New releases can be hit or miss. Horrorwood from Ape Entertainment is a hit. Peanuts 59-60, and Dennis 53-54 are also. Read on...
Every now and then, a series comes along that makes you want to keep reading. Groo the Wanderer from the mind of Sergio. The Peanuts Books from Fantagraphics. And Horrorwood from Ape Entertainment.
Author Brandon Terrell and artist Brent Schoonover have created an amusing, affectionate, and entertaining four part storyline that takes readers into Hollywood of the 1950's. Bad horror films. Seedy bars. Circuses with real 'freaks'. And of course the whacked out magician, hermit special effects wizard, courageous daughter and benevolent protector. All cliches. But they all work!
When washed up actress Sophia St Clair meets Manos and he whispers a warning before he is ejected from the Lost Dreams, her world turns to chaos as she finds herself protected by Bruno Farnsworth, stuntman from the Father and his minions. Jam packed with cliches and intelligent plotting/writing/art, Horrorwood is great. And clearly a must buy for the Horror genre fan.
Respectful of Hollywood history (The Chaney, and Farnsworth), and a plot worthy of any self disrespecting B grade Horror film, Horrorwood is entertaining, and compelling at the same time. Cults. Magicians. Special effects. Washed up actresses. Circus acts. Just where is Ed Wood anyway? Alive and well at Ape Entertainment of course!
Gotta check out the art contest too. Sharpen up those pencils. Find this comic at your local store or online at www.Ape-entertainment.com or at www.horrorwoodcomic.com .
The second book I gotta talk about this week is the Complete Peanuts, 1959 to 1960. As with all of the great Peanuts compilations, this one is HIGH QUALITY, from paper to ink, but especially content. Charles Schultz was a genius and his understated art communicated more than dialogue could ever do. This book is prime example of that. This time, Whoopi Goldberg contributes the forward and we have to remember, that no-one likes their faults pointed out or losing at baseball 600 to nothing. Not even Charlie Brown.
Find this one at your local store or online at www.fantagraphics.com
While you're there, check out Dennis the Menace 1953-1954 too. Another smashing collection of classic Menace!
I remain,
A fan of the genre.
Tim Lasiuta
