason and the victim reflected in his machete. No doubt about it, this is a fantastic Halloween cover!  Let's see what's inside. . .

THE STORY:

We begin with a short prologue.  A young blonde woman is being chased through the forest by Jason Voorhees.  She stumbles into the road, where an elderly couple find her and take her to the local hospital.  

Later, we see that she's incoherent and lashes out at anyone coming near.  The doctor tells the Sheriff that he'll probably never be able to get her to talk about what happened at camp Crystal Lake.

Flashing back to two weeks previously, we are introduced to a group of young men and women making their way to Camp Crystal Lake.  They've been hired to clean and prepare the camp for a re-opening.

The new owner explains that he plans to make a big profit from the camp's deadly history, exploiting the reputation of "Camp Blood" by appealing to those who enjoy the thrill of staying in a place where multiple gruesome murders have been committed.

We follow the young workers as they make themselves comfortable in their new temporary home.  While some explore the cabins, a group decides to go swimming in the lake.  One of them, a bit of a social outcast, has researched the history of the camp and tells the rest of them the gruesome details of Camp Crystal Lake.

As the rest listen to the bloody history of the camp, one of the group goes swimming.  To her horror, she finds herself being dragged down into the depths by (what I assume are) the spirits of those killed over the years at the camp.

The rest notice her struggling and manage to pull her out of the water, but it's too late.  She's drowned. Camp Crystal Lake has claimed another victim!

To be continued. . .

THE REVIEW:

Okay. . .Hmmm. . .  Let's break it on down!

When it comes to first issues of a new series, I have a pretty low bar for what I consider success.  Two things.  Just TWO things!  You'd be surprised how hard it seems to be for publishers to get over that low bar.

 First, does it introduce the characters and their situation in a new reader-friendly way?  In other words, can I just come right in on the first issue and understand what's going on?  Second, does it make me want to read the next issue?

This issue spends a lot of page space on exposition regarding the history of Camp Crystal Lake.  Truth be told, this issue is MOSTLY setup and introduction.  Not that it's a bad thing. . .after all, this WAS supposed to be an ongoing monthly instead of a six-issue mini.  

So, I'll give it a half and half on the first one.  It does a good job of introducing the characters and their situation. . .unfortunately, the characters just aren't that interesting.  You KNOW from the prologue that all of them are going to die except one.  This doesn't put much of a burden on the writer to make the characters interesting.

As far as the second point goes.  Does this make me want to read the next issue?  Well. . .not really.  It's sort of bland, while at the same time, it tries a little TOO hard to be "adult" with profanity liberally sprinkled throughout (see the page scans above.  I had to edit them because there is barely any pages that don't have profanity).  

I know my swear words.  I even still use them now and then when my wife isn't around.  I ALSO know that profanity is like black pepper. . .a little sprinkle is fine, but too much ruins the flavor.  There's a little too much pepper in this one.  They try too hard to spice up a pretty bland and uninteresting story.

As far as the art goes.  It's. . .okay.  If I had to describe it in one word, that word would be "Serviceable".  It helps tell the story but doesn't try to do anything over that bare minimum requirement.  About the only standout moment is a nice double page spread of the first victim being dragged down into the lake I forgot to put above, so I'll put it here. . .

Click to expand for full effect!

But other than that, the art is just sort of. . .there.  I have to admit that IS a nice double pager, but that's it for good art moments.

CONCLUSION

Truthfully, this issue doesn't really have much going for it unless you happen to be a Friday the 13th superfan.  If you ARE, then I think you'll definitely like this series.  If you aren't, then it's probably safe to say that you can skip this one and read some better horror comics that are out there.

With most of the issue being taken up with exposition and background, it DOES do a good job of introducing the characters and their situation.  Too bad both are sort of lackluster.  Aside from the fantastic Ryan Sook cover and a nice double page spread, the art is just sort of there. . .telling the story. . .not trying very hard to do anything else.

Overall, I can see why this series didn't really take off.  It didn't get an opening issue that would hook anybody but big fans of all things Friday the 13th.  For casual readers, it's very skippable.  

Disappointing, but I guess they can't ALL be winners.

Up Next. . .

It ain't over until it's over!  MORE Longbox Junk Halloween Horror to come!

Be there or be square.

Longbox Junk Halloween Horror 2022 Part 12 - Frankenstein #5

Welcome to Longbox Junk, where I write comic reviews even though nobody asked me to!

October is almost done. . .Halloween is almost here!  But the Longbox Junk Halloween Horror Party isn't over just yet, folks!  It's been a pretty good party so far, but you know what will make it even better?  Frankenstein!  

Okay, nerds. . .OKAY!  Frankenstein's MONSTER.  Better?

Marvel has had a long and successful relationship with Dracula in their comic books, but it's easy to forget that they ALSO held the rights to Frankenstein for a while (I know. . .I know).  I have a couple of issues, so how about we take a look at one?

I'm cranking up the Longbox Junk time machine again for a trip back to 1973 and another Longbox Junk Halloween Horror Retro Review. . .featuring the one and only Frankenstein's MONSTER!  

AAARRR!! Fire BAD! Retro Review GOOD!  Let's do it!

FRANKENSTEIN #5

Marvel (1973)

COVER: Mike Ploog

THE MONSTER WALKS AMONG US!

SCRIPT: Gary Friedrich

PENCILS: Mike Ploog

INKS: John Verpoorten

THE COVER:

Now THAT'S a Bronze Age beauty right there!  Maybe not the greatest HALLOWEEN cover, but a great cover anyway.  Mike Ploog packs in so much detail and energy into this image that it almost seems to move!  The colors are great, I love the big chunky logo and hype text.  There's nothing I don't like about this cover!  They do NOT make 'em like this anymore.  Let's get inside!

THE STORY:

As the Monster returns to civilization from the Arctic in search of the last living Frankenstein, he happens on a flaming boat and risks his life to save that of a woman tied to the mast. . .thus setting into motion a strange and tragic series of events, wherein lies the tale at hand.

Taking the unconscious woman to a nearby village, the Monster is shocked to see the villagers celebrating her death.  The woman revives long enough to tell the Monster that the entire village has come under the demonic possession of a mysterious man in black, and that they must flee!

Against the womans wishes, the Monster carries her to her home, where he is attacked by the woman's father!  As the man shouts that his daughter must die, the Monster defeats him and leaves the village with the woman, now convinced that she was telling the truth about the villagers being possessed by demons.

Wandering through the woods in search of sanctuary, the Monster finds a beautiful, secluded clearing hidden deep in the forest.  As the weeks pass, the woman, named Lenore, heals and grows stronger while the Monster finds himself falling in love with her.  

When he finally tells Lenore about his feelings, he is elated to find them returned!  For the first time in his miserable existence, the Monster knows love and joy!

But one day, upon awakening, the Monster finds Lenore has vanished!  Following her tracks, he finds signs of a fight and pieces of her clothing.  Continuing on the trail, the Monster discovers it leads back to the village. 

Convinced that Lenore has been captured by the possessed villagers, he waits until night and begins to search for her.  As he does, he witnesses a guard being brutally attacked by a wolf-like monster!  As he watches, he realizes that THIS is the creature that must have taken Lenore!  Filled with rage, the Monster attacks the wolf creature.

As the battle between the Monster and the wolf creature rages through the village, he manages to finally defeat it by using a silver sword belonging to Lenore's father, pulling it from the tree where it was lodged during their earlier battle.  But to the Monster's horror, the slain wolf creature transforms into the beautiful, beloved Lenore!

As the villagers surround the heartbroken Monster, he readies for a fight, but a man in black steps forward. . .a priest.  He gently tells the Monster that it was Lenore that was possessed by a demon, and that he knows the Monster is the true victim and not their enemy.

And so, the Monster leaves the village behind him, knowing that the only love he's ever known was a lie.  Now all that he has left is to continue on his journey to find the last living Frankenstein.

The End. . .To be continued.

THE REVIEW:

I'm gonna come right out and say it. . .this comic was a GREAT read! 

Yeah, it follows the extremely well-worn story path of "The beautiful woman is actually the horrible monster", but Gary Friedrich puts so much emotion and pathos into it that you hardly notice until the (admittedly predictable) end of the story when the "twist" is revealed.  There is some seriously good writing here! It's engaging from the first page to the last.  You can definitely tell that Friedrich had his heart in writing this story.

On the art side of things. . .Mike Ploog delivers in a big way!  The art in this comic has such a sense of energy and motion that it almost seems to move across the page.  Every page is so full of wonderful detail that you just want to linger on for a moment or two extra before turning to the next one.  

Together, Friedrich and Ploog give the reader something really interesting and unusual.  I am definitely going to keep my eye out for more Frankenstein comics, especially if they can engage me like this one did.

CONCLUSION

When it comes to Bronze Age Marvel comics, I think of superheroes. . .Captain America, Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Spider-Man. . .all the greats that made Marvel "Mighty".  But every now and then, I read a comic like this one that reminds me Marvel DID step outside the superhero box, and that there's some really great Marvel comics out there without a single spandex costume to be found!

The tale of Frankenstein's Monster is a tragic one, and writer Gary Friedrich leans into that with this dark story of hope torn from the Monster's grasping hand.  Artist Mike Ploog fills each page with fantastic, detailed art that perfectly complements the grim tale being told.

This comic is just a great read from cover to cover, no doubt about it.  I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great example of Bronze Age comic art and storytelling.  For fans of Frankenstein movies, books, etc. in general like myself, I'm going to say this issue is a must-read!  It's been collected a couple of times, so if you can't find the back issues, collected and online versions are out there.

Overall, this issue was a slam-bang winner, and probably the best of the bunch so far for this 2022 Longbox Junk Halloween party.  It's a shiny nugget of back issue gold!

Up Next. . .

Yep. . .you guessed it.  MORE Longbox Junk Halloween fun!

Be there or be square.

Longbox Junk Halloween Horror 2022 Part 11 - Chilling Adventures of Salem

Welcome to Longbox Junk, the blog STUFFED with comic reviews nobody asked me to write!

PICTURE THE SCENE. . .

A group of kids in homemade Halloween costumes nervously make their way up the path to the big run-down house at the end of the block.  As they approach, they see two giant, grinning jack-o-lanterns.  They egg each other on, trying to figure out who's brave enough to knock on the door.  As the oldest kid sets foot on the warped first step leading to the porch, it gives a loud creak. A black cat hisses and jumps onto one of the pumpkins!  The kids turn around, racing back down the path to seek their candy elsewhere.  Amused, the cat watches then run.

The black cat is as much a part of Halloween as anything! 

Let's get a black cat into this Longbox Junk 2022 Halloween party.

The comic at hand today is a brand new one from Archie comics, who have been making a sort of surprising splash on the comic scene for the past few years with horror comics set in a twisted version of the Archie universe.  It follows the adventures of Sabrina the Teenage Witch's cat, Salem, while Sabrina is away.

To be honest, I haven't read too many of these Archie horror comics.  My local comic shop seems to have a hard time keeping them in stock, which says something there, I guess.  But I DID manage to snag this one after the cover caught my eye.  Let's take a look inside and see if the $3.99 (+ tax) I threw down is worth it, shall we?  We shall!

BUT FIRST. . .

THIS IS A COMIC THAT IS ON THE STANDS RIGHT NOW.  CONSIDER THIS YOUR SPOILER WARNING!

 Everybody in that's staying in?  Let's do it!

CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SALEM

Archie Horror (2022)

COVER: Dan Schoening

SCRIPT:  Cullen Bunn

PENCILS: Dan Schoening

INKS: Dan Schoening

THE COVER:

This cover is what caught my eye and made me buy this comic, and what a great Halloween cover this is!  The autumn red, orange, black, and yellow colors. . .the looming cat. . .the mysterious glowing eyes of the animals silhouetted along the bottom.  THIS is a cover that grabs the attention!  Let's get inside. 

THE STORY:

Curiosity ALMOST kills the cat when Salem follows a mysterious man he senses is a sorcerer that might have something to do with the unusual number of missing pets lately.  Salem is attacked by a group of animals with eerie glowing eyes, and when he wakes up, he is in a cage. . .

From his prison, Salem watches as the mysterious man performs a ritual that summons a demonic spirit into the body of a stolen dog.  Being a sorcerer himself, Salem realizes that the human is walking a dangerous tightrope by forcing demons into animal bodies instead of humans.  

Salem tries to use that to his advantage by taunting the demon-possessed animals about their lowly state.  Finally, it comes to be Salem's turn to be possessed by a summoned demon. . .but to the sorcerer's shock and surprise, the ritual doesn't work!  Salem's cat body is already possessed by another spirit!

The summoned demon, denied a host, strikes out in anger!  The sorcerer implores his possessed animal servants to help him, but they refuse because the human has broken the pact he has made with the dark forces!

As Salem taunts the sorcerer for trying to toy with forces beyond his control, the demons abandon their animal forms and return to their own world, abandoning the sorcerer as the house burns around him!

As the human desperately tries to escape the burning house, Salem releases the rest of the trapped animals and they attack him, sending the sorcerer to the realm of demons to be tormented for breaking the dark pact.  Salem watches the sorcerer's death with amusement, then returns to hunting mice outside.

The End. . .

THE REVIEW:

Not a bad little one-shot story!  Cullen Bunn manages to nicely capture the spirit (Heh, heh!) of horror anthologies of days gone by with this tale of magic gone wrong.  I can easily see this story being featured in one of the longer form anthologies of the 60s or 70s where there were only one or two extended stories inside (Like Doorway to Nightmare ).

Like the short anthology tales this story evokes, it's a fast read, without much deviation off the path from beginning to end.  That said, it's a good read.  Unfortunately, also like those anthology stories of days past, this isn't a very memorable story.  It's the sort of thing that is read, enjoyed, and forgotten.

On the art side of things, the autumn color scheme that made the cover such an eye catcher continues through the whole issue, giving us a story told in wonderful shades of red, yellow, orange, and black.  The art is detailed, but just a little exaggerated and cartoony in places.  This isn't a bad thing, it serves to remind that this is a story taking place in a twisted, darker version of the familiar cartoony world of Riverdale. 

CONCLUSION

If you're a fan of anthology horror comics of days gone by, then you'll like this one-shot story.  It's a good read with some very nice art, but it's ultimately forgettable.  It's something you enjoy while reading it, but then it gets bagged, boarded, and forgotten. . .probably never to be read again.  

I can certainly recommend this issue as a nice little Halloween comic, but I'm not so sure it's worth paying out $3.99 + tax to buy new.  That said, it's in kind of a strange place for a Longbox Junker like myself.  These Archie horror comics are super popular, so they're rare in the bargain bins (as in, I've only found a couple of the Sabrina ones over the past several years), so maybe the only way to get this one is to just go ahead and pay full price.  It's not likely to land in the bargain bin anytime soon.

Overall, this is a cool little story, but I'm just not sure it's worth buying new.

Up Next. . .

There's still a little October left, so there's still a little Longbox Junk Halloween horror fun to come!

Be there or be square.

Longbox Junk Halloween Horror 2022 Part 10 - Baltimore: The Play

Welcome to Longbox Junk, the place to find comic reviews you never asked for!

*Looks at the blog proudly*

Just LOOK at all that Halloween Horror fun this year!  A fine batch indeed.  Zombies, maniacs, ghosts, demons and the Bogeyman.  Yessir. . .a MIGHTY fine batch.  But wait. . .there's something missing!

Vampires! What's Halloween without Vampires?

Let's get some vampires up in this Halloween Party!

BALTIMORE: THE PLAY

Dark Horse (2012)

COVER: Ben Stenbeck

THE COVER:

I really like the colors on this one a lot!  The red and orange hues set off by deep, shadowy blacks with a single, mysterious white rose in the foreground give this cover a creepy gothic atmosphere that doesn't really say much about the story, but practically demands you buy this comic to find out!  It's a really cool piece of horror comic art.  Let's see what's inside!

THE PLAY

SCRIPT:  Mike Mignola & Christopher Golden

PENCILS: Ben Stenbeck

INKS: Ben Stenbeck

THE STORY:

Verona, Italy. 1917.  Lord Henry Baltimore arrives in the city and finds it consumed by a virulent plague.  Inquiring about the creature he pursues. . .the vampire called Haigus, the monster who had destroyed his life and family. . .he is directed to a theatre, but discovers that it is a burnt-out hulk, his quarry nowhere to be found.

After the prologue, we flash back to two weeks prior to Baltimore's arrival in Verona.

Haigus is working with a theatrical director named Gnecco on a play, La Morte Rossa Trionfante (The Triumphant Red Death). Helping Gnecco with his masterpiece is the severed and preserved head of Edgar Allan Poe in a jar, kept alive by black magic. Wait. . .WHAT? Never mind. Just roll with it!

ANYWAY. . .

Haigus, Gnecco, AND Poe's severed head are all in love with the play's star, the beautiful Isabella.

Haigus finally comes to realize the mysterious power Isabella holds over him is because she is actually a Muse. . .an immortal vampiric spirit that feeds on the creative souls of her victims, one of the deadliest forms of vampire, capable of even making other vampires her victim!

But Haigus is no ordinary vampire! Once he realizes what sort of creature Isabella is, Haigus manages to break her hold over him during the debut performance of the play.  As he is attacked by Gnecco and Isabella's other slaves in a jealous rage, Haigus kills Gnecco and burns down the theatre.

Isabella barely escapes the carnage, taking with her the severed head of Edgar Allan Poe.  Haigus also flees Verona.  A week later, Lord Baltimore arrives at the burned-out theatre.  Seeing that his quarry has escaped him yet again, he moves on. . .knowing that he is leaving behind the remnant of Haigus' vampire cadre to prey on Verona, but he cares only about his pursuit of Haigus.

The End. . .To be continued.

THE REVIEW:

Okay, not bad.  This one leans in the direction of a more gothic, atmospheric kind of horror than most of the other comics I've reviewed for this Longbox Junk Halloween party.  It has a dark, oppressive feel to it all the way through.  Mignola and Golden definitely know how to set a gloomy scene!

Fans of horror literature that read this comic will be able to see that it rests on the shoulders of quite a few different stories that came before. . .whether it's paying homage or just borrowing elements is a hard call.  Mignola and Golden successfully combine the influences and put their own stamp on it, that much is certain.

Readers will spot moments that call back to Interview with a Vampire, Masque of The Red Death, Phantom of The Opera, Conqueror Worm, and even a splash of Moby Dick. It's an interesting mix, to be sure.

The art is a perfect companion to the dark, gothic tale. . .lending a foreboding and gloomy feel throughout, with heavy shadows and a muted color palette set off by splashes of bright color to bring the drama of a scene forward.  It's the perfect art style for this sort of story!

CONCLUSION

Although this is a stand-alone story, it has enough connection to the overarching tale of Baltimore's relentless pursuit of Haigus across war-torn Europe in the early 20th Century that it makes me want to read more.  I'm not familiar with Baltimore beyond this and a Free Comic Book Day offering I picked up, but now that I've dug into one of the chapters, I definitely want to read more.

Mignola and Golden deftly mix together multiple influences and come up with a tale that reeks of hopelessness and doom.  Stenbeck's art reinforces the gloom and darkness of the story with bold, deep shadows and muted colors.  Together, they bring a strange little supernatural tale that will surely appeal to those who like their horror a bit more on the gothic and literary side of things.

Up Next. . .

This party ain't over yet!  MORE Longbox Junk Halloween Horror fun!

Be there or be square.

Longbox Junk Halloween Horror 2022 Part 9 - Grimm Tales of Terror (vol 2) #9

Welcome to Longbox Junk, where I write comic book reviews nobody asked for!

If the house is rockin' don't bother knockin'!  The Longbox Junk Halloween Horror 2022 party is still going on, and you're invited!  It's that time of year when I pack this blog FULL of spooky comic book fun, so let's get to it!

Okay. . .

I've reviewed a few Zenescope comics and haven't been very impressed.  In response, I've gotten several private messages from readers (after my recent review of the 2019 Halloween Special) telling me that I'm being a bit unfair by coming into the reviews with some preconceived notions.  

But to BE fair, those preconceived notions of Zenescope in general being a comic company in the business of selling sexy comic COVERS without much effort going to the pages in between have borne the bitter fruit of truth once I actually dig into the comics.  Sometimes the truth sucks.  I'm not going to try and sugar coat a rotten apple.

THAT SAID. . .

I'm going to give Zenescope another chance.  The same readers who gently chastised me for coming into the reviews with preconceived notions have informed me that the 13 issue 2015 - 2016 Grimm Tales of Terror Volume upped the quality of writing and art to something I might appreciate a bit more.

With that in mind, I stopped at the comic shop Wednesday to get my pull and decided to check the back issue bins for some of that Grimm Tales of Terror volume.  The comic at hand is the only one they had. It cost me 5 bucks, so I had grit my teeth through the ordeal of paying cover price for a comic from 2016, but I somehow managed to survive.  The things I do for my Longbox Junk readers!

Ready? Let's do it!

GRIMM TALES OF TERROR #9

Zenoscope (2016)

COVER: Eric J

THE COVER:

Wait. What? *checks cover* Yep. . .this IS a Zenescope comic.  But where's the sexy?  This comic has 3 covers, and only ONE of them has a sexy girl on it?  Unheard of! Harrumph!  *adjusts monocle*

ANYWAY. . .I like it!  It's not the greatest comic cover I've ever seen, but it's nicely drawn, and I'd definitely hang this one on the rotating "Wall O' Covers".  The title takes up a lot of space that could be used for art, but other than that this is a nice, spooky Halloween cover.  It has a creepy vibe to it that makes me want to get inside and see what this story is about.  So, let's do that!

THE BOGEYMAN

SCRIPT:  Joe Brusha, Ralph Tedesco & Troy Brownfield

PENCILS: Eric J

INKS: Eric J

THE STORY:

When young Ben begins constantly waking up screaming in the night, his parents are concerned but frustrated.  They think Ben just needs attention, but he knows better.  A voice talks to him from the closet, taunting him and tormenting him. . .

As the nights go on, Ben is tortured by horrific dreams of blood and death.  As he wakes screaming, the voice continues to taunt him.  Finally, his parents decide he needs professional help. . .

The child therapist tries to help Ben, but he knows the truth. . .there IS something in his closet that wants him to do something terrible. The adults don't understand and don't believe him.

Finally, it gets to be too much.  The constant whispering of the voice from the closet, the bloody nightmares, his parents refusing to believe him.  Ben finally breaks and, at the urging of the voice from the closet, attacks them with a knife in their sleep, brutally killing them both!

After the bloody deed is done, the voice from the closet finally reveals itself. . .a twisted, ancient creature that beckons Ben to join it.  As Ben follows the creature into the closet, he sees an army of twisted monster children inside.  He has become one of them.

The End.

THE REVIEW:

Okay then.  There it is.  Grimm Tales of Terror #9. . .The Bogeyman.  Let's break it on down!

I liked it!  It's an extremely simple story, but it's well-written and hooked me in until the last page.  This little story of a boy being tortured into slaughtering his parents by a mysterious voice from the closet taps into a creepy place that makes it memorable and engaging despite being extremely straightforward.  This story starts out on an inevitable path and travels to the end without a bit of deviation.  Is it the best horror story I've ever read? Not even close.  But it IS a good one.

On the art side of things, as promised by my readers, this is some of the best art I've seen in a Zenescope book yet.  Like the writing, it's not the BEST art I've ever seen, but it's pretty darn good.  It gives the story a dark and creepy feel, with effective use of dark shadows and bold lines.  It falls apart a bit during the scenes set in daylight, but this is a story about things that whisper in the night, so of course there's more of a focus on those scenes.

CONCLUSION

Overall, I liked this one quite a bit.  I say "thanks" to the readers who pointed me in this direction, because they were right.  Zenescope CAN do comics without crappy art and stories that seem like thoughtless filler to pad the space under a sexy cover.  This one was actually pretty good.

Is it the best comic book horror story I've read?  I've read better. . .but this IS a simple, creepy exploration of the Bogeyman in the closet trope, backed up by some good art that really drives home the dark and shadowy motif of the tale.

I feel I can safely recommend this little one-shot horror story to any fan of horror comics reading this.  I'm not sure about the rest of the series, but I know I'm going to keep my eye out for more issues so I can find out!

For once, Zenescope is a Longbox Junk winner!

Up Next. . .

This party ain't over yet!  MORE Longbox Junk Halloween Horror fun is on the way!

Be there or be square.