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Graphic Novel Review: Mississippi Zombie by Bradley Golden, Alex Barranco, Joe Wight, Marcus H. Roberts, et al.

Mississippi Zombie: A Horror Anthology by Bradley Golden, Alex Barranco, Joe Wight, Marcus H. Roberts, et al.

Caliber Comics, 2020

ISBN-13: 9781643377131

Available: Paperback, Kindle, comiXology

 

Caliber Comics brings us Mississippi Zombie: A Horror Anthology, a series of walking dead tales set in rural Mississippi. In “Mississippi Crossing Part 1”, Private John Hilliard of the 1st Battalion, 155th Infantry tells the story of his fight against the incoming zombie horde from the north. “Mississippi Crossing Part 2” presents two rednecks in a bar arguing over whether the zombie threat on the news is real, part of a government conspiracy, or if the town psychic was right, and it’s the beginning of the Apocalypse. The conspiracy theorist gets fed up and leaves the bar in a huff, only to discover the truth for himself. “Mississippi Crossing Part 3”, begins on a football field, where zombies break into the arena to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting public. One player fights his way free, only to board the wrong school bus. In “Grave Times”, Theodore and Angela Brown are newlyweds when the unthinkable happens. Angela succumbs to a mysterious illness and turns. Her devoted husband keeps her chained and locked in their basement. He delivers a freshly robbed corpse to her, but it isn’t warm enough for her refined palate. “Zombie Attack on Horn Island”, told around a campfire, includes hapless settlers, a vengeful witch, and bloodthirsty zombies. In “It’s All About Commerce”, four friends are trying to get to Commerce, Mississippi for safety to find something potentially much worse than the living dead. “Planet Z” gives us a science fiction take on the zombie story. It’s Christmastime in an industrial colony in Jackson, Mississippi. Unfortunately, the zombies didn’t get the memo about peace on Earth and good will to men.

I thoroughly enjoyed the stories in this anthology. They are short, sweet, and full of zombies. I want to focus on the artwork for a bit. Phil Williams provides chaotic, intense art for the “Mississippi Crossing” segments, especially when the zombies attack. It’s very well executed. The art for “Grave Times” by Antonio Acevedo is highly detailed and has some great shadowy effects. Shaun Barbour’s art in “Zombie Attack on Horn Island” and Harrison Wood’s art in “It’s All About Commerce both feel close to what you would see in Eerie or Creepy. Rod Espinosa has a slick art style that is great for a sci-fi horror comic. It would be great to see him do art for a Warhammer 40K comic.

I would recommend this for anyone who wants to support independent, well-done horror comics. I think it is important for libraries to find ways to hold these in their collections as well. Highly recommended.

Contains: blood, gore, zombies

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on March 28, 2020 by , Reply

Graphic Novel Review: Nicnevin and the Bloody Queen by Helen Mullane, art by Dom Reardon, layout art and title page by Matthew Dow Smith

NIcnevin

Nicnevin and the Bloody Queen by Helen Mullane, art by Dom Reardon, layout art and title page illustration by Matthew Dow Smith

Humanoids, 2020

ISBN-13: 9781643377131

Available: Paperback, Kindle, comiXology

 

Nicnevin “Nissy” Oswald and her younger brother Gowan are sent to spend the summer with their mother in Northumberland, something about which Nissy is less than pleased. While they are there, Gowan comes across a dead body when he is out playing football with his friends. A modern-day druid is committing ghastly murders, thinking he could free the power of the ancient gods of Great Britain. When he targets Nissy, he makes a terrible mistake. She has a connection with the land and animals around her, one that she hasn’t accepted yet.

page4     Most of the story is great. Nissy discovering her family history, who she really is, and what she can do, offers an interesting coming-of-age tale. The folk horror content is solid.  Reardon’s artwork is perfect for a story full of folk horror, mythology, and ethereal creatures. The illustrations of the Wild Hunt were especially eerie and beautiful.

 

A few parts of the story were lacking. For instance, I’m not sure why Nissy, Gowan, and their mother are spending the summer in Northumberland. It is clear there is a strained relationship between her and her mother, but it doesn’t seem like a divorce situation, given how the parents give each other a parting kiss prior to their leaving. Readers can see the partial content of a letter regarding Nissy being expelled from school. We see Nissy’s frustration and anger toward her mother about having to be away from her friends for the summer. Nissy simply comes across as argumentative for the sake of being argumentative. We don’t get a glimpse of her previous life, and what has led her to become so angry with her mother.

 

Another aspect of the story I can’t come to terms with is Nissy’s crush on a 35-year-old man named Reggie. There is a series of panels where Nissy pleasures herself while thinking about him, and the animals outside engage in sex outside the cottage. While it helps illustrate her connection to nature, I can’t help but wonder if there was another way this could have been played out. A troubling panel depicts Reggie and Nissy nude together. Later, she attempts to engage him in a kiss, which he thankfully refuses. if you are squeamish about teens exhibiting sexuality, you might want to skip this. I don’t mind a healthy dose of sex and sexuality in my horror, but I’m not a fan of this particular type.

 

Contains: brief nudity, murder, sexual content, violence against women

Recommended, with reservations

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on March 11, 2020 by , Reply

Graphic Novel Review: Exorsisters, Volume 1: Damned If You Don’t by Ian Boothby, illustrated by Gisele Lagace

Exorsisters, Volume 1: Damned If You Don’t by Ian Boothby, illustrated by Gisèle Lagacé

Image Comics, 2019

ISBN-13: 9781534312043

Available:  Paperback, Kindle edition, comiXology

 

Kate and Cate Harrow are sisters and small business owners who specialize in exorcisms and demon hunting, while charging reasonable rates. They regularly venture between Hell and Earth during their investigations, sometimes with unexpected results. Cate and Kate are polar opposites. Kate embodies everything rebellious, while Cate is poised and logical. Their relationship is both antagonistic and affectionate. Both sisters are suspicious of their mother. After they figure out what happened to separate Cate’s soul from her body, thereby creating Kate, they made the decision to limit contact with her. The only time she comes around anyway is when she needs something. When their mother arrives in town begging for help yet again, angels start falling from the sky, people’s shadows start vanishing, and the angel Gabriel shows up, looking for help.

Volume 1 collects Exorsisters #1-5 and includes a cover gallery.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was just the right amount of camp, without being too much. The relationship between Cate and Kate is fun to see play out, while they are dealing with various strange situations, and then when their mother drops in. Boothby’s demons and other supernatural entities are creatively depicted, especially the demon who messed up a possession spell and is now himself possessed by a little girl. I’d love to see him in his own series. Lagacé’s artwork is a great match for Boothby’s story. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on December 31, 2019 by , Reply
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