Draw You In Vol.1: Collector's Item by Jasper Bark

Can you disappear so completely that only one person remembers you existed?

That’s what comics creator Linda Corrigan asks, when her editor, disappears without a trace. Drawn into an FBI investigation by Agent McPherson, Linda and comics historian Richard Ford unearth a chilling link to the forgotten comic artist R. L. Carver, whose work might just hold the key to a series of mysterious disappearances.

As they explore Carver’s life, they uncover the secret history of horror comics, the misfits, madcaps and macabre masters who forged an industry, frightened a generation and felt the heat of the Federal Government. They also stumble on the shadow history of the United States on a road trip that veers into the nation’s dark underbelly, where forbidden knowledge and forgotten lore await them.

Described as “Kavalier and Clay meets Clive Barker,” Draw You In Vol.1 – Collector’s Item is the first in a mind-bending trilogy of novels. It contains stories within stories that explore horror in all its subgenres, from quiet to psychological horror, from hardcore to cosmic horror.

Experience the epic conspiracy thriller that redefines the genre for a new generation.

At a comics convention, Linda Corrigan, an artist who has fallen out of favor, thinks her career may be looking up when a well-known editor invites her to an exclusive party. However, once she arrives, it appears she might be the victim of a cruel prank. She is refused entry, and everyone she speaks to claims they know of no such editor. Her attempts to track him down prove fruitless and she begins to realize this is not a joke at her expense. There is something far more sinister afoot.

She soon finds herself entangled in conspiracy theories, government plots, rumors of voodoo rituals, psychic powers, and the cursed history of another comic book artist who was famous in the 1950s but then disappeared with his final work unpublished. That is just the beginning! 

There is a lot going on in this psychological horror mystery. It features intriguing characters, the dark history of horror comics, and an original plot more layered than an onion. The more you uncover, the more there is yet to find out. This first book of the trilogy was a fast and fun read.

My thanks to Jasper Bark and Crystal Lake Publishing

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Tales from the Parkland by Ronald McGillvray

In the tradition of The Twilight Zone and Tales From the Crypt, Ronald McGillvray’s Tales From the Parkland offers a spine-chilling collection that blurs the line between reality and nightmare.

A father is forced to make a terrible decision… Which of his children will he sacrifice to the Garbage Collectors? A family’s sightseeing trip turns into a desperate fight for survival when a city is besieged by flesh-melting rain. A man’s childhood nightmare returns, forcing him to confront the monster under the bed to protect his family. Two siblings must rely on each other to survive when their daycare turns into a den of horror. Two elite snipers wage an impossible war when a secret military experiment unleashes the apocalypse.

Prepare to be haunted by these twisted tales and others that will keep you turning pages late into the night!

Tales From The Parkland is a spine-tingling collection of short stories and a novella. Having grown up watching reruns of Circle of Fear and similar shows, I was first attracted to this book by its comparison to Twilight Zone, and having just finished reading it, I could easily picture several of these bite-sized terror treats as episodes.

A few of my many favorites were The Garbage Collectors, in which a family is forced to confront a strange practice that happens in their neighborhood.

Bogeyman is the answer to what happens to that monster under your bed once you grow up and quit believing.

A pesky little sister will regret inviting herself along for a walk in the woods with her older brother in Squealer.

A family's walk back to their hotel is interrupted by peculiar weather in Acid Rain.

There are also stories of zombies and some werewolves add a creature feature vibe to this well-rounded collection.

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Nightmare Abbey 8 Edited by Tom English

 8th big volume of this critically-acclaimed horror magazine/book. Ghosts, Madness, Kelpies, Evil Spirits!

Screenwriter/author STEPHEN VOLK interview and story

12 terrifying tales by today's top writers

The Great Horror Comics Purge (The Hideous History of American Horror Comics #5)

Universal Studios classic: THE BLACK CAT

Heavily illustrated with photos and art

Illustrations by World Fantasy Award-winner Allen Koszowski

Latest report on Dear Abbey and the Computer from Hell

Don't miss out on this Special Edition!

Get it before IT gets YOU!

Nightmare Abbey is my favorite horror magazine. It's as informative as it is entertaining and loaded with top-notch fiction, artwork, and photos. Speaking of which, there were a couple of photos in this issue that just made my stomach drop. 

I never knew that Girl Scouts, among other groups, organized public burnings of comic books and magazines as shown in the article Part 5 of the Hideous History of American Horror Comics by John M. Navroth. 

"It was like a bushfire that wouldn't burn itself out. Small and insignificant at first, inflammatory claims against the dangers of comic books and their ill effects on the children and youth of America were becoming more widespread by the day."

Seeing photos of beloved horror comics being destroyed is an upsetting but important part of history.

On a brighter note, horror fiction is not going away, and the stories in this volume are stellar.

A few of my favorites were:

The Witch of November by Simon Bestwick, about the residents of a strange place known as Bone Street. There is only one way in or out and only those who have taken a human life will ever find themselves there. This was not my first trip to Bone Street but this story can stand alone.

After and Before by Sean Hogan- James and Julie spend an uncomfortable vacation in a cabin at Hushabye Lodge. James has been there before with an old girlfriend, of whom he prefers not to speak. Julie becomes obsessed with the run-down abandoned cabin next door, and with good reason.

The Happy Clown by Gregory L. Norris -A teenage girl learns what happens when you disrespect the traditions at her Aunt's flower shop, the Happy Clown.

Localism by Helen Grant- There is something in the water, and it does not want to share with people. Too bad people never heed the warnings until it's far too late.

Without You by Gary McMahon- Breaking up is hard to do but after such a brief relationship with only a handful of dates, what does it really mean if a man says he is nothing without you?

Whether you are in the mood for something weird, spooky, or intense, Nightmare Abbey has it all.

My thanks to Dead Letter Press.

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Demon Drink by Kris Ashton

 

A night out becomes a nightmare in this dark supernatural novel that blends demonic possession, occult rituals, and the chilling consequences of temptation.

Times are tough in Black Wattle. Drought and forest fires have ravaged the town and its lifeblood, tourism, is on the wane. Nobody is feeling the pinch more than divorcee Shirley Goodsall, who is trying to keep the historic Ironstone Hotel afloat while quelling animosity between her ex-husband and their teenage daughter. So when the business manager for a microbrewery, Damon Prince, offers her a promotional deal that includes free kegs of beer, it’s a deal that seems too good to be true.

And it is. Shirley’s elation soon turns to horror as she discovers she has unwittingly helped Prince unleash dark forces in her town. Black Wattle’s residents are plunged into a nightmare of infection and blood-curdling transformations. Shirley and a handful of survivors band together to try to foil Prince’s fiendish plot, but Prince is no ordinary man. He will stare into their souls and turn their most shameful personal demons against them…

Shirley Goodsall is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. Times are tough and customers in the pub are few and far between. When she is offered a collaboration opportunity from a new microbrewery that includes free kegs of beer, she is skeptical at first but decides she's got nothing to lose. She is wrong.

A single mom, a former cop, an alcoholic holy man, and a drug-addled artist are among the small band of unlikely heroes who will join together in an attempt to save the town of Black Wattle from evil forces, if they can get past their own temptations.

Expect massive amounts of blood and guts, but also heart. Somewhere in there beats a love story. Well-developed characters with detailed back stories and motivations had me engaged in the plot even before the horror started. Once it did, it was an all out gore fest. If you like small town horror, this is for you.

My thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing.

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