Marvel: Black, White & Blood AND Guts #1

Marvel has been offering several 'Black, White, Blood and Guts ' one-shots this autumn season. But this is the only one that I have seen that was advertised as the company's annual Halloween release. I guess the Crypt of Shadows was being renovated this year.

I read this a couple weeks ago actually. But I forgot to review it. Well, I forgot to write it down. I'm realizing that I have developed this habit of writing up really good reviews in my dreams and then going about my business thinking that I already given my opinion on the works in person.

There are 3 stories. The first two, star the vampire hunter, Blade. 

The opener is a bloodbath on par with the opening scene of the original Blade movie starring Wesley Snipes. It imagines if Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg were vampires who use a medical social media app of their design to recruit the healthiest of the healthiest users for their own personal smorgasbord. True, the names have been changed to protect the innocent; but deep down you know that writer Al Ewing was referring to Musk and Zuckerberg as the bloodsuckers in that fright fest. 

In story #2, Blade's hired to protect a member of a dying family of hellhoundss. Instead of killing the seemingly little girl, Blade reluctantly takes the job, fighting off a horde of the undead who wants the ageless child for her imbued blood. It was a thrill a minute read that left me confused. I thought Blade was committed to destroying all vampires. And yet, he's a group of day sleepers that not only does Blade respect, but feels their survival is vital to, um well... I'm not sure. But Blade feels some sort of loyalty to them. I may have to do a wiki-search for more information.

The final story takes place in the not too distant future. It might also take place on another Earth; but the reader is given the option by the narrator to decide that. The possible grandchild of Pepper Potts brings a friend over to her house in search of the late Tony Stark's Iron Man armor. The Avenger was killed by a curse from a demi god and unbeknownst to the lad, he's about to fall under its voodoo when he tries on the helmet.

Of the 3 stories, this was the best one. It has that classic horror twist ending with a gruesome final panel that leaves everything to the reader's imagination. The middle story was great but a bit too confusing for me. For someone who likes symmetry and for themed books to follow a shared concept, not having Blade in the final story makes my brain itch. 

Another element of this book that makes my brain itch is the cover. It's an amazing cover by E.M. Gist. It has an Alex Ross quality to it ,which means I love it. While it has Blade in the background as well as Iron Man, it also has the Hulk and the Silver Surfer on the cover. Where the heck are they in this one-shot? What's that? This isn't the 2025 Marvel Halloween special?!

Even though the Previews description for this issue ties in the October release date, this isn't a one-shot; nor is it meant for Halloween. Adding to my misunderstanding, one of the variant covers has Cyclops and Jean Grey in costume at a Halloween party. Now I understand why the owner of my local comic shop asked me if I wanted the rest of the books. I thought they were asking if I wanted the special covers. I have requested some of them previously before. But what he was asking me was whether or not I wanted the other 3 issues of this horror anthology miniseries with a gory slant to it. In other words: Marvel isn't releasing a series of 'Black, White, Blood & Guts' specials. They're all part of a miniseries!

Okay, so I can forgive Marvel and E.M. Gist for putting Hulk, Surfer and parts of the Punisher and Thor on the main cover without them being in this book. Upon researching the other 3 issues, they all appear to be on tap for future starring roles in a forthcoming issue. Gist just seems to be giving readers a preview of what's in store and I can appreciate that. What I cannot overlook is having Blade in 2 of the 3 tales. Why couldn't he either have been in all 3 or that he could have been removed from one of the stories he started in. I don't mind either way- though I think an all-Blade issue would have been sweet! (Maybe next Halloween?) But this uneven presentation just irks me and I must take away 1 star from my rating.

Will I get the other 3 issues? I do love horror and these were a trio of pretty good tales. But I probably will wait to find them in a bargain box instead of shelling out the full cover price of $5.99, which is in my opinion, just a bit too high for my preference.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Dracula's Brunch Club (Family Comic Friday)

I started off my Halloween reads of 2025 with a fantastic book. Dracula's Brunch Club blends humor, horror and culinary arts in a story that takes everything you know about vampires and flips it around 180 degrees.

Count Dracula has won international fame. Not because he's the king of the vampires but because he's a world renowned donut maker! His sugary delights have forged a peace between humans and the undead. He even hosts a weekly brunch club where even werewolves can't help themselves for a taste of Dracula's famous crullers.

Dracula's claim to fame are his blood orange jelly donuts. It gives all of the vampires that partake a needed boost of late night energy. However, everything the Count has built threatens to come crashing down when his supply of blood orange jelly is stolen. Unable to make his signature dish, it provides an opening for a rival vampire to become the head of the brunch club, which is now full of mysterious new members. And he's even banished all of the human members from the club!

With jams, jellies and fruits on short supply, now Dracula and his trusty French Baker Chef Jeleu (Jelly in French) must create a new gelatin filled donut. Without it, the town's children's hospital fundraiser will be ruined, the Count will lose the coveted Spirit Award for excellence in baking and worse! No longer be a member of the very brunch club Dracula created! 

Writer Brian Gonsar and artist Keenan Gaybba make their graphic novel debut in this 2025 work from Oni Press. It has a spooky vibe with liberal amounts of silliness and humor. The entire foundation of vampire folklore is in this book; from their inability to reflect in mirrors to their love of A,B and O positive and negative blood. A few townsfolk get turned into creatures of the night. But it's all done off scene. There's a little bit of fisticuffs between Dracula and his rival. But it's nothing that's too scary or violent. 

Recommended for readers aged 8-12 on Amazon, I can support that suggestion. This book fits right in that kind of sweet spot for kids of that age who like scary things as well as really silly reads.

I love the cover. It's an image of a box of donuts. The fang marks on the jelly donut is hilarious. The plastic window in the shape of a coffin is genius. And the Dunkin' looking font was so clever. It perfectly hints at everything you should expect from this book: horror and humor.

I really thought I made a great choice with this book to start off my October of Halloween reads. This book isn't set during Halloween. But unlike a Christmas read, does a read for All Hallows Eve have to be set on October 31st? I don't think so. As long as there's that supernatural vibe, whether terrifying or not, a Halloween read can be set during any time of year. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Ominous Omnibus, Vol. 3: Fiendish Fables of Devilish Delicacies

The third and final Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Omnibus is here! Well, actually it debuted in August and I kept waiting on it to show up at my favorite comic book shop. But for one reason or another, the book never came. Once my guys determined that the distributors weren't going to fill the order request, I went to Amazon and ordered it myself. I hate not being able to support a local small business like that...

'Fiendish Fables of Devilish Delicacies' might be the best of the bunch. It features a bunch of celebrity writers taking horrifying shots at America's Favorite Family. Comedian Thomas Lennon and Rocker Rob Zombie are among those who contribute. But it was the re-pairing of 2 iconic teams from the pages of comic history that were my favorite out of all 3 volumes.

Swamp Thing co-creators, Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson, join forces once again to pose a tale that suggests what might have happened if Homer was killed and put into a vat of Apu's Squishee mix to become the Squish Thing! Then Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan reunite to propose what would happen if Homer lead a team of vampire hunters against the dreaded Count Dracula. I must admit it took me a couple of pages to realize that this was a parody of Marvel's The Tomb of Dracula horror comic from the 70s and not a send-up of Universal's Dracula. However, once I did, I was enthralled because I cut my horror comic lovin' teeth on that series! Colan's artwork was so stunning. It looked 3-D. Artists today can barely make classic comic characters look 2-D. When you read that story, you are in the presence of genius. 2 geniuses! 

Speaking of bad art, there was one story called 'Boo-tleg' in which the Kwik-E-Mart is selling poisoned Halloween candy to the citizens of Springfield. To hide his crimes, Apu keeps making clones of the townsfolk. But the results are less than ideal. I get the premise of the story and I liked the satire of the effect cloning could have on society. Yet, the artwork looked like really poor computer animation. Like so bad, it makes the Dire Straits music video, 'Money For Nothing' look modern!

One thing I had been missing were the covers. This book includes that much desired cover gallery. I still never got the Treehouse of Horror Halloween annuals printed in order; but at least I now have all of the material that would be included, if I owned the entire set. But there are lots of extras that only appeared in the trade collections. So that makes this a super-omnibus. Even with the near $150 I paid for all 3 volumes, I came out on top. Prices for some of those annuals are with price tags of $30-$50 each. No way in heck am I going shell out that type of money for a Simpsons floppy; no matter how much I love Halloween books!

Now if only Harry N. Abrams would collect the Simpsons Winter Wingdings and other seasonal Holiday material in an omnibus or two...

They saved the best material for last!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Old Head

After the death of his mother, a retired basketball player and his daughter return home to settle her estate. The owner of the creepy old castle up the road has wanted desperately for years to purchase the home. When the athlete goes to sell his childhood home, he learns that the residents of the citadel are a coven of vampires, led by the Lord of the bloodsuckers himself, Count Dracula! 

Kyle Starks wrote and illustrated this madcap tale that may look suitable for children. But it's anything but! Lots of swears. Tons of gratuitous talk about sexual depravity. Lots of blood and death. Some nudity; including an anus! What do you expect? It's rated mature!

My wife actually picked this book up for me. It states on the back cover that Dracula and his brood are preparing for their favorite holiday. Me being a fan of holiday comics and graphic novels, she thought that this was a Halloween set book. I must admit, from reading the description, I did too. But there's a saying, 'don't judge a book by its cover ' and that also applies to the back of the book as well as the front.

I also thought that the retired basketball star, nicknamed 'Old Head' by rookies, was going to battle the vampires in a game of basketball. It would have fit with the oddball nature of the book. Plus there's an image on the back cover of the protagonist dunking over someone outdoors, at night with a full moon out. Assumptions got me again.

Not a bad read for only $3. I won't keep it. But maybe I can get a keeper when I trade this in at a used book store somewhere. Expect the unexpected. Only not in terms of scares but Monty Python level comedic twists that definitely push the envelope over the edge and into the rubbish bin. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

The 25 Baubles of Pop Culture! Advent 2022, Day 2

In order to not be biased in the pop culture ventures I celebrate for this advent, I used a pop culture random generator. For days 2-20, with exception of Day 18, fate decided my Advent focuses for me. That's why today's franchise is Buffy the Vampire Slayer because if it wasn't for randomness, I wouldn't be dipping my toe into this pool.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer originally was a comedy horror film. The creation of Joss Whedon, the 1992 film starring Kristy Swanson (The Chase) and Luke Perry (Beverly Hills 90210) was a modest hit. However, it wasn't until Whedon rebooted the series as a gritty TV series starring Sarah Michelle Gellar (Cruel Intentions) that Buffy became a cultural phenomenon. 

I had seen the film. But I never watched the TV show. What little bit I know comes from Free Comic Book Day releases a couple of Halloween themed Buffy comic books and clips of the show highlighted on E!'s The Soup. 

When it comes to holiday ornaments starring Buffy and her gang of friends known as 'The Scoobies' you'll have to go the homemade route. Both Amazon and Etsy have a few things related to the horror franchise. My favorite offerings is a picture image of actress Gellar with the holiday pun 'I Sleigh', a glass ball that declares that '2021 Sucks', and a sparkly bauble devoted to Buffy's high school, Sunnyvale High.

I also have seen evidence of a set of mini-bust ornaments that feature 11 characters from the TV show, including the vampires Spike and Angel. Created by Moore Creations, these are some professional grade looking pieces. But I don't think that they are officially licensed nor were they originally intended to be hung on a tree. I've seen these mini busts sold as both something you place on your display shelf and your tree. The only difference is that the ornaments have a screw with a ribbon protruding from the top of each busts' noggin. 

Vampires Halloween Special #1

A Halloween special about vampires featuring lost stories from pre-code horror? Uh, yes Please! Horror from 1955-1970 might be kinda lame. And you'd have the Comics Code to blame for that. But horror comics published before 1955 can be pretty gory and gruesome. 

Leading the way were the titles from EC Comics- The Vault of Horror, The Haunt of Fear and last but not least, Tales From The Crypt. The stories selected by the editors of Asylum Press weren't of the quality of EC. Yet, this wasn't a bad collection of tales starring bloodsuckers either. 

The best story was the opening haunt. It takes place in Florida of all places. Two people are found dead. The evidence points to a vampire. Well, there's a trail of blood that points to the new lady in town's domicile. Bound to her cot in a cell, the police will wait out the night to see if the prisoner changes into a vampire. It turns out that the lady really is a vampire. Yet if she can deceive one of the guards into giving her a blood transfusion, the fiend will beat her murder rap. The real twist to this story is what happens afterwards!

Another thriller that is almost equal in quality to that prior story is set during the Nazi occupation of France. A housewife, fearful of being sent to the concentration camps, forces her husband to eagerly join the Nazis as a traitor. As the couple rise in the ranks of the gestapo, their blood lust and cruelty reach ungodly heights. 

Where's the vampire in this story you ask? Oh, it's there. So is a zombie. It's a match-up I never expected to ever see. But I think the horrors of the holocaust were more terrifying than the addition of the creatures of the night.

The next best story is set in the old country. The time period, uh I'd say 150-200 years ago. Here, an evil baron takes a village girl to be his wife. It's a marriage arrangement that will most likely end in death. Can her true love rescue her from the baron's legion of human headed bat things?

The real twist to this story is that there's no twist! I know, right? Isn't that a law? I didn't think stories in horror comics could end without some sort of Hitchcockian twist ending! 

My least favorite ghost story involves a man who runs a side show that promises to host a true vampire along with several other monsters. His wife is cheating on the man with one of his assistants. When the business man learns of the affair, he takes matters into his own deadly hands. 

The problem with the story was multiple. I didn't quite understand how he got his monsters to come alive even though their supposed to be in giant bottles of formaldehyde. The dialogue was cheesy. And whomever was the artist apparently never took a lesson in anatomy. If you take both the left and right arm of a torso and put them both on the right side of another that already has a right arm on it, you should have 2 right hands and 1 left- NOT 3 RIGHT HANDS!!!

There were also a couple of one-pagers that were supposed to be true ghost stories that involved vampires. They weren't Eisner award winners. But for fillers, they were still entertaining. 

I got to say that I'm very impressed with Asylum Press. This is only like the second or third time I've read something from them, yet they've aroused my interest in more from them every time I do! There are ads for at least one other Halloween special from them and I'd love to add it to my collection at some point. Plus, I'm now prompted to also search for other past Halloween haunts offered from the publisher in year's past.

The stories weren't all perfect. Though I think that Nazi story is gonna stick with me for quite a while. Will it be for what was intended to scare- the vampires? No. But sometimes the true horrors come from real life.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 

Marvel Comics Presents #146

Issue #146 marks the last of the 'Siege of Darkness' devoted issues. 

You really get the sense that these 4 segments are designed mostly to tie up the loose ends. Though there are some notable occurrences peppered throughout.

In the Doctor Strange segment, the demoness Salome makes her first appearance. A minor character that has yet to appear in any movie or TV show as far as I can tell. This debut probably does very little to move the issue value needle. But that could change.

Readers are re-introduced to the Nightstalkers. A trio of ghoul hunters composed of Blade, Hannibal King and Frank Drake; these guys really hate each other. The Children of the Night might have a legitimate chance if the Nightstalkers decide to finish each other off first!

The Devil-Slayer, Eric Payne, is finally given a chance to redeem himself. After years of battling booze, demons and skeptics, the troubled hero finally comes out on top. 

Lastly, continuing from last issue's Ghost Rider story, Danny Ketch attempts to move Heaven and Earth to safe a friend and ally from a deadly Lilin attack.

Speaking of that Ghost Rider story, this is Ketch's swan song in the pages of MCP. At least as a main feature. Wolverine stepped down several issues ago and next issue, Vengeance, that much more hard core version of Ghost Rider will take over for a little while.

Lastly, I want to talk about the cover. As you may recall, MCP has flip covers. The Blaze cover was far more superior than the Doctor Strange image I chose. I don't know why, but I just like the one with the Sorcerer Supreme more for some reason.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

A Vampire in Hollywood: And Other Tales of Supernatural Law

The last few issues of Supernatural Law are collected in this volume. 

I personally have a connection to this book as I was one of the backers on Kickstarter for the publication of A Vampire in Hollywood. Yes! My name is really inside this book, somewhere in the back. 

When I backed this project, I opted for an autographed copy of a rare collection of Supernatural Law comic strips commonly known as 'The Red Book', due to the blood red cover. That was about 7 years ago. Just recently, I decided to stop sitting on the pot and complete my collection. (Naturally, I've learned that I'm actually farther away from finishing up my run of Supernatural Law books.)

The cover story of this book is about a 5th generation vampire who's being sued for sexual harassment. The reluctant vampire is claiming to have been outed as a bloodsucker, even though he's a vegetarian. But when his newfound popularity opens the doors to Hollywood stardom, all of a sudden, this milksop will embrace his inner Nosferatu!

While in Burbank, Wolff & Byrd will entertain a series of pitches for a Supernatural Law movie. Led by former Mavis boyfriend, Toby, this pitch session will be anything but normal. 

Oh, and remember when I said that the original Supernatural Law graphic novel, The Werewolf in New York was set to be read before this book? Well, Wolff & Byrd are in California as an in-direct follow-up to the events of that story. While Leon, the werewolf from that graphic novel is never shown, scenes from that graphic novel are used in the 'sequel' story. 

Lastly, things come to an end for both Supernatural Law (the comic book, not the series itself) and Mavis, the sister series. With Mavis, she's got a new beau and she's desperate to show off him at a gathering of friends. But he's got a complicated history with one of the other party goers. And the birthday boy guest-of-honor is nowhere to be found!

With Supernatural Law's last issue, Woff & Byrd defend their most famous client aside from Count Dracula. It's Troma's Toxic Avenger! Toxie has become the pariah of hometown Tromaville and needs the counselors of the macabre to come to his defense. Featuring the George Lucas of Troma Entertainment, Lloyd Kaufman as narrator and extra guest star!

I always enjoy reading Batton Lash's Supernatural Law. But I think this volume was the most fun I've had since reading volume 3: The Vampire Brat. It's got great storytelling. Awesome artwork. And with that last story, it also gets downright silly. And I loved every page of it!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

The Vampire Brat and Other Tales of Supernatural Law (A Madman Re-Read)

The Batton Law series goes through a bunch of changes with this volume. 

First Wolff & Byrd: Counselors of the Macabre changed its title name to Supernatural Law. Then the super couple of Mavis & Toby splits with Toby heading to Hollywood to become a movie producer and lawyer. Then when the monster friend of a troubled youngster runs amok, the law firm will need to find new office space.

The level of homages and tributes really multiply in these volume as well. There's at least a dozen or more famous teen bloodsuckers peppering the background of the 'Vampire Brat' story. Horror movies legends Vincent Price and Peter Lorre show up in a tale about a mad scientist who discovers a way to capture the human soul. And if you were a fan of the Fat Fury, Herbie, from the 1960s, then you are going to love the last story line of the book!

Plus, the only holiday issue of the series (not counting how it's Halloween every day!) Not sure which winter holiday is being represented. But issue #25 is a great tribute to all of the previous cases and characters to have ever graced the pages of this hilarious series!

When I first read this book, I gave it an 8 out of 10. I think I am going to stick with that rating. The Ally McBeal parody subplot to the Vampire Brat story was absurd. I'm not sure if Batton Lash was trying to be topical or was he really fed-up with feminism? The romance angle seems to be taking away from the fun of the unusual practices of the law. With the Mavis spin-off issues, I think that's okay as it focuses more on the private lives of all the characters as opposed to judicial services. But I feel that Mavis' relationship woes are affecting the rest of the firm.

The series when it deals with the supernatural, macabre and strange is just perfect. Not big on when this series starts being a soap opera. Maybe I've missed something. But I didn't think this was supposed to be like Dark Shadows.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.l

Marvel Comics Presents #64

Vampires are the subject once more for the second issue in a row with a one-and-done starring Blade! With appearances of Safron Caulder, Hannibal King and Frank Drake, this felt like a missing issue from Tomb of Dracula. Old Fang-Face is mentioned. But he doesn't appear. Darn!

The Fantastic Four start off a 5-part series. It looks like the first 4 parts are going to focus on a single member of Marvel's First Family. First up is Mr. Fantastic.

Wolverine and Ghost Rider... AND Ninjas! Logan's foes are in Madripoor. Danny Ketch's are in Brooklyn. And it looks like both anti-heroes are heading for a showdown in the heart of Manhattan!

Meanwhile Poison finally meets the Mop Man and the reason why someone is trying to kill this poor paranoid schizophrenic with special powers is finally revealed. And it's one of the dumbest reasons for trying to kill a man. Apparently, when Mop Man is sane- he's quite the lover. And so jealous boyfriend who is like a wealthy day trader with fancy apartment, nice threads and an even nicer car has decided to hire a hit man. A hit man employed by one very large nasty crime lord.

A good run of 3 great entries and one tale that is completely flying off the rails. It's interesting. But geez, that Poison tale is it really implausible. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Fangs

What happens when a 300-year old vampire and a modern werewolf fall in love? Sarah Anderson's Fangs attempts to answer that question with a series of small snapshots of the process of finding your 'soul' mate. From those awkward introductions to navigating the rules and norms of each species to the first fight and ultimately moving in together, this was a creative story that really made me chuckle. 

I made a trip to the library today and I thought I had my reads all ready and picked when I came across the graphic novel Halloween reads display. I saw Fangs sitting there with it's simple scarlet cloth bound cover and stunning 1920s styled image of the Vamp on the cover and I just had to have it. The back cover offers zero information about what the story had to offer. So, I really have to take a leap of faith with this graphic novel and I must say that trust fall paid off. 

The idea of 2 monsters falling in love isn't really new. Frankenstein's monster has his bride. And when it comes to inter-species marriage between monsters, naturally you refer to The Munsters. But having a vampire and a werewolf getting along like this is a fairly new thing. I mean doesn't Hollywood basically tell use that the two types of monsters hate each other as mortal (or is it immortal) enemies?

Fangs is both an allegory for interracial relationships and a text book for modern dating and cohabitation which these days seem to be anything but normal. 

It's a light read with hints of the Addams Family, The New Yorker Magazine and Sex and the City. This is something that your typical non-graphic novel reading friends could enjoy along with you!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out 10 stars. 

Dark Fang Volume 1: Earth Calling

Story: Miles Gunter

Art / Cover: Kelsey Shannon
Published: May 9, 2018
Age Rating: Mature 

A product of the true Count Dracula, Valla is a reluctant vampire. To prevent succumbing to her blood lust, Valla decides to reside in the deepest depths of the ocean where she partakes of some of the freshest sushi on planet earth. A man eater, Valla befriends the other predator of the sea- the shark. 

For decades, her life is far from perfect, but it is sustainable. However, one day, a mysterious black entity invades Valla's sanctuary, killing her shark friends. Enraged, Valla heads to the surface, vowing revenge of those who destroyed her ecosystem.

The vampire discovers that over a century has passed. The black death was the result of an oil spill. But oil is a big money business. To destroy the industry will cost money! What can a alluring vampire do to raise the funds to become a feared eco-terrorist?

The answer will surprise and seduce you!

This Image series by Miles Gunter and Kelsey Shannon (Scooby Apocalypse) was great. It takes the classic vampire trope and updates it for the technology heavy 21st century. 

Bastard Samurai's Mile Gunter adds ecology to the story. But he while he makes the issue thought provoking, Gunter does a great job not making it preachy. Plus the insane twists he adds to the lobbyists funding the oil industry and manipulating the governments of the world are brilliant! I'm hooked on this series! It's like Image got it's fangs in me and won't let go!

A horror story that entices with stunning artwork and unimaginable creativity; this is a series not to be missed when it drops in stores later next month!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Dark Fang, Volume 1: Earth Calling debuts in stores and digital media on May 9, 2018. 

Vampironica #1

Vampironica #1

Written by Greg and Meg Smallwood
Art by Greg Smallwood
Lettering by Jock Morelli
Published by Archie Comics under the Archie Horror Imprint

This Party Sucks

Cheryl Blossom’s parties are so lively. Thus, it is the perfect place for a vampire attack! Just when it looks like the fiends will suck the life out of this bash, enter Veronica Lodge to the rescue!

Archie Comics has been on fire in the past couple of years. They take an outdated character in the eternal teenager Archie. Then they totally reboot him without loosing his core essence of hopeless boy in love with two girls. And then Archie Comics adds monsters, zombies, and horror to the mix!

In the vein of Afterlife with Archie and Jughead: The Hunger, Vampironica introduces vampires to the people of Riverdale. Image if Ronnie was Buffy the Vampire Slayer! There’s definitely an added element of Marvel’s Blade mixed in as only instead of being a normal human cheerleader,Veronica is a vampire. And she kills other vampires!

Keep It Quick

Vampironica #1 was an extremely quick but chilling read. Greg and Meg Smallwood kept me on the edge of my seat with this chiller. I hate that I read my advance copy so fast because it’s going to be a couple of months before I get to know what happens in issue #2.

Greg Smallwood’s art was really phenomenal. It had a lot of elements from Fiona Staple’s work in the Archie reboot written by Mark Waid.

Francesco Francavilla has been doing the art for the other Archie Horror books and I really enjoy it. But I am glad that Archie Comics decided to go with Smallwood here. You don’t want to over do it with Francavilla. By having a different artist in Greg Smallwood, it definitely helps to keep the Archie Horror franchise one of the freshest comic universes on the current market.

This first issue was a mach-1 thrill ride with twists, turns, and lots of blood and gore. Tasteful blood and gore. I loved it! And I think you will to when you get a chance to sink your teeth in it this March!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Vampironica goes on sale March 14th, 2018.

Tomb of Dracula Presents:Throne of Blood One-Shot

An intriguing story of the arrival of the first ever vampire in Japan. Set during the feudal period of the Empire of the Rising Sun, a pair of brothers seek to end the reign of tyranny of a dreaded war lord. Unaware of the threat of a bloodsucker, one brother is bitten in the assault and develops the early symptoms of vampirism. Can the uninfected brother save his clan family before it's too late?

This book was another grab bag find. I really couldn't figure out where Dracula fits into this tale from the cover alone. I'm pretty sure Dracula wasn't Japanese. But my question was answered pretty quick. While yes, this is a story that can be read separate from any Marvel title, I'm clueless as to what series this book segues into. Writer Victor Gischler doesn't go right out and tell the reader to pick up the next issue of some title for the rest of the story. But the implications that this adventure continues somewhere is clearly there.

This book was published in 2011. I'm a little surprised that Marvel didn't publish several more one-shots based on the premise of Tomb of Dracula Presents. I actually would have liked further stories of vampires in other countries. Missed opportunity from the House of Ideas- Oh well...

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Scary Tales #11

When is a scary book not scary? Apparently when it's Scary Tales #11.

The book features 3 tales about creatures that according to the issue's themem, are ones that people would consider as pets. The first piece is about a couple on a trek to capture a unicorn. The cover basically gives away that story's twist ending. While I guess you could consider a unicorn a pet, there's really nothing terrifying about this story so much as it's fanciful. Illustrated by the great Steve Ditko (Amazing Spider-Man), it's really not one of the master's best works.

I really enjoyed the second adventure. It's about a circus owner who tracks down a kind of Bigfoot creature. I almost from the beginning knew how this one was going to end. But the shear shock and terror of the owner was great! The whole concept of a pet was stretched quite a bit and I did not find this story scary in the least. But the narrative was of EC Comics' level quality, it's that well done.

The last piece is about a vampiress with an enchanted whip. She's so alluring, a talent scout brings her to New York City to put on a captivating show. I couldn't tell if the main character was supposed to be the hostess of this title. They were both dressed alike and looked similar. But I am not really that familiar with this Charlton horror comic as much as I am with some of their other books like Ghostly Tales or The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves. So I am not really sure. But I don't categorize a female vampire as a pet and this yarn was too avant garde to really understand, much less be scared by. 

I wasn't too impressed with this issue. From the really corny cover, I shouldn't be surprised. I really have a hard time finding a bad silver age horror comic. I did today and I was really stunned by it. Especially for something containing works of a legend like Ditko.

Not Worth Consuming!

Rating: 3 out of 10 stars.

Criminal Macabre/The Goon: When Freaks Collide #1

   When a gang war between vampires and werewolves erupts in old Chicago, the two factions call in some big time help. 

   Enter The Goon and his sidekick, Franky.  

   Enter PI Cal McDonald and his ghoul partner, Mo'lock.

   Stuck in a dimension in-between Cal and the Goon's two worlds, our heroes will meet in typical comic book: first they'll battle, then figure out what's really going on, and finally kick some major butt. But this wasn't any typical crossover/ team-up because when you have Steve Niles and Eric Powell put together in the same project, the results are gonna be anything but typical. 

    A really fun story that ended way too soon. I wish this was a 2 or 3-parter- especially with that twist ending!

   Worth Consuming!

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.
   

American Vampire, Volume 1

   From the brilliant mind of Scott Snyder (New 52 Batman), trek through the mesas of the Old West all the way to Hollywoodland of the Roaring 20s as outlaw Skinner Sweet is on a mission to destroy the old school European vampires responsible for his transformation into a neck nibbler. 

   Assisting Mr. Snyder is the Master of Horror himself, Stephen King. This is the horror writer's first ever comic book effort and his skill level doesn't waver one bit. 

  It's actually fitting that Snyder chose the novelist to help with the writing duties since Stephen King's 1975 'Salem's Lot' is considered the work that modernized the vampire for the late 20th Century. With that novel, bloodsuckers were no longer viewed as just the Bram Stoker Dracula that spent it's days in the dungeon of Castle Dracul. Vampires were mean, cruel, and eerily able to blend into any situation or setting.

   American Vampire builds on that lore and the modern archetype established by King's masterpiece. Snyder makes this new world bloodsucker literally unstoppable unless it's a moonless night. It actually makes sense to retool the vampire for the superhero age. The Bela Lugosi-type vampires established in the Victorian Era were pretty vulnerable for being the king of the monsters. Mild sunburns are deadly. A misplaced pencil could be lethal. And if you worked at an Italian restaurant, you were probably going to live to see another day from a vampire attack because you reeked of garlic. 

    Series creator Scott Snyder crafted the American Vampire as the perfect vampire to the point it's enough for wrestling fans to chant 'USA! USA!' Stephen King takes Snyder's blueprint and weaves a sweeping origin tale that spans over 50 years of American history. Added to the mix is the deft artistic style of Rafael Albuquerque (Blue Beetle) which blends European gothic with American realism

    Needless to say, by the very last page, I was lamenting that I didn't have volume 2! I'll be rectifying that problem real soon, believe me. But this wasn't a bad investment of only $3 from the year-round book sale shelf at my local library and I wouldn't have been upset if I paid more for this either.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Tick: Karma Tornado #7

   The Tick and Arthur receive a mysterious summons and wind up in Middle of Nowhere, Ohio. Okay, they also make have gotten lost somewhere on the New Jersey Turnpike...

    While at their destination, they discover the place abandoned and pretty eerie. That is until the hoards of rats show up. Then comes the vampire hunter who mistakes Tick for a bloodsucker (I mean he is called the Tick after all.) Finally, Tick and Arthur come face to face with the head vampire who seeks to make the Tick his field general in a rat infested army of the undead. There's only one way for the Tick to defeat this demon- break out the Monopoly set!

    The Tick returns to his level of zaniness hijinx in this very funny and somewhat creepy issue. The story would have made a great Halloween special. The art again was very good and I loved the character of the vampire hunter. But it's the odd humor and non-sequiturs that make this a classic Tick tale.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer & The Guild FCBD 2012

For some reason, Buffy and Spike venture into outer space to track an interstellar vampire. Only this blood-sucker is the- oh, I can’t give away the spoiler. But, I loved the cameo of the non-Buffy property baddie! It was awesome!

Then, there’s the Guild. It’s a web-comic in print form about a group of online gamers who meet up in person once a week and have oddball adventures. This time around, there meeting moves from the usual meeting place of Shoney’s to the beach! The blending of reality and cyberspace is a clever plot device that lead’s to some crazy antics. I’ve never seen this series before, but I am on the hunt!

Very well written. Very Smart. If you like The Big Band Theory, you’re gonna love this!

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars