top of page
Writer's pictureChristina Pfeiffer

03/03/202424 Christina Critiques



Here are NINE reviews. As there are so many of these, I will be doing shorter reviews for most of them.


It doesn’t mean they are lower quality, but I also don’t want to ruin too much for you.



Enjoy!


 

HotELL Vol. 1

Written by John Lees, Illustrated by Dalibor Talajic


Pierrot Courts is in the middle of BFE on Route 66. You can drive by it a million times but will only see it when it wants you to. Four stories converge in bloody and sinister ways.


  1. A pregnant woman running from her abuser learns that sometimes what you fear least is what may kill you.

  2. A married couple on a getaway turn against each other in the most peculiar ways. (One of the more insane scenes of a face coming off I have seen.)

  3. A man escapes a serial killer only to leave a woman behind. Her sister, Kristen, goes back to the scene of the crime.

  4. A man believes his bipolar son is possessed. When he brings in a defrocked priest, hope is just around the corner. Right?


The illustrations in this graphic novel had me on edge. The suspenseful writing keeps you turning the pages and hoping for the characters… but you know how horror comics go.


A HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND 5/5



ORDER HERE:


 

HotELL Vol. 2

Written by John Lees, Illustrated by Dalibor Talajic


Back at the Pierrot Courts, the Route 66 gang finds the motel and takes matters of treachery into their own hands when they round up the tenets. Four more stories intersect at the corner of insanity and gore.


  1. A father who has lost everything but his family attempts to find a new beginning with dire consequences.

  2. An ex-pledge to the Route 66 gang must stay one bike tire ahead to make it out alive.

  3. A man finds that keeping his best four-legged friend alive is easier said than done.

  4. An artist trying to find new inspiration becomes inspiration of another kind.


Nothing is as it seems at Pierrot Courts and characters from Vol. 1 come back to play again too.


A HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND 5/5



ORDER HERE:


 

PROMETHEUS IN CHAINS Issue #5

Written by Rich Davis


Victor thinks he is showering with Elizabeth until she rips out his chest with her teeth. Luckily for him, it’s only a blackout dream. The problem becomes - what is real and what isn’t.


Elizabeth finds a new friend but before she can truly bond with her, the bystanders try to restrain her. I mean, a zombie lady with a child, why is that so suspect?


I love LOVE this series so much.


A definite recommend 5/5



ORDER HERE:


 

PROMETHEUS IN CHAINS Issue #6

Written by Rich Davis


Victor is tapped by an unknown voice to open the door the atomic bomb he and his collegues (including his wife, Elizabeth) detonated. Other dimensions are revealed where things aren’t as dour as his world. With his assistance, he could possibly have a happily ever after… but it’s only “the beginning”.


PiC is a remarkable series that is perfection for those who love alternate history, literature references on almost every page, gore, zombies, or science fiction. It has something everyone can love. I hope the continuation is in the works because I’m already feigning for more.


As a whole series: A HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND 5/5



ORDER HERE:


 
 

STOKER NOMINEES


Now for the Stoker Nominees for Superior Achievement in Graphic Novels:


DEAD MALL

Written by Adam Cesare


Five teens sneak into an Escher type mall set for demolition. Nothing is as it seems, not even close. Entities want them separated - weak and confused - as it is easier to pick them off one by one.


DEAD MALL was bananas! Cosmic horror mixed with supernatural, and a bit of body horror made this one unsettling. Also, as a highlight, there is strong representation including LGBT+ and plus size characters used as more than fodder for the bad guys. Sprinkle in great characters, vivid and stunning illustrations, as well as suspenseful pacing and world building, you have a graphic novel that is sure to be a hit.


A HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND 5/5



ORDER HERE:


 

GHOSTLORE VOL. 1

Written by Cullen Bunn


A father who preaches but doesn’t listen, a teenage daughter full of angst and defiance must come to terms with their newly found gift (or curse) of aiding ghosts to transition to the other side. By listening to their stories, the burden is lifted.


But what happens when the father is more violent in his methods and the daughter is worried for the ghost of her most loved person?


I was SO impressed by this one. Learning about the ghosts' stories in graphic detail was fun. The creativity that went into the gory scenes won’t be lost on the horror fan when they read GHOSTLORE. Great premise AND characters.


A HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND 5/5



ORDER HERE:


 

CARMILLA: THE FIRST VAMPIRE

Written by Amy Chu and Soo Lee


An overly caring social worker falls in love with a homeless coat chick that may be more than meets the eye. After losing a client of hers to a mysterious death, she begins hunting for the truth. With the help of her Yeh Yeh, grandpa, she finds out a family secret that will forever change her life.


If you vampires, multicultural retellings, LGBT+ representation, and noir-esque murder mysteries, this one is for you!


A definite recommend 4/5



ORDER HERE:


 

THE SHADOW OVER INNSMOUTH

Written by Gou Tanabe


What happens when a man goes in search of a truth that has been hidden from the world at large? The government is no help as they are a part of the conspiracy. Who do you turn to?


I love a slow burn, I really do. But holy Toledo this was rough. While the illustrations are intense, the pacing just wasn’t there for me. If you love Lovecraft and this specific story, this is for you.  Unfortunately, I was not a fan.


3/5



ORDER HERE:


 

TOMBS

Written by Junji Ito


Nine short, absolutely bonkers stories are in this collection and friends, it is banger after banger.


Tombs - Tombstones in the middle of roads and houses? How can that be sinister?

Clubhouse - Territorial insanity leads to death and so much more.

Slug Girl - Slugs are gross. Girls are too. Combine them for double yuck.

The Window Next Door - Vampires are the least of this kid’s worries.

Washed Ashore - Sometimes praying for your loved ones isn’t the best choice.

The Strange Tale of the Tunnel - A need to the tunnel isn’t as strong as the need to leave.

Bronze Statue - God don’t like ugly.

Floaters - What if your thoughts were more than whispers on the wind?

The Bloody Story of Shirosuna - Why is everyone so damn pale?!


Classic Ito drawing gross and disturbing shit while making the reader turn the page for more. I love him and will continue to for a long time.


A HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND 5/5



ORDER HERE:

35 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

10-27-24 Christina Critiques

This week we are venturing into the literary fiction side of things with four of the six novels up for the International Booker Prize....

Commentaires


bottom of page