The Dark Gate

    (Cyberosia, 2004)
™ and © Cyberosia Publishing

There seem to be only two common elements connecting this anthology’s six offerings: the obvious being that each is drawn by Editor Brett Ewins. However, despite some artistic experimentation, Ewins’ editorial eye is blind to his own skills; most of the efforts come out looking amateurish at best. The other is that these all appear to be warehoused stories that were awaiting publication. That’s not to say that these don’t deserve to be in print. The highlight is Alan Grant’s contribution, a story so steeped in paranoia that one has to wonder how it ever got out of a backyard underground bunker. Similarly, Peter Milligan’s E.C. homage is best read the way he might have written it: under the covers with a flashlight. Most chilling of all is Ewins’ own autobiographical story that takes the reader inside his head during a dark time in his life. And the weirdest entry is Michael White’s surreal transcript of one of his own nightmares involving some kind of alien pseudo–invasion. It’s not the prettiest book out there but it gets points for being one of the most disturbing.

— Jim Johnson
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#1

November, 2004
Cover Price: $9.95
1 copy available for $7.98 		Peter Milligan, Mike White, Cici Roman, Alan McKenzie, Alan Grant, Brett EwinsPeter Milligan, Mike White, Cici Roman, Alan McKenzie, Alan Grant, Brett Ewins