Morbid

(Dark Horse, 2005)
™ and © Dark Horse Comics, Inc.

Pete von Sholly’s singular method of photographing models (both human and sculpted) to make a fumetti comic with digital touch–ups rises from the grave at Dark Horse. Most of the stories are giddily campy, like a Troma film dropped onto the comics page, though there are a couple of straight bids at horror. It’s a book for anyone who enjoyed an EC comic from the 50s, though it won’t provide the same ghastly gasps and giggles, mainly because story takes a backseat to the visual staging. Even humorous tension fails to manifest, but you’re buying it for the bizarre feeling of staring at photographed humans set against monstrous demons, dinos and outer space invaders in just the right (or rightly wrong) colors to keep things looking surreal rather than cheesy. It’s better for von Sholly’s work to grab its cheese on the story side than the depiction, at any rate, since that’s the hook that sets this endeavor apart from other horror. Besides, who can begrudge a book with characters named Helena Handbasket and Dr. Professor? Von Sholly might want to parse his stories better, though. The use of the same actor three times in a row makes the stories run together.

— Brendan McGinley

Jump to issue:

Notes

Writer

Artist

#1

September, 2003
Cover Price: $14.95
1 copy available for $11.50

Pete Von Sholly

#2

February, 2005
Cover Price: $14.95
1 copy available for $11.00

Pete Von Sholly