Comic Book

Ah! We get to one of my two personal favorites from the con. Getting to meet a mind like Ray Basham was a true treat, as was getting my introduction to his work! Well, this accomplished man is responsible for everything from fine art to indie horror film to this fantastic little comic. Unlike the aforementioned Lil Dude, Freaks: An American Family is indeed not family-friendly! Picking this title as one of my two faves is based on my biased love for horror, and Freaks is an interpretation of the genre that is as true and as impassioned as I could hope to find in a horror yarn. The artwork has a superbly executed feeling of yesteryear’s artistic formulae, bringing back the feeling of obscured classics. The overall effect gives off the vibe I used to feel when feverishly working through the EC classics like “Tales from the Crypt”, “The Haunt of Fear” and “Vault of Horror”. The first issue deals with a two-headed demon baby of sorts that has a penchant for blood and carnage. A farmer’s wife takes the child in and loves it, certain that it’s a blessing, whilst the husband is convinced that the thing is nothing of God’s creation, and is more concerned with ending its life before it can do any damage. How much damage will the two-headed child cause as it grows? That’s the real fun part, and I’ll leave it to you to find out on your own! Horror enthusiasts be sure to keep up with this one, and if you’re a junkie for ghosts and ghouls like myself be sure to catch up with Ray and even check out the film he starred in with horror author Carl Merritt: Abe’s Tomb!

                                                                     -Lee Davis  http://www.myspace.com/abstractvisions