This one-man anthology of classic-style horror demonstrates an impressive range of art styles. While the book has the classic flavor, it’s missing some ingredients. Paulson’s a good artist, but his writing isn’t equal. I see what he’s getting at, but his stories too often miss the mark, the endings coming from nowhere.

Book: 64/52

A collection of the late 80s/early 90s anthology series set in Clive Barker’s S&M horror world. It takes the stories out of order, choosing to present “masterpieces.” My recollection is that the series was indeed that. Reading now reveals major clunkers from Larry Wachowski, but true gems from Gaiman/McKean and Mike Mignola.

Book: 63/52

Moving towards the conclusion of this epic manga. I’m always struck by the texture and depth of manga art. The backgrounds, buildings, characters—all drawn by assistants and specialists—create greater realism than many Western comics. I know Western comics economics don’t allow it, but I’d love to see that approach here.

Books: 61-2/52

by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
Another in this excellent series of standalone noir comics. It engages with a classic noir theme—the effects of war on soldiers once they’ve returned to the homefront. Though the protagonist here has his issues, it’s another ex-soldier’s bigger adjustment problems that drive the action. A characteristically great comic from this duo.

Buy Criminal: The Sinners at Powell’s

Book: 60/52

Martin is merciless. He has no compunction about spending a book, or more, building a character only to kill them in one paragraph, sometimes off-screen. And he doesn’t mind bowing off what a major plot point just as easily. It’s a fascinating, exciting approach for an epic novel series; I love it.

Buy A Clash of Kings at Powell’s

Book: 59/52

Green River Killer by Jeff Jensen and Jonathan Case; The Wolf by Tom Neely

My review of Neely’s excellent The Wolf is at iFanboy.
Green River Killer, by the son of the detective who caught that serial killer, is a solid detective story. It has some missing elements—especially why Jensen was so driven on this particular case—but it’s a compellingly detailed story.

Buy Green River Killer at Powell’s

Buy The Wolf from Tom Neely

Books: 57-8/52

Mary Roach is one of our funniest serious writers. And there can’t be many who take more evident pleasure in their work. All of which makes her great to read. Like Spook, though, this one doesn’t seem to be driving at (pun intended) an overall point, which makes it a little unsatisfying.

Buy Bonk at Powell’s

Book: 56/52

I echo Sean Collins on this one: if Ott spent a fraction of the time and care on his writing that he does on his beautiful, insanely detailed scratchboard art, these stories would be masterworks. As it is, they’re pat and trite, though amazing to behold. His lighting effects are particularly appealing.

Buy R.I.P. at Powell’s

Book: 55/52

A relatively early work (though, according to the interview with Tatsumi at the back of the book, roughly his 15th full-length manga) about a wrongly accused man handcuffed to a murder who escapes from a train crash. It’s pretty raw, far from the skill Tatsumi would later show in his shorts stories.

Buy Black Blizzard at Powell’s

Book: 54/52

Death Trap, by Lane Milburn; Curio Cabinet, by John Brodowski; Deadworld: Slaughterhouse, by Gary Reed and Sami Makkonen.

I read these indie horror comics in October to prep for Halloween. My thoughts on Milburn’s Death Trap, a grimy 80s horror movie on paper, are here. Curio Cabinent is mostly wordless, but manages to drive home some transcendently weird images. And Deadworld features art by regular Split Lip collaborator Sami Makkonen.

Books: 51-53/52