BOOM! Studios has revealed a first look at House of Slaughter #12. Set in the world of the Eisner Award-winning phenomenal hit series Something is Killing the Children, from the minds of award-winning writer James Tynion IV and co-creator Werther Dell’Edera, written by Tate Brombal, illustrated by highly acclaimed artist Antonio Fuso, colored by Miquel Muerto, and lettered by AndWorld Design, the continuation of the new story arc of House of Slaughter sees the return of the fan favorite ex-hunter Jace Boucher as he embarks on a brand new mission to keep not only himself but his young charges alive in the face of a looming danger. Available on February 15, 2023.
Alone after barely surviving a monster’s massacre, Sunny is elusive to Jace–but not the White Masks! Will Sunny join Jace’s former house, or be left in the woods to face the same horrors again?
House of Slaughter #12 features main cover art by famed illustrators Mateus Manhanini and co-creator Werther Dell’Edera with Miquel Muerto, as well as variant cover art by acclaimed artist Danny Luckert, and Giuseppe Camuncoli.
BOOM! Studios has revealed a first look at the launch of a brand new story within the bestselling horror series, House of Slaughter. Set in the world of the Eisner Award-winning phenomenal hit series Something is Killing the Children, from the minds of award-winning writer James Tynion IV and co-creator Werther Dell’Edera, written by Tate Brombal, illustrated by highly acclaimed artist Antonio Fuso, colored by Miquel Muerto, and lettered by AndWorld Design, House of Slaughter#11 sees the return of the fan favorite ex-hunter Jace Boucher as he embarks on a brand new mission to keep not only himself but his young charges alive in the face of a looming danger. Available on January 18, 2023.
No longer the monster hunter he once was and unaware of Aaron’s fate, Jace’s new mission is to protect the orphans under his care. But one of these children may be in even worse danger than Jace knows, as a strange pair of eyes watches him from the woodland shadows… Can Jace lay down his overwhelming rage and guilt long enough to save them all from the terrifying threats that surround them?
House of Slaughter#11features main cover art by famed illustrators Mateus Manhanini and co-creator Werther Dell’Edera with Miquel Muerto, as well as variant cover art by acclaimed artist Danny Luckert, and Jenny Frison.
Award-winning writer Jody Houser returns to pen an anthology of vibrant new stories woven into the larger tapestry of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things in Stranger Things: Tales From Hawkins! Joining Houser on her trip through Hawkins are artist Caio Filipe, Sunando C, Giorgia Gio Esposito colorist Dan Jackson, and letterer Nate Piekos.
On the surface, Hawkins, Indiana seems like the kind of town where nothing too out of the ordinary ever happens, but in the fall of ’83 it is anything but safe. In Issue #1 of Tales from Hawkins, two friends head out into the woods with their rifles and a six-pack. These would-be hunters find themselves the prey of a nightmarish beast who has claimed the wilderness around town and everything inside it, including them.
Stranger Things: Tales From Hawkins #1 (of four) will be in comic shops February 8, 2023. Artists Kyle Lambert, Diego Galindo, and Danny Luckert each contributed a variant cover for issue #1. All four variants are available for pre-order at your local comic shop.
BOOM! Studios has revealed a stunning variant cover by fan favorite artist Jenny Frison for the launch of a brand new story within the bestselling horror series, House of Slaughter. Set in the world of the Eisner Award-winning phenomenal hit series Something is Killing the Children, from the minds of award-winning writer James Tynion IV and co-creator Werther Dell’Edera, written by Tate Brombal, illustrated by highly acclaimed artist Antonio Fuso, colored by Miquel Muerto, and lettered by AndWorld Design, House of Slaughter #11sees the return of the fan favorite ex-hunter Jace Boucher as he embarks on a brand new mission to keep not only himself but his young charges alive in the face of a looming danger. Available on January 18, 2023.
No longer the monster hunter he once was and unaware of Aaron’s fate, Jace’s new mission is to protect the orphans under his care. But one of these children may be in even worse danger than Jace knows, as a strange pair of eyes watches him from the woodland shadows… Can Jace lay down his overwhelming rage and guilt long enough to save them all from the terrifying threats that surround them?
House of Slaughter #11 features main cover art by famed illustrators Mateus Manhanini and co-creator Werther Dell’Edera with Miquel Muerto, as well as variant cover art by acclaimed artist Danny Luckert, and more.
BOOM! Studios has announced the launch of a brand new story within the bestselling horror anthology series, House of Slaughter #11, set in the world of the Eisner Award-winning phenomenal hit series Something is Killying the Children, from the minds of award-winning writer James Tynion IV and co-creator Werther Dell’Edera, written by Tate Brombal, illustrated by highly acclaimed artist Antonio Fuso, colored by Miquel Muerto, and lettered by AndWorld Design, which sees the return of the fan favorite ex-hunter Jace Boucher as he embarks on a brand new mission to keep not only himself but his young charges alive in the face of a looming danger. Available in January 2023.
No longer the monster hunter he once was and unaware of Aaron’s fate, Jace’s new mission is to protect the orphans under his care. But one of these children may be in even worse danger than Jace knows, as a strange pair of eyes watches him from the woodland shadows… Can Jace lay down his overwhelming rage and guilt long enough to save them all from the terrifying threats that surround them?
House of Slaughter #11 features main cover art by famed illustrators Mateus Manhanini and co-creator Werther Dell’Edera with Miquel Muerto, as well as variant cover art by acclaimed artist Danny Luckert.
Horror seems to thrive in anthologies. Their short story-heavy forms guide creators down a more urgent path to terror and the weird given the space given to each individual tale. It’s a whole different animal. Compare Stephen King’s short stories with his novel-length (plus a thousand pages more) work and you’ll find one might even become a different storyteller in the process of scaring readers with less pages.
Cullen Bunn’sShock Shop is the latest example of this creative phenomenon, a flip horror comic that sees the writer go for a kind of ongoing double-feature that celebrates the anthology format while adding a special horror comic twist to the classic ‘crypt keeper’ figure that guides readers through the book.
Shock Shop tells two separate stories presented by Desdeamona Nimue Moreau, the proprietor of a comic book/horror collectibles shop that bears the name of the comic itself. She introduces each story in classic Tales From the Crypt fashion, but looks more like a magician than the iconic Crypt Keeper. The stories reunite Bunn with two creators he’s worked with before: Danny Luckert (Regression) and Leila Leiz (The Last Book You’ll Ever Read). Nate Piekos letters both stories.
The first story, “Something In the Woods, In the Dark” (illustrated by Luckert) follows a group of friends who organize a hiking trip so that a married couple within the group can hopefully find a way through their recent problems. An insidious being filled with violence starts haunting the group, possessing a link to them that might be more profound than initially thought.
The second story, “Familiars” (illustrated by Leiz), follows a father that moves into what seems to be a friendly haunted house. Once his kids come to visit and join in on the fun with the playful spirits, the house starts revealing its true face.
When it comes to anthologies, one eventually starts to consider which story is the best from the bunch. In the case of Shock Shop, both stories are equally strong and enticing. A lot of it is owed to the character work. Bunn’s scripts come with a cast of imperfect people that are as interesting as the things that mean to hurt them. The have a personal history that’s palpable and they speak volumes both in conversation and in their lonesome.
Short though these entries may be, the intention is clear when it comes to the Bunn’s character development. In just a few pages each, every character feels layered and lived in. There’s space for the human aspect to unravel and room for growth. They’re not mere avatars for a metaphor or message. They live and breath and scream, just like real people.
Luckert and Leiz squeeze as much character as possible from both casts of characters, respectively, giving them each a look and feel that doesn’t come off as disposable or superfluous. Luckert goes for expressive facial gestures that tell their own stories and reveal a lot about their personalities. Leiz produces more kinetic work, capturing the energy and excitement of the dad and his kids only to make you feel dread as the house pulls the curtains back on its more sinister aspects.
Shock Shop #1 variant cover by Francesco Francavilla
Piekos’ lettering does an excellent job of keeping the horror SFX under control, expertly capturing sounds without overplaying the effects. Some horror comics try to go big with these parts of the text to simulate a kind of jump scare sensation or to startle the reader. In Shock Shop, the SFX creeps in, letting the reader adjust the volume and intensity. It’s a smart approach that promotes participation in the creation of mood and ambiance.
In an uncommon twist on the anthology formula, especially when it comes to horror comics, neither story ends in this first issue (this is uncommon, not non-existent). They will be continued in issue #2 and it doesn’t look like things will come to a close then. I appreciated the commitment to the stories, in this regard, to let them play out without compromising the anthology format. It makes the deal sweeter. Month after month we’ll be getting two great horror stories in one flip comic.
Shock Shop #1 sets the stage for a pair of horror tales that are of equal quality, presented via a refreshingly twisted comics retailer that I hope we get to see more of. The haunted comic shop setup is brilliant and deserves to be explored a bit further, perhaps leaning into metafiction to get at some other kinds of dark happenings as the series progresses. Regardless, the terror on this display in Shock Shop is expertly crafted and is sure to become a mainstay for horror fans that faithfully tuned in either to their favorite anthology show week after week or to went out late at night for the old school double-feature show at the local movie theater.
Script: Cullen Bunn Art: Danny Luckert and Leila Leiz Colors: Danny Luckert, Bill Crabtree Letterer:Nate Piekos Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy and write letters to publishers for more flip comics!
Dark Horse Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Horror seems to thrive in anthologies. Their short story-heavy forms guide creators down a more urgent path to terror and the weird given the space given to each individual tale. It’s a whole different animal. Compare Stephen King’s short stories with his novel-length (plus a thousand pages more) work and you’ll find one might even become a different storyteller in the process of scaring readers with less pages.
Cullen Bunn’sShock Shop is the latest example of this creative phenomenon, a flip horror comic that sees the writer go for a kind of ongoing double-feature that celebrates the anthology format while adding a special horror comic twist to the classic ‘crypt keeper’ figure that guides readers through the book.
Shock Shop tells two separate stories presented by Desdeamona Nimue Moreau, the proprietor of a comic book/horror collectibles shop that bears the name of the comic itself. She introduces each story in classic Tales From the Crypt fashion, but looks more like a magician than the iconic Crypt Keeper. The stories reunite Bunn with two creators he’s worked with before: Danny Luckert (Regression) and Leila Leiz (The Last Book You’ll Ever Read). Nate Piekos letters both stories.
The first story, “Something In the Woods, In the Dark” (illustrated by Luckert) follows a group of friends who organize a hiking trip so that a married couple within the group can hopefully find a way through their recent problems. An insidious being filled with violence starts haunting the group, possessing a link to them that might be more profound than initially thought.
The second story, “Familiars” (illustrated by Leiz), follows a father that moves into what seems to be a friendly haunted house. Once his kids come to visit and join in on the fun with the playful spirits, the house starts revealing its true face.
When it comes to anthologies, one eventually starts to consider which story is the best from the bunch. In the case of Shock Shop, both stories are equally strong and enticing. A lot of it is owed to the character work. Bunn’s scripts come with a cast of imperfect people that are as interesting as the things that mean to hurt them. The have a personal history that’s palpable and they speak volumes both in conversation and in their lonesome.
Short though these entries may be, the intention is clear when it comes to the Bunn’s character development. In just a few pages each, every character feels layered and lived in. There’s space for the human aspect to unravel and room for growth. They’re not mere avatars for a metaphor or message. They live and breath and scream, just like real people.
Luckert and Leiz squeeze as much character as possible from both casts of characters, respectively, giving them each a look and feel that doesn’t come off as disposable or superfluous. Luckert goes for expressive facial gestures that tell their own stories and reveal a lot about their personalities. Leiz produces more kinetic work, capturing the energy and excitement of the dad and his kids only to make you feel dread as the house pulls the curtains back on its more sinister aspects.
Shock Shop #1 variant cover by Francesco Francavilla
Piekos’ lettering does an excellent job of keeping the horror SFX under control, expertly capturing sounds without overplaying the effects. Some horror comics try to go big with these parts of the text to simulate a kind of jump scare sensation or to startle the reader. In Shock Shop, the SFX creeps in, letting the reader adjust the volume and intensity. It’s a smart approach that promotes participation in the creation of mood and ambiance.
In an uncommon twist on the anthology formula, especially when it comes to horror comics, neither story ends in this first issue (this is uncommon, not non-existent). They will be continued in issue #2 and it doesn’t look like things will come to a close then. I appreciated the commitment to the stories, in this regard, to let them play out without compromising the anthology format. It makes the deal sweeter. Month after month we’ll be getting two great horror stories in one flip comic.
Shock Shop #1 sets the stage for a pair of horror tales that are of equal quality, presented via a refreshingly twisted comics retailer that I hope we get to see more of. The haunted comic shop setup is brilliant and deserves to be explored a bit further, perhaps leaning into metafiction to get at some other kinds of dark happenings as the series progresses. Regardless, the terror on this display in Shock Shop is expertly crafted and is sure to become a mainstay for horror fans that faithfully tuned in either to their favorite anthology show week after week or to went out late at night for the old school double-feature show at the local movie theater.
Script: Cullen Bunn Art: Danny Luckert and Leila Leiz Colors: Danny Luckert, Bill Crabtree Letterer: Nate Piekos Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy and write letters to publishers for more flip comics!
Graphic Policy was provided with a free copy of the comic from Dark Horse for review.
Cullen Bunn, Danny Luckert, and Leila Leiz present Shock Shop! Shock Shop is a brand-new horror anthology flip comic that takes place in a haunted comic book shop, featuring a twisted retailer filled with tales of terror. Readers will encounter two scary stories told across four comic issues. Each issue will feature variant covers by a host of horrifyingly talented artists, including Francesco Francavilla, Fábio Moon, Caitlin Yarsky, James Stokoe, JamesHarren, and Tonci Zonjic.
In FAMILIARS: After a painful divorce and custody battle, Trevor rents a house and tries to rebuild his life. Soon, he discovers that his house appears to be “haunted” by more than one spirit: the minions of a long-dead coven of witches. When the creatures begin feeding on Trevor’s feelings of anger and guilt, they lash out at those who draw his ire, whether he wants them to or not.
In SOMETHING IN THE WOODS, IN THE DARK: A husband and wife who are going through a tough time go on a camping trip with a few friends into the deep woods. As they trek further into the forest, they realize that they are being stalked. Something in the woods starts killing the campers–a hideous, inhuman thing that may have more ties to the campers than any of them realize.
Shock Shop #1 will be available at comic stores September 7, 2022 and is available for pre-order at your local comic shop, with a retail price of $3.99.
(W) Mauro Mantella (A) Leandro Rizzo (CA) Alvaro Papagiani FC · 32 pages · $3.95 Available February 16, 2022 DEC211800
They’ve battled Moby Dick, matched wits with Dickens, and befriended a kingdom of evolved sea monkeys! They’re the genre hopping heroes of Hypercity: the Fictionauts! Fantasy is a serious business for this team, as they scour fictional worlds to right dangerous anomalies and preserve the balance between reality and imagination!
DOWNLOAD #3
(W) Scott Chitwood (A) Danny Luckert FC · 32 pages · $3.95 DEC211799 Available February 9, 2022
It’s all fun and games until somebody gets hurt! Eric and his friends realize the devices from the Download are more dangerous than they thought. But can they trust the Serizawa Corporation with their secrets or are they the bigger threat?
CARRIERS #4
(W) Johnny Arnold (A/CA) Jason Kemble (CA) Elias Martins, Jorge Cortes FC · 32 page · $3.95 Available February 9, 2022 DEC211798
A rogue group of owls called The Parliament are determined to show The Carriers that death is the only way to stop criminals from coming back. Can The Carriers stop this team of vigilantes without stooping to their level of extreme violence?
MERLIN & HECTOR VOL. 1
(W) Rodolfo Santullo (A/CA) Jok FC · 108 page · $12.95 Available February 23, 2022 DEC211801
All legends have an origin, all heroes an awakening. By fate’s design, a young swineherd named Merlin meets an intrepid thief named Hector. And it is at that moment, in that fortuitous encounter, when the legends are born: that of the greatest sorcerer known to men and that of King Arthur’s adoptive father. Together, Merlin and Hector will not only face the fearsome Skinshifters, but also discover what fate has in store for them. If they manage to survive…
(W) Scott Chitwood (A) Danny Luckert Available January 12, 2022 NOV211639
After having his brain filled with designs for hundreds of mysterious devices, Eric and his friends begin discovering the strange and fantastic things they can do. They’re also about to find out that other people have received the Download in the past and powerful forces will do anything to get what’s in his mind.
MEGA #2
(W) Salvador Sanz (A) Salvador Sanz FC · 48 page · $7.99 Available January 19, 2022 NOV211641
The gigantic creature known as “The Salamander” has taken the city of Montevideo by storm, destroying everything in its path. A little girl, advised by her apparently dead grandfather invoked “Mega,” another giant creature to stop the menace. Now the two monsters will clash, and the battle will bring the world to its knees.
CARRIERS #3 – Cover A
(W) Johnny Arnold (CA) Seb Valencia (A/CA) Kurt Belcher FC · 32 page · $3.95 Available January 5, 2022 NOV211636
The gigantic creature known as “The Salamander” has taken the city of Montevideo by storm, destroying everything in its path. A little girl, advised by her apparently dead grandfather invoked “Mega,” another giant creature to stop the menace. Now the two monsters will clash, and the battle will bring the world to its knees.
CARRIERS #3 – Cover B
(W) Johnny Arnold (A) Kurt Belcher (CA) Luis Rivera, Hedwin Zaldivar FC · 32 page · $3.95 Available January 5, 2022 NOV211637
The gigantic creature known as “The Salamander” has taken the city of Montevideo by storm, destroying everything in its path. A little girl, advised by her apparently dead grandfather invoked “Mega,” another giant creature to stop the menace. Now the two monsters will clash, and the battle will bring the world to its knees.
MACHINE GIRL VOL. 2: MACHINE GIRL & THE SPACE INVADERS
(W) Matts (A/CA) Sergio Monjes FC · 120 page · $14.95 Available January 26, 2022 NOV211640
Machine Girl is back… in the ring! Not only is Megan (again) proving herself as the best fighter in the Galaxy, but she’s now part of a group of Space Pirates! And their latest adventure will lead them to an unexpected treasure, which will set a new course for the team headlong to a race of Space Invaders!
THE DARK AGE TPB
(W) Don Handfield (A) Leonardo Rodrigues, Pop Mahn, Alex Nascimento (CA) Nicholas Ely FC · 192 page · $19.95 Available January 26, 2022 NOV211638
In the near future all metal on earth suddenly turns to worthless piles of rust and dust. With no technology, no guns, no computers, humanity reverts to a violent feudal system. Each pocket of civilization is ruled by knights of wood and glass and concrete. This is the new Dark Age.
