“Creepshow #1” Review – Poking and Prodding True Horror

The Run Down

Here we are folks with a new “Creepshow #1” from writers Tyler Boss and Lorenzo De Felici! In typical “Creepshow” fashion, this latest issue comes equipped two stories for the price of one! The first, “Clown Town”, is a classic “treat others how you want to be treated” storyline. The second, titled “The Poke”, is very odd sci-fi tale offering the question of “what if…” Do these stories combine to make a powerful duo of terror? Well, come find out with me as I review “Creepshow #1”!

Writers: Tyler Boss, Lorenzo De Felici
Artists: Francesca Ciergia, Lorenzo De Felici
Colorists: Brad Simpson, Lorenzo De Felici
Letterer: Pat Brosseau

“Clown Town”

In this first story written by Tyler Boss, we see as two clowns, known simply as H.B. and Jellybean, give a co-worker his just desserts. In the span of just a few pages, Boss manages to deliver a well-written, terrifying tale. The pace never lets off the gas, creating a great amount of tension while remaining easy to follow. Lastly, as someone who always lives as “treat others the way you wish to be treated”, this story drives that point home perfectly! The lettering from Pat Brosseau was also perfectly done, using onomatopoeia at the perfect moments while keeping the story easy to follow with the speech bubble layout.

When it comes to the art work from Francesca Ciergia and Brad Simpson, their combined effort was an absolute wonder to behold! In regards to Ciergia’s style, there was one panel in particular that I loved! In it, we followed our two main characters as they hold a conversation, though we see multiples of them. With the way it’s drawn, it gives the feeling of them being more than just two people, as they go on to do something that they deem as being for the greater good. This, however, is just one part of an overall excellent body of work in this story. All throughout, she managed to create some beautifully drab looking characters and settings while retaining an old school look and feel.

Working in perfect unison with Ciergia’s line work is Simpson’s coloring. While the colors aren’t always bright or flashy, that works perfectly for what Ciergia’s art is going for. The colors and shading keep in tone with the intended old school look and feel. That being said, they’re also still very varied, sometimes seeing as many as seven colors in just one panel alone. This is some truly amazing stuff across the board!

“The Poke”

In this second story written by Lorenzo De Felici, we witness as an astronaut experiences the horrors of space and being truly alone. Where “Clown Town” felt more realistic, De Felici’s “The Poke” is strictly in the realm of sci-fi. While some might see the dichotomy as a bit jarring, I personally find that it works extremely well! This story is grotesque yet oddly heartfelt, tugging at the strings before promptly ripping them away completely. Not the only that, but the narration by the main character makes the story compelling, making the end hit that much harder.

However, unlike Boss, De Felici decided to be a triple threat here and do his own coloring and penciling as well! His work here is, and I can’t stress this enough, nauseating in the best possible way. The way that he draws the blood and pus-filled boils and bubbles is absolutely disgusting and I loved it! Not only that, but the story captures a diverse array of locales, all captured beautifully in his marriage of lines and varying colors. This is all rounded out perfectly by Brosseau’s lettering work once again, giving distinct boxes to the narration and blending it perfectly with the dialogue.

Final Thoughts

“Creepshow #1” showcases Boss and De Felici at their absolute best. Whenever these two are allowed to give it their all, they make sure to go above that. Both stories deliver the thrills and chills in a short amount of time, helped all the more by the horrifyingly great artwork and lettering. Bravo to all involved in the making of this issue!

Final Grade: 10/10

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Comments

Are you a fan of “Creepshow”? What about the people involved in making this issue? Let’s discuss in the comments below!w