Stuff Out’a My Head

    (Chanting Monks, 2003)
™ and © Chanting Monks Press

Don’t let the cover fool you. The photo and font may scream “B-movie shlock,” but Monks has provided six quality tales of modern horror. Most of them occur in urban settings, although one of them, “The Monthly” (quite possibly the strongest in the volume), occurs in a Mayberry-like small town.

These visions of Monks are well-written, occasionally quite bizarre, and definitely for adults only. Additionally, all feature twist endings. Each of the six tales includes an unexpected turn of events, but it is never jarring or out-of-place. Each twist makes perfect sense in context and they frequently require a readjustment of the reader’s attitudes.

Wrightson’s artistic contributions are, frankly, inconsistent. They reflect the tone of the stories rather than actual events, suggesting that he knew only the basic plots. His illustrations for “The Monthly” and “Coven” are the most powerful, but his contribution for “Brutal” is inconsistent with the story’s final revelation. The art for “Tokens” looks like a con sketch, but it’s still better than the piece for “Chance Meeting.” That one looks like it was doodled on a napkin while he was waiting for lunch in a diner.

Monks’ stories alone are worth the investment. Wrightson’s art is icing on the cake. Only the true Wrightson completist should pick this up specifically for the art.

— Jack Abramowitz
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Cover Price: $10.95
1 copy available for $17.99 		Joe MonksBernie Wrightson