Grimm Tales of Terror Vol. 2 #10 (Zenescope)
Zenescope is not known for highbrow, high-concept comic books. They have their niche audience, which is what would make this single issue story a bit of a surprise.
We are immediately introduced to a TV news reporter, down on his luck and looking to break a real story instead of the fluff he is constantly delivering. He goes to investigate an old home and something does not seem quite right. It is a horror cliché to say the least, but that did not make it unenjoyable. The dialogue was not fantastic; I found myself chuckling at some very poorly written moments. The story was told in such a brisk manner is that it was really hard to get scared or even care about any of these characters within the issue.
The artwork, provided by Sami Kivela and colorist Marco Lesko, were serviceable. That is by no means a dig on the work, but meant to be said with some praise. It is very often with smaller publishers that the work can come across as unprofessional. However, reading this issue in digital format the art came as polished, although not groundbreaking.
This was by no means a great comic, but I am a sucker for horror anthology style books and has me curious to read more.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 (but only for those fans of horror anthologies)
Puppet Master #17 (Action Labs / Danger Zone)
A colleague of mine read issue one and rated it a solid “Leave It.” However, being such a fan of the movies, I decided to dive into this. I give credit to any film-turned-comic-series that manages to get itself to issue #17.
The new Puppet Master – a young boy who lives with his family at the hotel they run – is having problems with the Puppets. They are falling apart and he cannot get them to go back together. Meanwhile, a group of Luchador wrestlers show up with their sleazy manager to spend the night. We then get a very uninspiring story that even the most rabid Luchador fans will want to pass up.
The one strong thing I can say is that the art had some very gory and violent scenes, courtesy of the Puppets. While I do not want this in all my comics – or even all my horror comics – I like the occasional gasps that rival some in The Walking Dead.
Rating: 1 out of 5
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina #6 (Archie)
Letterers are often the forgotten piece of comic artwork, but Jack Morelli’s work in this comic are STUNNING. Typically when you look at a lot of yellow-text books, the text feels heavy and drawn out. Not here. Not even close. The subtlety that he uses for when the cobras are speaking just says talent.
With amazing lettering, it’s hard to imagine that the art would not blow anyone away. The art is simply flawless. While the other books I looked at were flat, the art and coloring in Sabrina was deep and rich. The tone is dark, but not soaked in black ink.
Roberto Agguire-Sacasa weaves a true tale of sadness and horror. We are introduced to a ton of complex characters, but this ensemble cast each has their moments, and Agguire-Sacasa writes a script made for the best television dramas.
One last thing to note: it is very easy for one shot story’s to use “Let Me Tell You a Tale.” There is something special when you can take a cliché and push its expectations and deliver not one, but two complete tales in a limited page count.
Perhaps you are like me and LOVED Afterlife with Archie. Perhaps you even loved issue #1 of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. But with their infrequent release schedule, perhaps you are also like me and do not catch it in issue form.
Well, whether you are current on either series or never have read an issue (or even know who Sabrina is), this is a book that you can pick up and enjoy immediately.
Ratings: 5 out of 5
When not writing about horror comics, Ryan enjoys long walks on shark-infested beaches (or at least watching them on the screen). If you like what you read, tweet out the link to the column and use the #comicpapercuts. If you want to read more, follow Ryan and look for his other comic columns and interviews over at Two-Headed Nerd.