BASEMENT SHOW (ONE-SHOT), by Noah E. Dominguez on Kickstarter, regales readers with a punk rock ghost story when the Feasters score a basement show in a haunted house on Halloween.
The Details
- Written by: Noah E. Dominguez
- Art by: Gianmaria Orlandi
- Letters by: Haley Rose-Lyon
- Cover art by: Val Hal Halvorson
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover price: $10.00
- Release date: September 2023 (estimated)
Is BASEMENT SHOW (ONE-SHOT) Good?
Yes, this is the kind of comic we’re continually hunting for. BASEMENT SHOW (ONE-SHOT) is a simple, clean, fun horror story that shows you don’t have to get fancy to make a good comic. There are one or two rough spots, but by and large, the indie comics scene needs more offerings like this.
Noah E. Dominguez focuses on an aspiring punk band called the Feasters, who arrange for a basement show in the town’s local haunted house. When the music starts, all Hell breaks loose. Of course, the band’s music may just be the solution to a ghostly problem.
What’s unique about this issue is the inclusion of a musical playlist that matches the plot progression. According to Dominguez, “The comic also has a Spotify playlist that serves as its unofficial “soundtrack.” Each song was chosen to directly mirror the events of the story. The tracklist will be printed in the final version.”
What’s great about BASEMENT SHOW (ONE-SHOT)? Dominguez leans heavily into the “show, don’t tell” method of storytelling by letting the art communicate what’s happening as much as the dialog. With a minimum of setup or exposition, the story hits the ground running and just tries to tell a fun story.
What’s not so great about BASEMENT SHOW (ONE-SHOT)? As with most indie offerings, there are a few rough spots, likely due to limitations in time and budget. There is almost no character work for the individual band members, and the ending is slightly ambiguous. That said, both points are relatively small enough not to interfere with the reading experience.
How’s the art? The art’s okay. It’s loose, rough in spots, and not particularly detailed, but the core of what Gianmaria Orlandi is trying to convey in the art is there. Again, the art doesn’t need to be fancy to make the comic work as long as the basics are in place, and Orlandi’s visual foundation nails the basics.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s BASEMENT SHOW (ONE-SHOT) About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with the members of the punk band, the Feasters, hanging out on a porch while they wait for their van driver to show up. One of the members, through a family member who works in real estate, arranged to put on a basement show in the town’s reputedly haunted house.
When the Feasters reach the house, the setup and merch table setup goes smoothly. However, nobody notices a mysterious woman who didn’t enter through the door check. At the appointed time, the Feastersexit their prep room and prepare to play.
As soon as the first note hits, the floor explodes in muck and tentacles dragging every attendee down. The band manages to escape the living blob engulfing the house until the group is picked off one at a time. We conclude the issue with using an “axe” like an axe, unfinished business, and finished business.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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BASEMENT SHOW (ONE-SHOT) is a clean, simple, entertaining ghost story about a band whose Halloween gig goes frightfully wrong. Dominguez’s concept and writing execution are spot-on, and Orlandi’s indie style works where it counts most.
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