The Low, Low Woods #5 (of 6)
(W) Carmen Maria Machado (A) Dani (CA) Sam Wolfe Connelly
In Shops: May 27, 2020
SRP: $3.99
Octavia and El’s search for their missing memories comes to a head when the terrible secrets of Shudder-to-Think, Pennsylvania’s past are revealed at last.
Basketful of Heads #7 (of 7)
(W) Joe Hill (A) Leomacs (CA) Reiko Murakami
In Shops: May 27, 2020
SRP: $3.99
It’s time for a final swing of the axe. In the darkest, coldest hours of the night, June Branch finds herself up against the deadeyed killer who abducted her lover…and comes face to face with some truths even more horrifying than a basketful of heads.
Creepy, weird, WTF, that’s all that can describe Plunge #3, the horror comic by writer Joe Hill. The revelations in the issue are both plentiful and scant as the comic builds mystery upon mystery like a puzzle being formed.
The story follows a salvage crew sent on what’s clearly a shady recovery mission by a corporation. It’s very ALIENS in that way. Where they believed that the crew had perished, we learn here that’s not the case after being teased the last issue. What happened in those 40 years? I couldn’t tell you as Hill delivers a comic that feels like rambling after rambling and that’s kind of the point.
What Hill has done is put the reader in the position of the salvage crew. We’re not a casual observer but an active participant learning as they learn. There’s little more that we know and instead and treated to their reaction because it’s our reaction. The issue will leave you scratching your head, maybe less so if you’re really into mathematics. If not, there’s Wikipedia.
The art by Stuart Immonen with color by Dave Stewart is fantastic. It really nails the unease of the issue. While not quite in the “scare” camp, the design and color choice definitely has a sickly feel about it. That look enhances the atmosphere for the reader building upon the riddles and questions that Hill has laid out. It also made me feel a little ill at times with its general septic look. Deron Bennett‘s lettering stands out as those discovered have a very specific speech pattern and lettering to enhance their condition.
Plunge #3 is the issue that took what I thought was a pretty straightforward horror story and instead through an equation into the mix that left me scratching my head. As a single issue it’s maddening. It leaves you with so many questions. As part of the whole, I’m sure it’ll be excellent. It’s definitely not an issue to start with and not one you can read on its own. By this point of the story, you’d expect some questions and mysteries would be answered by Hill has taken the formula and mixed it all up.
Story: Joe Hill Art: Stuart Immonen
Color: Dave Stewart Letterer: Deron Bennett
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.15 Recommendation: Buy
DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Wednesdays (and now Tuesdays) are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!
Each week our contributors choose what they can’t wait to read this week or just sounds interesting. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look at!
Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday. It’s been almost two months since the last time we’ve done this and we’re excited to be able to start again!
Disaster, Inc. #1 (AfterShock) – A new series from writer Joe Harris and artist Sebastian Piriz takes us on a tour of some of the worst places on earth while digging up trouble. The concept of disaster tourism is a new one for comics and we’re excited to check this one out. – Check out our exclusive preview.
The Goon #10 (Albatross Funnybooks) – Consistently one of the funniest and fun comics out there. It’s a spooky take on Popeye that’s beyond entertaining and a must for us each month.
In Vitro (Humanoids/Life Drawn) – A sweet, funny French graphic memoir by cartoonist William Roy about him and his wife’s quest to have a child via in vitro fertilization. – Read our review
Ludocrats #1 (Image Comics) – Kieron Gillen, Jim Rossignol, Tamra Bonvillain, and Jeff Stokely is a murderer’s row of creators. The series is described as “A collision of the ornate fantasy of Dune and an M-rated Asterix & Obelix! Baron Otto Von Hades and Professor Hades Zero-K are here, and they’re going to save us all have a nice time.” We already have a very positive review. – Read our review
Plunge #3 (DC Comics/DC Black Label/Hill House Comics) – Amazing horror from writer Joe Hill and artist Stuart Immonen. The third issue is beyond creepy.
Star Wars Adventures: Clone Wars #1 (IDW Publishing) – We’ll take more Clone Wars!
Superman Smashes the Klan (DC Comics) – Writer Gene Luen Yang and artist Gurihiru’s amazing series is collected and is beyond amazing. This is “best of the year” material that has Superman fighting the Klan in a story that riffs off of the classic radio serial.
Year Zero #1 (AWA Studios) – AWA has been a publisher to keep an eye on and this zombie series feels a bit weird to read considering the world but we’re still a sucker for the genre.
Digital Releases
DCeased: Hope at World’s End #1 (DC Comics) – DC surprised everyone with this digital-first release. It was unannounced and unexpected. Another zombie genre riff but DCeased so far has been a fantastic take on the genre and we want more.
Youth #2 (comiXology Original) – A new take on the superhero genre with a LGBT spin on it all. The first issue was solid and we want to read more and even more intrigued as it’s being worked on as a show from Amazon Studios.
Plunge #3 (of 6)
(W) Joe Hill (A) Stuart Immonen (CA) Jeremy Wilson
In Shops: May 20, 2020
SRP: $3.99
The long-lost crew of the Derleth emerges from the wind-scoured stones and twisted pines of the Sinnikik atoll, looking not a day older than when they disappeared 40 years before. They come bearing impossible, dizzying gifts for their rescuers. But at what price?
Dollhouse Family #6
(W) Mike Carey (A) Peter Gross, Vince Locke (CA) Jessica Dalva
In Shops: May 20, 2020
SRP: $3.99
Nobody leaves the Dollhouse. All will be weighed. Only one can prevail.
Daphne Byrne #4
Written by: Joe Hill, Laura Marks
Art by: Dan McDaid, Kelley Jones
On Sale Date: April 28, 2020
Daphne has found an ally in Mr. Brooke, a skeptic and expert on the manipulations of Spiritualism. But when a more immediate danger threatens her life, she’ll learn something very surprising about Brother-the powerful spirit she thought had her best interests at heart…
Basketful of Heads #6 (of 7)
(W) Joe Hill (A) Leomacs (CA) Igor Kordey
In Shops: Mar 25, 2020
SRP: $3.99
Hill House Comics
In the darkest and most desperate hours of the night, June Branch will use her impossible occult hatchet to cut her way back to her boyfriend. But time is running out for Liam, and June’s basket is getting heavier with every new swing of the axe! It’s all going down in the penultimate chapter of the gonzo gorefest that launched Hill House Comics!
I’m not much of a horror fan but Plunge #2 delivers chills and unease. It’s exactly the type I like. Written by Joe Hill, the second issue picks up on the discovery of a dead body and from there just layers on the creepy factor.
What Hill does especially well is pile on new mysteries while not frustrating the reader. We’re two issues in and reveals would be a bit premature but at no point is it frustrating. I found myself uttering “wtf” multiple times but that’s part of the fun and entertainment.
This isn’t horror in the hacker/slasher sense. Hill’s delivery is a tense psychological thriller that may have a big bad bug as the actual villain. Or, is it all psychological? Hill keeps us guessing.
But Hill goes beyond the scares and makes sure to deliver characters we’ll like. While Plunge #2 dials back the character focus it still gives us a bunch of solid moments. There’s enough humor to break the tension and already I found myself reacting to actions like “don’t go in there.” There’s that internal interactive element that makes horror fun. It helps too that so far all of the characters are likeable. Some are more so than others but none are at the point you want to see them die, even the shady ones I have my questions about.
All of this is helped by Stuart Immonen‘s art and Dave Stewart‘s colors. There’s an unease about it all. The blues of the comic gives it all a sickly feel in a way adding to the vibe of it all. The comic is all about giving the reader an off feel about everything. What should be straightforward often isn’t with enough detail to create angst without grossing readers out. At no point does the comic go into over the top gore but there’s more than enough to get to the point of disturbing.
Plunge #2 continues the psychological horror thriller adding to the mystery of it all and going for unease instead of scares. It delivers a fantastic mix of characters and settings with a look that helps create a creepy tone. This is a must for those that enjoy this sort of horror and for even those that don’t.
Story: Joe Hill Art: Stuart Immonen
Color: Dave Stewart Letterer: Deron Bennett
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy
DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Wednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!
Each week our contributors choose what they can’t wait to read this week or just sounds interesting. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look at!
Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.
Alienated #2 (BOOM! Studios) – Three kids discover an alien and there’s no way this goes well. An amazing first issue and we’re expecting the same from the second.
Archangel 8 #1/Hotell #1/Red Border #1/Resistance #1 (AWA Studios) – AWA Studios launches with four series all being released this week. We’ve read the teaser magazine and these all look great. A new publisher? We’re in!
Artemis & the Assassin #1 (AfterShock) – A time traveling assassin and a spy from 1944 try to kill each other. Yeah, this sounds awesome.
Bad Reception #4 (AfterShock) – Each issue is like an Agatha Christie novel and it’s been so good.
Bang! #2 (Dark Horse) – The debut was a crazy riff on the James Bond genre. There were enough twists to make it stand out and we want to see where it goes.
Canopus #2 (Scout Comics) – Fantastic sci-fi and a must get. The debut issue was one of the best of the year so far. Helen’s stuck on a mysterious planet and doesn’t know why.
Outlawed #1 (Marvel) – There are absolutely echoes of Civil War but the first issue is a solid start to what’s coming.
Plunge #2 (DC Comics/DC Black Label/Hill House Comics) – The first issue was fantastic horror and we’ve been awaiting the second.
Starship Down #1 (Dark Horse) – An extraterrestrial ship is discovered buried under the ice for thousands of years.
Undiscovered Country #5 (Image Comics) – This comic has been crazy with everything it’s throwing out there and mixing together. Mad Max and apocalypse story with possible time travel-ish elements. It’s all over and just crazy fun.
Wicked Things #1 (BOOM! Studios) – A spin-off from Giant Days about everyone’s favorite child detective: Charlotte Grote!
X-Ray Robot #1 (Dark Horse) – Mike Allred’s latest and Allred’s name alone has us excited for the first issue.
