In BEWARE THE WITCH’S SHADOW: WINTER SPECIAL, available from American Mythology on October 13th, 2021, a ruthless killer on the run from the law finds refuge in a forest cabin where a witch offers safe haven… for a price.
The Details
- Written By: S.A. Check, James Kuhoric, Jason Pell
- Art By: Puis Calzada, Ev Cantada, Jean Dzialowski
- Letters By: Natalie Jane, Terri Delgado, Marshall Dillon
- Cover Art By: Puis Calzada, Chris Hall
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: October 13, 2021
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Was It Good?
BEWARE THE WITCH’S SHADOW: WINTER SPECIAL is a strange, weird, and amusing horror anthology from one of the best horror comics publishers on the scene today.
This anthology succeeds because each of the shorts effectively focuses on an emotional theme to get the reader invested in each premise from a completely different angle. The themes run from comedic farce to tragedy to karmic irony, and with one exception, each story sticks the landing.
We’ll cover the specifics of each short in the next section, so read on through. Overall, this is a fun horror comic that’s eclectic enough to have a little something to offer for nearly everyone’s tastes.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Prologue
A murderer named Skinner is on the run from the police in the woods during a snowstorm. Skinner is a survivalist, so he can keep going for days, but the snowstorm is too much to withstand without shelter. Suddenly, he spies a lonely cabin and forces his way in for shelter. Inside, a witch who appears to know Skinner welcomes him in to listen to three tales of terror.
The prologue works well and serves as the connective tissue to hold the three shorts together. The snowstorm ties the anthology to winter with a snowy scene, giving credibility to the title.
To The Moon, Alice
Earth is overrun by zombies, causing shortages on all resources, including energy. A mysterious alien race sends a message that it has delivered a powerful energy source to the moon, and all the Earth has to do is go up and get it. Unfortunately, the power source is surrounded by a lethal energy field, causing the Earth’s superpowers to engage in a very unique zombie arms race to lay claim to the alien “gift”.
This is the comedic farce of the bunch. The tone and spirit are reminiscent of Dr. Strangelove in that the over-the-top military commanders are reckless in their attempts to beat the “Russians” to the prize. It’s the Cold War played out to absurd levels, and it’s a lot of fun. Unfortunately, the progression of the last few panels doesn’t make visual sense, so this is the only short where the ending doesn’t quite work.
One More Step
A milquetoast son struggles all his life to live up to his father’s expectations. Soon after reaching adult age, the son volunteers to be part of a military testing program, hoping that his inadequacy to be a tough-as-nails-soldier will be looked on favorably if he figures out a different way to serve his country. Unfortunately, the experiment goes horribly wrong, and the son winds up leaving a bigger impression than his father ever hoped or wanted.
This is the most soulful and sad entry in the special. Within the guise of a B-movie monster story, we get a thoughtful exploration of the importance of a father’s love and the lengths a person is willing to go to get it.
I Hear The Call
A dangerous criminal fakes insanity to exchange a prison sentence for a stay at an ocean side mental hospital. Before he can plan his escape with from the low-security facility, a massive storm sends crashing waves and blinding lightning down on the surrounding area. With each crash and boom, the criminal begins to see the inmates in this institution have more in common with the Deep Ones from ancient oceanic legends.
I appreciate this story as a straight homage to Lovecraftian horror. The art works well to reveal monsters as a trick of the light that might or might not be there, causing the criminal to truly question his own sanity. In terms of quality, the art in this short is also the strongest of the bunch.
Final Thoughts
BEWARE THE WITCH’S SHADOW: WINTER SPECIAL is a sometimes humorous, sometimes soulful, and frequently enjoyable horror anthology. Each short has a strong emotional theme that offers something for a wide range of tastes, the variety of art styles pair well with their respective shorts, and the endings are largely satisfying.
Score: 8/10
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