Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Writer: Damon Gentry, Alex De Campi, Dan Braun, Peter Bagge, Bill Pearson
Artist: Troy Nixey, Ben Towle, Peter Bagge, Alfredo Alcala, Glen Fabry, Joshua Boulet
Release date: OUT NOW!
Price: $3.99

Uncle Creepy here… did you have a ghastly Halloween? Did you find yourself in a deserted graveyard at midnight with nothing but the moonlight between you and your sanity?

The authors of Creepy #22 obviously did! Creepy magazine has been delivering ghoulish ‘going ons’ to horror comic fans since its creation by Warren Publishing back in 1964. Now part of the Dark Horse stable, (see what I did there?) the editors continue to mine the same vein of graphic horror that was so popular back then.

What is it about monochrome artwork and horror? It is so much more effective than colour in conveying a sense of ghastly other worldliness. Is it because our dreams are in black and white? Discuss.

This issue’s stand out story is called ‘Ada’ and in a Benjamin Button type tale recounts the story of a woman doomed to live her life backwards due to the genetic dabbling of her father. The artwork by Alfredo Alcala invokes the feel of ‘B movie’ horror reel and the story by Bill Pearson is well written. A little derivative perhaps but I guess most stories of this type have been written by now.

This tale is supplemented by a routine spin on a ‘drowned girl comes back to life but with dire consequences’ tale and a cautionary ‘don’t approach strangers in parked cars otherwise you will be possessed by a demon’ yarn.

All in all, Creepy #22 is an entertaining enough retro-fest into early 60’s and 70’s style horror but I don’t think it stands up very well when compared to more contemporary horror comics such as Colder.

 

Reviewer: Steve Weller
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker