New comic book Wednesday has come and gone. The dust at your local comic shop has settled. An eerie silence descends as you finish reading your last superhero book of the week. Now it's time for something a little more sinister. Welcome to Bagged and Boarded: comic reviews of the sick, spooky, twisted and terrifying!
The Strain: The Fall No. 12
The Strain is the Guillermo del Toro-approved horror comic about a nasty batch of vampires infesting New York City. These beasts, more creature than Dracula, run in packs and heed the call of their master. This issue we see the professor and his crew of survivors finally in possession of a book that could save them all. But will it be enough to help?
Bag it or board it up? The first five pages or so in this issue read like a Mignola flash-back. It works well with this storyline, where we follow the professor as he seeks revenge and loses the love of his life. The rest of the comic plays out at a modern pace, and though it's a bit jarring, this is still a really enjoyable read.
Wraith No. 3
Now that author Joe Hill is bringing 'Locke and Key' to a close he's begun a new comic for IDW. Wraith is the story of a weird guy with an a awesome old Rolls-Royce. He's been scooping up kids and taking them to Christmasland, where they are transformed into demented little monsters. Now three convicts and a couple of best up cops are riding in that awesome car toward Christmasland. This will not end well for any of them.
Bag it or board it up? These past three issues have been a lot of fun to read. This series really brings a lot to the table. There are creepy kids, a scary antagonist, and all the messed up imagery you could imagine. Seeing the little kids as monsters is especially creepy when set against the backdrop of Christmasland. Check this comic out.
Curse No. 1
A father will do anything to keep his ailing son safe. And when his son, who's sick with Leukemia, has hospital bills that he can't pay he looks for extra work. Luckily for him, a werewolf's been terrorizing his snowy mountain town. There's a big bounty out there for whoever can kill the monster, so he goes out hunting.
Bag it or board it up? Are we beginning to see a trend in horror comics? A few weeks ago 'Bad Blood' released its first issue. In that comic a young man with cancer gets attacked by a vampire. Sickness is a strong motivating factor, and it is interesting to see the issues of cancer brought to the forefront of comics. Is this a new horror zeitgeist?
Night of the Living Deadpool No. 1
Yes. You read that title correctly. The world has gone to hell and the only hero left alive is the one who slipped into a food coma after eating too many chimichangas: Deadpool. Now the "merc with the mouth" must survive in a world of moaning undead. With two sweet swords and an awesome gun, Deadpool seems well suited for this shambling threat.
Bag it or board it up? Whoa. This comic rules. It works on so many levels. There's plenty of humor, the style is amazing (everything is black and white except Deadpool, who's bright red), and it's even a new take on zombies. These zombies moan, cry, and mumble haunting sayings like "I'm so sorry" and " kill me." Very creepy, very fun. This is my pick of the week, month, and year (so far).