Here’s some of what I’ve read over the past couple of months:
Freak Show, Desperado Publishing: written by Bruce Jones (who also wrote my favorite comic Scarecrow: Year One) and illustrated by the legendary Bernie Wrightson, Freak Show tells the story of a travelling sideshow group who takes in abused societal outcasts and becomes one big happy, loving family of misfits. Of course, this is a horror story, so everything goes horribly, gruesomely wrong and culminates in one of the most disturbing endings to a comic book that I’ve ever read.
Postal, Image Comics: this series takes place in a small town called Eden, where life is quiet and idyllic and the residents live among one-another in peace and harmony. That’s because nearly everyone in Eden has a criminal record, and any offending behavior is dealt with swiftly--and gravely. One of the series’ writers describes Postal as “a Norman Rockwell painting, if there was any blood on it”.
My Friend Dahmer, Abrams ComicArts: writer Derf Backderf shares his memories of classmate Jeffrey Dahmer, who would later become known as one of the most infamous serial killers in American history. My Friend Dahmer has been accused of “humanizing” or displaying sympathy towards a man who committed horrific crimes at the expense of numerous victims, but Derf presents a careful balance of depicting Dahmer’s sad, dysfunctional teenage years while never once excusing his atrocities.
Gotham by Gaslight, DC Comics: I read this one in preparation for the upcoming animated film, which I’m now very excited to see! Elseworlds tales are pretty hit or miss, but Gaslight spins an interesting steampunk take on the Jack the Ripper murders by having Batman investigate them--with nods to familiar villains along the way, of course.
The Tithe, Image Comics: growing up in Houston, home of Joel Osteen’s mega-church, I’ve been aware of televangelism and the practice’s devoted following since a young age. The Tithe explores those who seek to profit from--and take advantage of--their religious audience, and poses the question of whether or not vigilantism is acceptable when it’s directed towards men who manipulate the faith of others for their own financial gain.
House of Penance, Dark Horse Comics: this miniseries tells the (fictionalized) story of the construction of the famous Winchester House that a gun heiress constructed in an attempt to evade ghosts. The elaborate layout changes within a matter of page turns, but it is all for naught--no matter how many daily alterations are made, it’s never enough to keep the shadows and blood away for long.
I also read Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?, which I plan on doing a full review on, and finished up the run of Richard Corben’s Shadows on the Grave series.
