Horror titles per se don’t normally grab me, but I know a lot of people are interested in them so I think some of these will be of interest.
THE CRYING BOY. Nadia has moved to Forest Hills, with her son Samir. A new start. Just the right time to move into a place where there’d been a tragic fire and a family died. Not only that but it includes one feature that survived the flames, a horrible painting of a crying child.
It's not long before Samir is behaving weirdly, including setting his hands ablaze. The painting, you will not be surprised to learn, is possessing him.
It’s a black and white comic, which makes a nice change and the first run has already sold out, meaning you’ll be looking for a different cover.
THE CRYING BOY via Forbidden Planet
DIVINE POWERS MADE ME is weird. That’s usually a good sign. Young Virgil traipses through a peculiar landscape, until accosted by an old man. Together they enter a building where it appears they are anticipated, and a registration process begins, as it does for all the recently deceased.
Ah, okay. There is a woman accessing the arrivals roster who clearly has an interest in Virgil but we mainly see him in the arrivals area acting a bit stroppy, then losing his cockiness when his elderly companion is revealed to have been a paedo during his life, and he is promptly ripped apart.
Not exactly our idea of Heaven. And then a huge owl appears.
This one I may keep an eye on.
DIVINE POWERS MADE ME via Forbidden Planet
JILL AND THE KILLERS is a chunky comic, cardstock cover, bright and breezy artwork. Jill lost her mum in a car crash, which she survived. She ‘s recovering well and determined to get back to school and her mates, who are equally pleased to see her.
One of her friends subscribes to a Detective Box game, where every month they get a mystery to solve but there’s a new one on the market they’re keen to try and Jill is determined to be involved lest she starts falling behind with her old friends. Her dad stumps up the cash and the box arrives, which seems genuinely tailored to their needs.
It contains actual police records and refers to two missing persons cases in their very area, which both took place on the same date a few years apart. Like all blundering amateurs they go off on a recon mission and having survived attack guard dogs at a local facility find a human foot.
The police follow up on their discovery and soon locate a whole dissected body. One case solved. But before they have time to rest on their laurels someone reports a baby missing … and it’s that same dreaded date!
Now it mighty seem fairly ordinary, teens solving murders and what have you but there’s some really good supporting characters in this, and some sly comedic turns, as well as realistic interplay between the friends. All in all, a really good read, which is why issues 1 - 3 have sold out on the Oni site, so you’re better off looking online.