It’s a witty title, this one from DC Comics; Cursed Comics Cavalcade #1.
Taking its meaning from a reference to Cancelled Comics Cavalcade, a collection of stories that were not published when originally planned, due to the 1978 DC comics ‘implosion’. In addition to the fun and creepy pre-Halloween title, we have the cover resembling an old issue of EC Comics. Fair tributes to the past, those are.
As we know by seeing that cover, this issue includes Swamp Thing, Guy Gardner, Zatanna, and Batman! Ten terrifying tales!!
Yes, indeed, ten tales. Let’s focus on the strongest, and why I liked those ones. “Gorehound”, by Gary Dauberman writer and Riccardo Federici art (with Sunny Gho on colors) is an effectively haunting tale of Batman on the trail of a killer. Throw all your preconceptions out the door, and slip into this grimy, claustrophobic story. Very well told!
Another tale, this one involving Wonder Woman, is really wonderful, but essentially for the visuals. Written by Vita Ayala, with art by Victor Ibanez and colours by Matthew Wilson, “Siren Song’ is a little different. Wonder Woman is in a small Greek seaside town, looking into the disappearance of some of the town’s men. As she looks into it, it’s obvious that this is no ordinary situation! Perhaps a bit predictable as the story unfolds, but the art saves the day. It’s ‘Wonderfully’ kinetic, well paced and skillfully coloured. A breath of fresh sea air in the midst of this 80 page Giant volume of monsters, creeps, and things going ‘bump’ in the night.
There’s lots more to read in this comic. But many of the stories are so short that they are little more than pedestrian ‘slice of life’ episodes, or simply show a creepy problem and a ‘breath a sigh of relief’ solution. Whether you buy it or not is a matter of how much ‘cursing’ is wanted!
DC Comics Cursed Comics Cavalcade #1, 80 pages of content for $9.99, assume Teen + rating
Newsdesk