Comics
Review: ‘Evil Jester Presents’ #1
Short stories are one of the best forms of storytelling. They offer fast-paced tales that don’t beat around the bush. Horror comic anthologies used to be all the rage with books like “Eerie” and “Tales from the Crypt”, and thankfully they are seeing resurgence. The newest player in the game is “Evil Jester Presents”, and it’s an impressive debut issue with stories from Jack Ketchum, Jonathan Maberry, William F. Nolan and Joe McKinney. All four are quick and to the point which is just was short horror comics should be. Though Evil Jester is new, their story choice for the premiere issue are well thought out and freaky, which bodes well for the new kid on the block.
WRITTEN BY: Jack Ketchum, Jonathan Maberry, William F. Nolan and Joe McKinney
ART BY: Beni Lobel, Esteve Polls, Salva Navarro and Nacho Arranz
PUBLISHER: Evil Jester Comics
PRICE: 3.99
RELEASE: Out now
All four stories are a good fit for a first issue. Two are quick and dirty while the other two offer a little more length, but one thing they all share is an excellent representation of the horror genre. I’m going to focus on the two stories I most enjoyed from this book, the first and the third.
“The Box” by author Jack Ketchum has both a simple and alluring title. It’s cryptic in the sense that the box is shown at the outset, but never returns to the narrative. The tale follows a father who slowly watches his family slip away from him while despair fills his every nook and crany. The story itself is simple but the premise is anything but. As the tale unfolds, the situation becomes more shocking until the final few panels. The art by Beni Lobel is solid, but some of the coloring has a certain digital look that takes way from the horror. Still, Lobel does an excellent job of showing the decaying effects that the box has had on the family.
William F. Nolan’s “Small World” is a bleak take on the future of humanity as aliens wipe out everyone on Earth above the age of 6. The story follows what could be the last adult on Earth as he makes his way through the wasteland that the once highly populated planet has become. As the tale flashes between present and past the scope of the story expands, making you feel for this last bastion of humanity. The end of story is simply stunning. Salva Navarro has a realistic style infused with a nice sinister look. He makes the present dark and bleak, while the flash backs have a brighter look to offer an appropriate contrast.
“Evil Jester Presents” has my attention. It’s given me the urge to dive into classic anthologies for more short horror stories and any comic that makes me want to read more has done its job. With such talented creators on board, Evil Jester is definitely a publisher to keep your eye on in 2014.
You can pick up the first issue on the Evil Jester website.
3.5/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – Green Basterd
Comics
‘Curse of the Where Wolf’ Bites Into August Release With Trio of Werewolf Theatrical Screenings [Exclusive Preview]
Larry Chaney‘s hairy misadventures are continuing in the sequel graphic novel Curse of the Where Wolf from creative team Rob Saucedo, Debora Lancianese, and Jack Morelli, and its author is celebrating with a trio of horror’s greatest werewolf films.
The Curse of the Where Wolf hits shelves on August 7 from Encyclopocalypse Publications.
That coincides with the launch of a theatrical screening event in Houston, Texas, featuring a trio of seminal werewolf flicks turning 45 this year: The Howling on August 7, Wolfen on August 14, and An American Werewolf in London on August 21.
Each screening features a “werewolf in film” presentation as well as a book signing from Where Wolf author and River Oaks Theatre artistic director Rob Saucedo.
In the new graphic novel, “Being a werewolf sucks. Reporter Larry Chaney wanted to be a hero. Instead, he became a werewolf. Now, caught between incredible new powers and a desire to eat everything (and everyone) in sight, Larry must find a cure for his curse. Or die trying.”
“With Where Wolf, I wanted to tell a whodunit set in a furry convention, so the story was pretty contained within a very specific setting and genre. With Curse of the Where Wolf, I wanted to celebrate everything I love about the possibility of comic books. Curse of the Where Wolf is a funny book, in every sense of the phrase, but it’s also an earnest look at a person’s struggle to become a better version of themselves, especially when the alternative is to become a literal monster,” Saucedo says of Curse.
The original graphic novel was previously serialized as the first webcomic hosted on Fangoria before being collected by Encyclopocalypse Publications in 2023 and has already been optioned for film, podcast, and television development ahead of launch by producers James Fino (“The Freak Brothers” for Tubi, “Rick and Morty” for Adult Swim) and Charles Horak (First Date for Magnolia Pictures).
Expect Larry to find himself in even weirder situations in the 362-page full color sequel; Saucedo has provided Bloody Disgusting with exclusive art pages from the upcoming graphic novel that showcase lupine humor.
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