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Posted on Sep 24, 2004 - 01:48 AM by Admin |
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Saddle up and prepare to jump on the Hoarse And Buggy bandwagon! Editor In Chief/writer Joshua Hale Fialkov has rounded up an impressive posse of talented hombres to create an anthology that combines two of my favorite genres: horror and westerns! At the end of the trail? Western Tales Of Terror - a much welcomed return to those thrilling, chilling days of yesteryear!
It’s a well known fact that I’m a lifelong fan of horror and comic books. Now, I’ll let you in on another little secret: I also love a good western. The problem is, the western isn’t as popular as it once was. There are fewer western motion pictures, and even fewer western comic books. Well, thanks to the folks at Hoarse And Buggy Productions, those thrilling days of yesteryear have returned in a big way!
Editor In Chief Joshua Hale Fialkov has combined two of my favorite genres in this one impressive anthology called Western Tales Of Terror. Knowing that two of my favorite genres would be merged into one book was enough to make me want to read this comic, but never did I imagine just how good this book would be.
My love for the anthology dates back to those classic EC Comics and numerous other horror collections from my childhood. It always amazed me at how much story a writer could tell in the matter of just a few pages. To this day, I still believe it takes an extremely talented writer to tell a story in just a few pages. And Fialkov has assembled several such writers, including himself.
Perhaps the biggest draw of this anthology is the fact that writer Steve Niles contributes a horrific tale to the book. While Niles’ story is an instant western/horror masterpiece, don’t assume that this book is a one trick pony. Niles’ story is just the tip of a much larger iceberg!
Western Tales Of Terror leads off with a tale written by Dan Taylor called “13.” In this five pager, Taylor does an excellent job of conveying that classic western scenario of the gunslinger who is always looking over his shoulder. While this gunslinger has plenty of reasons to be on the lookout, it’s the horrific twist that Taylor applies at the end of this tale that makes this one stand out.
Fialkov contributes a pair of tales to this anthology. The first of these is my personal favorite tale in this book, a four pager called “Quicksand.” This tale reminds me of the good ole days in several ways. As a kid, quicksand always intrigued and horrified me. I still recall several mouth-filled-with-quicksand nightmares that kept me awake at night! Thanks to Fialkov, I’ll be having those nightmares again tonight!
Perhaps the biggest blast from the past comes from just how “EC-like” Fialkov’s “Quicksand” is. This is your basic tale of revenge gone horribly wrong. When Walton believes his wife has cheated on him, he decides to fix her once and for all. However, Walton is due for a little retribution of his own in classic EC-style!
Fialkov’s second tale is the first part of a three part story called “Phineas’ Gold.” Co-written by Porter McDonald, this tale revolves around Phineas, a bank teller with a deformity that earns him the nickname “Pig Arm.” After he gets his fill of his boss, Phineas uses his inside information of the bank to lead a group of thieves to rob his workplace. However, Phineas soon discovers that not only is he not leading this expedition, he also has no control over the situation…which leads him and his “allies” into an even more bizarre situation!
Not only is this the longest tale in this anthology, “Phineas’ Gold” is also the most character rich story. Fialkov and McDonald deliver a memorable roster of bad guys that the reader will immediately love to hate. The reader will sympathize with Phineas to the point of actually rooting for this underdog to catch a break. And the ending will leave the reader counting down the days until the next chilling chapter!
One of the gems of Western Tales Of Terror is a five page tale written by Jay Busbee called “The Deserter.” In this tale, we meet Peyton McKinnon, a husband who leads his wife to believe that he has gone off to fight in the Civil War. In reality, Peyton has gone off to hang out with the guys and lots of women of the night! It’s this story that truly shows Comic Fanatics the result of the wrath of a woman scorned!
The most bizarre story in Western Tales Of Terror belongs to writer Benito Cereno and artist Nate Bellegarde, the duo responsible for many hilarious back up tales found in the pages of Robert Kirkman’s Invincible. In “Ghost Town”, Comic Fanatics are treated to the further adventures of Hector Plasm in a tale that can best be described as a western/sci-fi/horror acid trip!
I mentioned that “Ghost Town” chronicled the further adventures of Hector Plasm, but this is a totally new character to me. If Plasm has appeared somewhere else before, I have either missed it or forgotten it completely. The good news? The reader can immediately take to this character and enjoy this story.
The money shot for many readers lies with a creepy tale by “The Master Of The Macabre”, writer Steve Niles. In “Reckon This”, Niles takes the concept of old west revenge to an all new level. A stranger named Dale relates his tragic tale, in which he reveals that his family was murdered by Gimpy Jack and his gang. In his quest to exact revenge, Dale discovers that Gimpy Jack has been hanged…but that doesn’t mean Dale still isn’t unable to deliver his own retribution!
I know a lot of Comic Fanatics will first notice and pick up this book simply because Niles’ name is attached to it. Go ahead and let Niles’ name lure you in, because you will soon discover so much more in this anthology! It’s been my experience as a lifelong Comic Fanatic that the first rule of anthologies is that at least one or more story will be a somewhat inferior tale. Not so here. Western Tales Of Terror is filled with equally incredible stories from cover to cover, in which these talented writers capture the time period and dialogue very well.
While I will always be a story/writer guy first, you can’t ignore the amazing artistic talent assembled in Western Tales Of Terror. Right off the bat, Comic Fanatics will be blown away by a cover from one of my favorite artists, Tony Moore! Behind that cover? Some of the most incredible and diversified black and white art you will ever lay eyes on!
One of the artistic gems of this anthology is the work of Jared Bivens on “The Deserter.” This artist has a smooth style that actually looks like animation cels. This style fits the western and horror genres like a glove. In fact, it was this tale that creeped me out more than any other simply because of two panels of Bivens’ art featuring the lonely, helpless wife waking up and greeting her wayward husband. This is an artist I definitely want to see more from soon!
If you are a fan of IDW and Steve Niles, two artists’ names in this anthology will ring a bell: Chuck BB and Nick Stakal. Chuck BB is the artist who is currently working on Niles’ Secret Skull miniseries. While his art on that miniseries has impressed me, it’s Chuck BB’s black and white art in “13” that impresses me even more. It’s this art that truly shows off this artist’s attention to characters and detail.
Stakal is the artist who will be illustrating the upcoming Niles Hyde one-shot from IDW. And if his art in “Reckon This” is any indication, Comic Fanatics are in for a terrifying treat! Stakal has a dark, edgy style that immediately sets a dark, eerie tone for the story. Much of Stakal’s work will stick in the reader’s mind…haunting your dreams for many a night!
Artist Scott A. Keating provides the art for “Quicksand” and “Phineas’ Gold.” Keating’s art truly fits this anthology to a tee. It’s Keating’s art that fits the whole western genre the best, especially in “Phineas’ Gold.” Keating’s art gives these two stories a classic, almost rustic western feel.
Hoarse And Buggy Productions has a potential blockbuster on their hands with Western Tales Of Terror. This is an anthology series with unlimited potential, and it arrives at a time when the industry was practically begging for such a book. I would wager that there are no less than a dozen creators out there who are now kicking themselves that they didn’t come up with such a book!
Western Tales Of Terror’s potential isn’t just limited to the printed page. Western Tales Of Terror is a concept that I can clearly picture on the small screen, along the lines of a weekly Showtime or HBO series. This feeling is truly driven home by the fact that each tale is introduced by a western version of the Crypt Keeper, a spooky cowboy named Pete. Fialkov and his crew are sitting on a creative powder keg that is set to explode all over the media world!
Comic Fanatics are given more bang for their bucks with Western Tales Of Terror #1. This 40 page anthology is priced at the bargain price of $3.50, and is the first issue of a bimonthly series scheduled to be released in November. Hoarse And Buggy Productions could’ve easily asked for twice that amount and received no complaints from me. And I’m a fool who doesn’t like to be parted from his money!
If you like a good western and horror, I can’t recommend Western Tales Of Terror enough! Don’t wait until high noon or sundown to round this one up! It should be a hanging offense if you let this one ride off into the sunset! For more information about this excellent anthology, visit Western Tales Of Terror.Com.
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