Fabulous Frightmares Vol. 1by Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 8 This is an anthology of classic horror mash-ups with a queer twist."Shewolf of Paris" -- I like the combination of werewolves and Nazis, especially against each other. It's a simple story of love and betrayal, but setting it within WWI with a resistance versus the Nazis makes it feel like a bigger story. There's lots of gorey action. The gore is tempered by the fact that the art is just black ink on white with little shading and no coloring. The action itself is quite good, playing up the superior strength of the werewolves among other things. I like the variety of body mechanics, including a few kicks that one doesn't normally see used in comics. The female werewolf is a lesbian, which is interesting since werewolves in other stories are often portrayed as rather exclusively male (as the others in this story are, too). The second story, "The Groom of Frankenstein", totally and completely flips the script on the Frankenstein's monster story, and I love it! The female monster they created leaps into leadership right from the start, putting the sexist doctor in his place. She reminds me of the amazing villainesses of the Golden Age of comics, with a lot more libido thrown in (which is how the good doctor designed her). Then, the male monster is born, with many characteristics that remind me of Rocky (RHPS), but his tastes are not for women or the typical standards of beauty! The black and white artwork here has a tiny lines or dots used for shading, giving it a look like a grainy old movie, which is great, especially since the lines themselves are not grainy. The third story, "Sister Jekyll and Monsieur Hyde", combines a few different classics -- namely Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, with a dose of The Exorcist, but there's one more at the end that's a fun surprise. There's some logic-fail in this story (or at least a plot hole that's not satisfactorily explained away), especially given Sister Jekyll's position on men. And then there's the potion having a completely different effect on the younger girl she gives it too (at least based on what we're shown), with no explanation for how it's supposed to help with demonic possession. So, I appreciate the twists, but this story needs work. I do like the starkness of the black and white art for this story, letting certain figures stand out on the page. "Vampire of the Opera" -- This mash-up takes on vampires, the phantom of the opera, and a main character in the likeness of Dorian Gray. These aspects work quite well together, and are actually dovetailed nicely within the story. I love that the main character is bisexual (or pansexual?), much like Dorian Gray, and I love that his male partner is the one shown to care for who he is on the inside (while the woman was all about image). I do wonder if this will really be a happy ending for the main character, or a life of tragedy despite the acceptance of his partner -- this gives it a bit more realism, though. "Mummy's Night at the Museum" -- Some of the art in this story has accidental (I assume) humor, like one sarcophagus appearing to look disapprovingly at the thieves (a trick of the shading) while another appears to have a face-palm (one thief's hand). Then, this story pushes the envelope from the bits of nudity in other stories to a sex scene (that takes up one panel) -- this comic is rated M for Mature, and this panel is probably why, though gore in the first story may also be part of that. I love the addition to the curse created for this story, and the intersex King Tut (which is totally based in real-world science!). The thieves get what's coming to them with an end fitting of a horror story. The guard gets rewarded with otherworldly lovemaking. And, wow, that Tut is passionate and self-confident! At the end of this volume is a two-page essay by Anthony Hudson, "Making a Monster: The Creation of Queer Horror". This essay is a fantastic look back at some of my favorite early horror films and the queer aspects of their creators, actors, and directors. It's interesting and insightful, and gives me a new appreciation for certain scenes and movies -- some of which I want to re-watch with all this in mind. The price is $10, which is well worth it. The stories are unusual twists and mash-ups that work well (some more than others), which is really a must-read for anyone who likes re-imaginings of fairytales and similar as well. There is good, solid, old-school horror, which includes romance (old-school horror is full of it). The queer aspects are worked in naturally, fitting the characters and how they interact with those around them. I do wish this volume had included more PoC ("Mummy's Night at the Museum" seemingly alone in this). I am looking forward to the next installment! Written: January 12, 2019
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