Boston Comic Con 2011
Written by Shaun Daniels and Edited by Sharon Wong
Boston Comic Con 2011 has come and gone (with a tear in our eye) and we at Horror Haven, like the convention attendees, discovered a number of new comics and their creators. The following is our picks for the best indie comics at the con. More in-depth reviews to follow…
R13
Written by Thomas Hall with Art & Covers by Daniel Bradford and Published by Blacklist Studios
A small fishing boat hoists it’s nets only to find they hauled in more than just fish. The crew find themselves with what they think is a dead deep sea diver due in large part to the floating skull in the diving suit. What it turns out to be is a robot suffering from amnesia who can and does kick some serious ass. Pretty quickly, a fight ensues as the robot must defend his saviors, the fishermen, from a very large and very angry kraken. Neither the writing nor the art get in the way of each other with the written being subtle but leaving you hooked. The only way to describe the art is EPIC with the writing so on point, it feels like you’ve been reading about these characters for years.
Missing Pieces
Written & Illustrated by Alec Keating and Published by White Whale Comics
A young man travels the desolate back roads of an American desert after breaking up with his girlfriend. Along the way and going against what all of us learned as a child, he picks up a female hitchhiker. The main character finds himself dragged into circumstances beyond his control when the two stop at a gas station and the young woman kills the attendant. The art hovers between straight illustration and cartoon, taking the best parts from each and combining them. The writing captures both the awkwardness between the main character and the hitchhiker, and the mood of the barren highway.
Jack Hammer
Written by Brandon Barrows with Art by Ionic and Published by RP Comics
In a world where superheroes are outlawed, PI McGriskin is hired to uncover the mysterious death of a millionaire who ended up looking homeless and possibly killed by a superhero. McGriskin himself is a failed superhero tracking down the very same people he once called allies and enemies in the world of superheroes and supervillians. The writing is tight and the dialogue reads like modern noir. On the art side of things, it really is knocked home with it’s stylized solid black outlines holding in the rough scratchy inks that add to the noir feel.
Tickling A Dead Man Volume 1
Written by Robert Elrod and Published by Swine Song Comics
Every now and again, a comic comes around that is a departure from the rest of the bunch and Tickling A Dead Man delivers just that. This book is an exploration into fear, death and relationship between the main character and his wife who will remain faceless for know. Elrod uses a unique style of cartooning to tell the story of George as he navigates life and death. From strange little Cthulhu-like creatures to black holes that open up in George’s bedroom, this book will entertain and creep you out.
The Deathlings: Anne’s Story
Written by Ian Struckhoff with Art by Manuela Sorian and Michela Da Sacco, and Published by Black Label Comics
Anne, a young goth girl, is floating between the real world and a dream world. As she navigates her teen years, Anne finds herself drifting off to a world where a strange, distorted image of herself attempts to prepare her for the evil she will face. Unfortunately, the bad thing catches up to her when she waits to meet a young admirer. Anne discovers the dream world crossing over to the real world, leaving you scratching your head over the ending.
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Feedback is always welcomed at shaun@horrorhaven.com sharon@horrorhaven.com
