Images © New Comic Company & Dark Horse Books.

This trade paperback collects the first four issues of new stories put out by Dark Horse, in the tradition of the original Warren magazine. I was not a huge fan of Warren, though I did buy and read select issues of CREEPY, EERIE and VAMPIRELLA. I remember enjoying some of the stories, particularly those of Archie Goodwin, but it was mostly the art that attracted me. This new collection has a wide variety of artistic styles, which I like, and includes some veterans like Angelo Torres and Bernie Wrightson as well as artists like Hilary Barta that I’d consider more of my generation, and quite a few younger guys, some of whose work I recognize, some I don’t. The stories also have a few by veterans like Doug Moench and Joe R. Lansdale, but are mainly by writers who I assume are younger and unknown to me.

In general I enjoyed the book, though the level of blood, gore and violence seems pretty high, and is not really to my taste, even in (mostly) black and white. There’s a bit too much of things like cannibalism and serial killing. I kind of prefer more psychological horror, and there is some of that, but not a lot. These stories tend to go for the gross out. If you like that sort of thing, you’ll find plenty of it here.

Here’s a page by Angelo Torres, whose work appeared in both EC horror comics (also known for going to the gross stuff) and Warren, but his work here is a little cartoony and more reminiscent of his MAD MAGAZINE years. Still quite good, though.

If you like horror this is certainly worth a look. I kind of doubt I’ll be getting later volumes myself. Mildly recommended.