THREE HORROR TITLES - When The Blood Has Dried #1, The Infernals #1, The Principles Of Necromancy #1
One seemingly pointless, one very clever and one ... genuinely disturbing!
LET’S Begin with disappointment. In dark, atmospheric panels we see a girl alone in some woods, being hunted by a menacing man who is about to shoot her with an arrow, criticising her for leaving some Guild.
Flash forward five years into bright, colourful pages and we’re in a bustling village where the girl, who clearly won that fight, bears big scars on her face but lives a happy ;life running a bar, with the help of some old bloke. She prevents some oil from cheating at cards one night and the person who had looked ready to lose all their money before her intervention announces himself as a bard extraordinaire and mentions he belongs to the Guild. Cue instantly furrows girl brows.
Yeah, so that’s it? Pages were wasted on good nature badinage between her and her wrinkled employee. It just leaves you pissed off more than anything, so I certainly won’t be bothering. Looks like issue one sold out fast though, so maybe there’s good things coming?
WHEN THE BLOOD HAS DRIED - FORBIDDEN PLANET
The son of the Devil has enjoyed life on Earth but cancer has caught up with him. His three children, annoying bastards all, are his heirs, whether he likes it or not. He gathers them around his bedside and informs them there will be a chance for them to impress him and one will take over.
Simple premise, smartly delivered, with average artwork but some snappy humour. (“But in this family, when someone makes a plan … the devil is in the detail.”) All through the book Devil Jnr had been trying to make a deal with various people so that his criminal empire remains in good shape when he passes, and finally he appears to have made a deal with … God!
First issue sold out quick!
THE INFERNALS - FORBIDDEN PLANET
This is the weird one. Dark Ages, or thereabouts, with knights from the city constantly battling the ragged band out of outlaws in the woods. In those leafy surroundings our dark doctor presents himself. He heals their dying chief, who promptly dies in the next battle. Having proved his abilities the doctor is kept on and he keeps on saving, they keep on trying, and dying.
He tells them not to look into his tent, unless they’re a patient. When we do catch a glimpse of him at work he is truly revolting, like a plague doctor turned inside out, and he’s turning them into monsters, the final chap transformed into some massive ogre as terrified as he is terrifying.
Everyone appears to have been wiped out, but the doctor at least is satisfied, convinced he has learned a lot for his mission of defeating death. He moves on down the road to his next adventure.
Grim, but truly fascinating, and the artwork is imaginative and hideous.