It is 2026! More anthologies! More comics short and long! More themes! More screams(horror)! More Southern Charms! Does anybody even read these? I am so tired.
Madame Tarantula #1
Madama Tarantula #1 is a futuristic Western science fiction anthology and world-building comic that is centered around a woman called Madame Tarantula, real name Maria Velez. This is technically a sequel with issue #0 coming out way back in 2002. This takes place in the “Futurewest” in 7000 A.D. where technology and science running amuck has turned a good amount of the earth into a wasteland-like environment. These stories mainly showcase Maria exploring and giving narrative commentary on the world with occasional interactions with its denizens. There are three stories here: “The Wanderer” sees Madame Tarantula facing arrest, “Immortal Remains” shows us the origins of Maria when she comes across her old house, and “Ghosts of the Second Empire” has Madame Tarantula give a history lesson on Don Marquez while traveling through a ship graveyard. The violence here can get a bit bloody but most of it is against robots. Art here has some roughness to it and it looks like it could have been from the 60’s or 70’s and it is in black-and-white with strong shading.
“Which story was your favorite?”
Ghosts of the Second Empire.
“Which story had your favorite art?”
They all had the same artist, Mike Hoffman.
“How many stories are there?”
Three stories 6-9 pages each along with 7 pages of data on the various beings, wildlife, and man-made creations one might find in the Futurewest.
“All those stories, can I get one quote?”
“If I’d known what was to come, I’d never have left.”
“Would you survive a day in the Futurewest?”
I could last until I absolutely had to eat, in which case I’d probably get poisoned and die.
Kickstarter Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hoffmaninternational/madame-tarantula-magazine-1/description
The Haunted Box #2
The Haunted Box #2 is a horror anthology with comics and short stories centered on characters finding specifically odd objects(usually boxes). These are eerie and unsettling tales that tend to star people who are struggling or down on their luck. Most of these are creeping horror dramas with some dipping into the psychological. Here are just a few of the stories: “The Broadcast” is about a woman in prison who is positive other people are reading her thoughts, “The Last Note” is about a composer trying to create the perfect composition, and “A Sinner’s Thirst” focuses on a bartender looking for booze in 1923 New York. There is violence present in every story with most having gruesome attacks, heavy gore, and gratuitous amounts of blood. Most of the art is in black-and-white(including red for flesh and blood) with realistic and serious levels of detail; there is some strong use of shading here.
“Which story was your favorite?”
A Sinner’s Thirst.
“Which story had your favorite art?”
The Last Note and A Sinner’s Thirst.
“How many stories are there?”
Four comics 8-12 pages each and two shorts stories 4 and 5 pages long.
“All those stories, can I get one quote?”
“But things happen, and if something were to happen…”
“What would you do if the box was in your possession?”
Bury it. I aint about to end up in a Faustian situation.
Kickstarter Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ironagecomics/the-haunted-box-2/description
Noir Is The New Black: Season Two Episode Two
Noir Is The New Black: Season Two Episode Two is a collection of comics with heavy noir vibes that star black characters. These are very dramatic with mysterious tones and they usually take place in the past. There are three stories here: “The Winterfields: Fallen Angel Part 2” is a about a father and son duo trying to protect a young girl, “What’s In a Name” is about a man who ends up in the middle of a bank robbery, and “Little Rock Files Part 3” centers on a convoluted, high stakes case that a detective is very involved in. Two of these stories are continuations and one is standalone(for now at least). There is a gruesome moment and things can get bloody but it doesn’t get any gorier beyond that. All of the comics are in full color with a serious look and overall realistic lighting and shading. Faces are usually in high detail with characters tending to have strong, visible emotions.
“Which story was your favorite?”
What’s In a Name.
“Which story had your favorite art?”
The Winterfields: Fallen Angel Part 2.
“How many stories are there?”
Three, 7, 12, and 16 pages in length.
“All those stories, can I get one quote?”
“Who in God’s earth is so important to you?”
“What would your old-timey noir nickname be?”
Benny the Bruiser, then I’d get beat up.
Physical Link: https://fairsquaregraphics.com/product/noir-is-the-new-black-s02e02-cvr-a/
Kickstarter Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fairsquaregraphics/noir-is-the-new-black-s02e02/description
Mississippi Macabre #2
Mississippi Macabre #2 is a collection of comics about cryptids and mythical creatures hailing from the state of Mississippi. These tales tend to have horror vibes and can be very dramatic with eerie and unsettling tones. A few of the stories here are: “Once Upon a Pale Blue Moon” is about a strange creature who lives in the woods outside of a Catholic boarding school for girls, “The Three-Legged Lady: End of the Road” focuses on a group of young people whose late night turns deadly, and “The Mississippi Mudman” explains why gold must be tossed into the river. This also has comedic advertisements that usually feature the Witch of Yazoo. There are gruesome attacks that lead to gore and blood but these aren’t present in every story. Art is either serious or cartoonish and it is all in black-and-white.
“Which story was your favorite?”
The Three-Legged Lady: End of the Road.
“Which story had your favorite art?”
Once Upon a Pale Blue Moon.
“How many stories are there?”
Four comics 8 or 9 pages each, five one page ads, an intro and outro comic, and four pages with articles about the individual legends.
“All those stories, can I get one quote?”
“No matter! We’re going to straighten you right on out.”
“You ever see something creeping in the Mississippi woods?”
I think I have.
Physical Link: https://www.jacksoncomics.com/product/mississippi-macabre-2/ZYLHWJ3KKPEOUMCWMAR7PXWP?cs=true&cst=custom
Kickstarter Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jacksoncomics/mississippi-macabre-2/description
We Suck at Comics Volume 1
We Suck at Comics Volume 1 is an anthology full of stories centered on the theme of rejection. Some of these are realistic gritty dramas and others are cartoonish satirical comedies. There are even some short stories mixed in. Specific genres include sci-fi, medieval, modern, fantasy, and futuristic. A few stories found her are: “Psycho Analysis” which is about a husband talking to a psychiatrist about his marriage, “Girl in the Shadows” stars a young girl who can see shadow creatures, and “Koncrete Kombat” is about a dangerous sports played on behalf of corporations. Each comic and short story is preceded by a little bio on the primary creator and highlights of their work. Violence levels can go from harmless and physical to the very gruesome with heavy gore. The art here ranges from serious to cartoonish with most of these tales being in full color.
“Which story was your favorite?”
The Wrench and Psycho Analysis.
“Which story had your favorite art?”
Psycho Analysis and Evil Monkey Man Episode One.
“How many stories are there?”
Fourteen comics from 3-34 pages each and four short stories 5-18 pages each.
“All those stories, can I get one quote?”
“That’s for future me to worry about.”
“When’s the last time you got rejected?”
About 8-9 years ago.
Purchase Link: https://waywardraven.com/anthologies/we-suck-at-comics/volume-1-rejection
Kickstarter Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/waywardraven/we-suck-at-comics-an-anthology-about-rejection/description
