CREEPSHOW (VOL. 2) #1, from Image Comics on 9/13/23, tells two tales of terror wherein a Pro-Life advocate is exposed in more ways than one, and a mild-mannered archaeologist uncovers a horrific truth about the undead.
The Details
- Written by: Garth Ennis, Phil Hester
- Art by: Becky Cloonan, Phil Hester, Eric Gapstur
- Colors by: Lee Loughridge, Mike Spicer
- Letters by: Pat Brosseau
- Cover art by: Guillem March
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: September 13, 2023
Is CREEPSHOW (VOL. 2) #1 Good?
Image Comics returns to the famous franchise in CREEPSHOW (VOL. 2) #1 to tickle your terror bone with two tales for your nighttime reading enjoyment, brought to you by reputable comic pros Garth Ennis and Phil Hester. Overall, both tales have a message behind the madness, and the art quality, while distinct from each other, is quite good.
Of the two tales, Ennis’s turn at bat is a more fully developed and fleshed-out script, but Hester takes the top spot for focusing on scaring the reader with the creepiness of the unknown. If you like horror comics, you’ll probably enjoy this issue.
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What’s CREEPSHOW (VOL. 2) #1 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
As with all our anthology reviews, we’ll highlight each short in brief, and call out what did or didn’t work.
Make Your Choice
Wesley is a good, God-fearin’ husband and father who believes abortion clinics are murder factories for the Devil. One day, Wesley begins spewing unborn fetuses from every orifice, fetuses only he can see and hear mewling for food, shelter, and attention. Eventually, Wesley’s hallucinations drive him to confess his Pro-Life stance is really a cover for devilish behavior.
Oof! Garth Ennis leans hard into telling a hypocritical horror tale that’s about as subtle as getting hit in the face with a brick wrapped in a Chick Track. Abortion is a sensitive, complex topic, regardless of which side of the debate you fall on, but Ennis tries to make the point with extreme hamfistedness. Ennis goes for a tale with self-important irony but only succeeds in generating eye rolls. Kudos to Cloonan for the creepy art.
Fossil Record
Brilliant archaeologist and Momma’s boy, August, wrestles with his grief over his mother’s passing while making strides on a ground-breaking discovery – ancient, immortal creatures use the dead as lures to feed on the living. Can August escape the startling truth and save his mother from becoming the next lure for the harvest?
Phil Hester is more commonly known for being an artist, but he doubles up with writing duties on this horror short, pulling off a neat little horror tale. The concept is unique, the dialog and plot beats land just right, and the mildly predictable ending still packs a punch. The main criticism is that this story needed more pages to fully develop the who and the how behind the horror. You feel like you had a good meal but are not fully satisfied.
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Final Thoughts
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CREEPSHOW (VOL. 2) #1 continues the tradition of shocking tales with a hard edge to tickle your terror bone. Ennis’s take on the Pro-Life movement is properly gross but ridiculously heavy-handed, and Hester’s tale about an archaeological discovery takes the top spot for best story.
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