Connect with us

Comics

[Visions of Horror] Richard Corben’s ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’

Published

on

This week on Visions of Horror, Bloody-Disgusting writers Farah Al-Hakkak (ShadowJayd) and Lonnie Nadler (Lonmonster) look at the illustrious Richard Corben, and his 1985 cover for “Edgar Allan Poe: ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ and Other Tales of Terror” (as published by Catalan Communications).

Where to begin with Richard Corben? A man who’s name is held sacred by most horror comic aficionados. A man who Alan Moore calls “a genuine giant of his chosen medium”. A man who broke new grounds for horror and is still working today. Suffice it to say, Corben is a highly respected, and stylistically distinguished, American illustrator. He is a globally recognized, multi-award-winning comic book creator, and one of the most influential advocates of sequential art the comics industry has ever seen. Acclaimed for his popular and ground-breaking work on “Heavy Metal”, “Creepy”, and “Eerie”, Corben’s unparalleled artistic contributions in the field eventually propelled him out of the indie underground scene, and into a broader—and extremely venerated—market.

His powerful impact in the comics realm has been immeasurable since then, and had he not established his stylistically renowned approach to horror comics, the genre would not be as notorious as it is today. By branching out and forging a revolutionary connection between conventionally mainstream comics, underground commix (Grim Wit, Fantagor), and Franco-Belgian comics (Métal Hurlant/Heavy Metal), Corben conclusively proved — and successfully maintained — his highly esteemed position as one of the most important figures in the industry. In 2012, Corben was finally elected to the The Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame.

With so much work under his belt over the span of his career, it is unbelievably difficult to pinpoint one piece that sums up his artistic style. From his cover art for “Heavy Metal” to his own short horror stories in “Creepy”, Corben has amassed quite the catalogue of art. Choosing a single piece to feature for this article was difficult, but when we found the right one, we knew immediately. Because of his deep love for classic works of horror — as demonstrated through his numerous comic book adaptations of Poe and Lovecraft’s writings — we decided to feature his cover art for Catalan Communications’ “Edgar Allan Poe: ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ and Other Tales of Terror”. Specifically, the 1985 version. Also featured below is his original grayscale illustration.

Generally speaking, Corben’s signature style incorporates graphic violence, exaggerated figures, and an abundance of nudity. His characters all maintain slightly offset bodily proportions and physical features, which adds to the macabre nature of his work. He pays great attention to detail with a penchant for embellishment, and he has a love for the grotesque which shines through his work. In the piece below, Corben illustrates the usual disproportioned female with embellished hands and heinously sunken cheeks, thus showcasing his talent when it comes to characterizations. The looming shadows produce a sense space and density, especially in regards to the tattered dress and backdrop design. There’s also an exhaustive completeness to his work that is more than just pencils and outlines. Richard Corben is a true visionary, a master of horror.

The 1985 Cover:

The Original Grayscale:

If you want Bloody Disgusting to cover one of your favourite horror artists, or a fantastic piece of horror-related comic book art, head down to the comment section, or hit up Farah or Lonnie on Twitter.

Comics

‘The Wicked Trinity’ – Preview New Archie Comics One-Shot Inspired by ‘The Craft’ [Exclusive]

Published

on

From Sabrina’s Magical World, Bloody Disgusting has learned this afternoon that Archie Comics will be releasing brand new one-shot comic The Wicked Trinity this coming June.

You’ll be able to meet The Wicked Trinity in the 32-page comic on June 12, 2024.

In The Wicked Trinity, “Sabrina’s magical nemesis Amber Nightstone and her sidekicks, Jade Kazane and Sapphire Gill, are intent on becoming the most powerful witches in the world. Isolated from so many around them, the three have formed a coven based on their individual needs for vengeance and true freedom.

“But when there is some dissent among the ranks, their small coven is threatened to be obliterated from within.”

The Wicked Trinity features a script by Sam Maggs, art by Lisa Sterle, colors by Ellie Wright, letters by Jack Morelli, main cover by Lisa Sterle, and variant cover by Soo Lee.

Archie Comics Senior Director of Editorial Jamie L. Rotante tells Bloody Disgusting, “When Editor-In-Chief Mike Pellerito came up with the idea of the Wicked Trinity—Amber Nightstone, Jade Kazane, and Sapphire Gill—I was immediately intrigued. I even had the good fortune to work on the script for Jade and Sapphire’s first appearance in last year’s SABRINA ANNUAL SPECTACULAR comic for younger readers. What I especially loved about these magical teens is that they could seamlessly transcend from classic-Archie stories into more mature, even horror stories. I was eager to start developing their world with a modern sensibility, taking cues from the great work of Kelly Thompson and Veronica Fish on our SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH series, and Sarah Kuhn and Carola Borelli on our recent DARKLING one-shot. Inspired by series like Charmed and films like The Craft, I knew there was so much potential to build up this coven in a story that beautifully blends magical fantasy with horror.”

Writer Sam Maggs previews, “Real witches writing real witches—that’s how we do things over at Archie Comics! I was named after a famous witch—Samantha from Bewitched—and so I grew up absolutely obsessed with everything witchcraft, devouring every book series I could about teen witches. That makes WICKED TRINITY a dream project for me. The power and energy of teen girls is absolutely unmatched (just look at the engine behind fandom culture) and being able to harness that metaphorically for a story like this is such a delight. Everything I write focuses on the power of female friendship, and this story is no exception. And what’s better than a morally grey female character? I struggle to think of anything. Cat familiars, maybe? Also, I’m totally a practicing witch now. So maybe if you read this, you’ll find yourself imbued with magical powers, too.*

Artist Lisa Sterle adds, “I can’t wait for people to be re-introduced to The Wicked Trinity! Witches, fashion, and Archie Comics; this is truly a magical trifecta and I’m so happy to have the opportunity to put my own personal stamp on this. I love to create stories in which girls find their own power, both from within themselves and through their friendships and coven. If you’re a fan of my Modern Witch tarot, you’ll find this comic just as magical.”

Exclusively check out the two covers for The Wicked Trinity one-shot comic below!

Continue Reading