Comic Review: Vincent Price Volume 8

Vincent Price Presents Volume 8
by Chad Helder
Published by Blue Water Comics
Published:Jul 21, 2013
Print Length: 95 Pages


“Vamp Camp” by Chad Helder
Pencils: Rey Armenteros
Letters: Malachi Sharlow

“Return to Phibes” by Adriano
Art: Adriano
Letters: Malachi Sharlow

“The Tell Tale” by Dan Crosier and Zach Meyer
Art: Dan Crosier
Colors: Peter Pajmiotti
Letters: Malachi Sharlow

“The Cowboy” by Nick Lyons
Art: Juan Tomajok
Colors: Juan Tomajok
Letters: Jaymes Reed
Cover: Patricio Carbajal

Volume 8 of the graphic novel series Vincent Price Presents features classic gothic horror! One of classic Hollywood's most famous scary men, Vincent Price made a name for himself in classic mysteries and thrillers throughout the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Now Vincent Price Presents comes to Bluewater Productions as their 1st ongoing monthly series. The series will feature some of Price's films as well as developing new frightening ones with his estate. Welcome back to the macabre world of Vincent Price. Stories include Tell All Tales, The Return of Doctor Phibes and more!

First, I want to give a shout out for the cover on Volume 8. It has Price in a role he is remembered for: Dr. Phibes. I was so pleased to see that!The first story is “Vamp Camp.” Vincent Price leads it in, talking of shadows, on walls and even in our minds. And that vampires have always been with us, a shadow, but it cast no reflection in mirrors as has no substance of a soul, so any shadow seen on a wall is not the vampire’s, but ours. 
The story begins where vampires have taken control of the nation and we see people 

Developed as the feeding class so they never run out of blood and some are being carted in a truck. The vampires live in condos, where the temperature is controlled and where a crypt-like room is, so vampires can sleep during the day, all of this protected by armed guards. The creepiest part of this story concerns foster children as vampires still wish for children and to feed off of. The artwork is different, almost like smudged, or maybe a form of shadowing? It reminded me of those painting where you see Parisian landscapes in smudge colors.

The Dr. Phibes story begins with a death in a typical bloody Phibes way. The police come to the playhouse and one man, Thanatos believes it is Phibes. He follows the clues, leading them to see a woman in a boat that follows the river beneath a sign: Abandon All Hope, which is beneath the Houses of Parliament, and where Phibes awaits with things of Greek mythology. All deadly. The art adds to the mystery and horror of Dr. Phibes. (if you never watched any of the movies, you can find both Dr. Phibes and Dr. Phibes Rises Again at http://www.amazon.com/Abominable-Phibes-Midnite-Movies-Feature/dp/B0007R4SZY/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1379025670&sr=1-1&keywords=dr.+phibes

“The Tell Tale” tells what happens when a woman as a miscarriage done on purpose to get rid of a pregnancy so her husband doesn’t learn of her cheating. She learns no bad deed goes unrewarded. The artwork for Chapter 3 is pale colors, in white, yellows, blues, and browns, with sounds in deeper colors.

Last is “The Cowboy.” I am not sure a better title could have been assigned to this story set in the Old West. It is about facing fears when one woman lives in fear every day after her husband was violently murdered after he insured she and their son were safe. Nothing supernatural in this storyline except for the killer’s name, Soulless Sam. And I think he was only called that for his killings. The artwork reminded me more of anime in the way it was done.

Each volume just gets better and better, and this on is no exception. I think any fan of Vincent Price and good stories besides comics, will enjoy this.
review: Vincent Price Presents Vol 6
review: Vincent Price Presents Vol 7

I give this 5 sheep

Guest Reviewer:

Pamela K. Kinney Website Blog Facebook
aka Sapphire Phelan
Website Newsletter Facebook

You can get Vincent Price Presents issue #0 and #1 for free at comixology

Comic Book: Vincent Price Presents Volume 7

Vincent Price Presents Volume 7
Published by Blue Water Comics
August 07, 2013

“Zombicature” by Stan YanPencils:Dan Crosier
Colors: Anthony Tan
Letters: Nikki Foxroboy


“Skunk” by Chad Helder
Art: Brian Hess
Letters: Malachi Sharlow

“Cabus Part Duex” by Chad HelderArt: Alberto Moreno
Colors: Tim Tilley
Letters: Nikki Foxrobot

“Sins of the Father” by Jon JudyArt: Luciano Kars
Colors: Luciano Kars
Letters: Warren Montgomery
Cover: Taylan Kurtulus

Volume 7 of the graphic novel series Vincent Price Presents features classic gothic horror! One of classic Hollywood's most famous scary men, Vincent Price made a name for himself in classic mysteries and thrillers throughout the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Now Vincent Price Presents comes to Bluewater Productions as their 1st ongoing monthly series. The series will feature some of Price's films as well as developing new frightening ones with his estate. Welcome back to the macabre world of Vincent Price. This special edition has never before seen images and character designs from the series.

Volume 7 in the Vincent Price Presents comic series by Blue Water Comics was enjoyable. The first two stories were zombie tales. The writer, Stan Yan, poked fun at himself in “Zombicature.” He has himself at a convention, selling artwork he has down of famous people as zombies. Problem is, they are not currently alive, but die after he does the art. When one man named Brady (who looks a bit like Vincent Price) takes a ride with him in a cab, he begins to have visions, or is it reality? as he sees Brady as a undead person and even the cab driver, his road trip to the airport becoming more like one to Hell instead. He makes it home, but it doesn’t end there. The art is dark enough to make you believe the zombies in the comic.

“Skunk” takes a young skunk and makes him like a human boy who goes to school. He has a problem; he doesn’t have the stink skunks have. One night an owl steals him away to its home and makes him an offer of magic to get what he really wants. Unfortunately, like all stories in this comic, he gets more than he bargains for. There is a twist ending to the end of this story too, that I liked. The artwork is Disney bright, which works well here.

I liked the last two stories, “Canus Part Duex” and “Sins of the Father.” One is a boy and his dog tale, but with a mad scientist horror twist to it. The last one reveals bargaining with the Devil never ends well. And there is a surprise at the end to this one, too.

The artwork for “Canus Part Duex” works a mix of creepy with hominess when the boy and his family scenes. “Sins of the Father” is mainly gray with the occasional color. It works with this particular story. The characters are drawn great. The man who kills the young baby looks believable enough to make you think ‘child killer.’ But the mother of the baby in the beginning portrait of her and her husband puts me into the mind of Audrey Hepburn. And the role Vincent Prices plays in this one is so him.

Volume 7 is much better than Volume 6. With Vincent Price in each story, it’s just like his movies are alive again. This shows that the publisher and the artists and writers are learning and improving with each issue, creepier and with that underlying humor only Vincent can deliver.

review: Vincent Price Presents Vol 6
review: Vincent Price Presents Vol 8

I give this 5 sheep

Guest Reviewer:

Pamela K. Kinney Website Blog Facebook
aka Sapphire Phelan
Website Newsletter Facebook

You can get Vincent Price Presents issue #0 and #1 for free at comixology

Comic Review (ARC): Julie Kagawa's The Iron King #1 (of 4)

print cover

Julie Kagawa's: The Iron King #1 (of 4)
Digital release date: 8/26/13
Print Release date: 10/23/13
writer: Julie Kagawa & Sara Gundell
Artist: Lidia Chan

Blue Water Comics

Julie Kagawa's website

Based off the New York Times best-selling novels. The Iron King is the first book in the Iron Fey series, and follows the adventures of a girl named Meghan Chase. On her sixteenth birthday, Meghan discovers her little brother has been kidnapped by a faery race known as "the Fey" and even worse, replaced with an evil changeling and taken into the "Nevernever." Meghan bravely ventures into the faery realm to rescue him, and that's where an epic plot unfolds.

I haven’t read Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fey series, but I have been wanting too. So I was thrilled to find out there would be a graphic novel based on the first book The Iron King. This is a young adult series and I am not a big reader of young adult, but I am a sucker for anything Fae. Not only is this a graphic novel, but it is done in the Japanese Manga style, which I enjoy.

The narrative parts of the story are easy to follow, but I had trouble in a couple of areas figuring out what happened in the action. It felt like there were gaps in the story where it was assumed I could fill in, which I probably could if I had read the novel. The art work is black and white and I don’t think there was a single rectangular panel throughout; staying true to the manga style. 

It is definitely geared towards their young adult audience, but I enjoyed the story and there was a great cliff hanger ending that has me wanting the next issue. This is a good start to a very promising graphic novel series.

Julie Kagawa was able to turn her best-selling book into graphic novel form with the help of Blue Water Production and a very successful Indigo campaign. If you go to the Indigo page you can see many videos and images from the making of the comic. There is a lot of awesome artwork there.

Digital cover

4 “changeling” Sheep

Sharon Stogner

Comic Review: Comics #1: Sam Kinison by Chris Canibano

Comics #1: Sam Kinison

Writer: Chris Canibano

Artist: Mark Perez

Cover artist: Mark Perez

Blue Water Comics

Cover Price: $3.99

Release: August 14th, 2013

Sam Kinison was the most controversial comedian of his time, earning the ire of his critics and respect of his peers. Comics: Sam Kinison: Explores his rise from his humble roots as a preacher, to the excesses of his life as a Rock and Roll Comedian and his tragic death.

How about a comic book dedicated to a stand-up comic? Heck, why not? On it's face, I can't imagine it hasn't been done before. If it has been done before, however, I most certainly can imagine it was done much better than this.

Despite being a fan of stand-up comedy, I've never really been a huge fan of Sam Kinison. I basically remember him for his bloodcurdling screams. There was definitely an aura about the guy, though. A bigger than life kind of character that was custom-made for the '80s. It really is astonishing a bio-pic hasn't been made yet, but there's yet to be a bio-pic of Richard Pryor either, and between the two I would much rather watch a Pryor movie.

Anyway, back to the comic book.

The story of Kinison's life is looked at through the conceit of a wannabe comic in present day who has never heard of Kinison. From there, the highlights and lowlights of Kinison's life are laid out in chronological order with all the flare of a Wikipedia entry.

Honestly, there's not much more to the book than that. Just a lot of trivia tidbit strung out atop some of the roughest illustrations I have ever seen in a comic book. I mean, if you thought the artwork behind Beavis and Butthead was rough around the edges, just wait until you check this book out. In a weird way, it kind of compliments Sam Kinison's surreal, downward spiral in life. But after a few pages it irritates the eyeballs.

There's simply not enough to this book to hold interest, which is too bad because if there had been a more dramatic approach to the subject matter, Sam Kinison's life would be great fodder for a comic book series. As a stand-alone bio, however, it's severely lacking.

1 1/2 sheep

Guest Reviewer: Gef Fox
Wag The Fox: Den for Dark Fiction

Comic Review: Vincent Price Presents: collected edition: Volume 6

Vincent Price Presents: collected edition: Volume 6
Release Date: 8/14/2013
writer: Chad Helder, Nick Lyons
artist: Bang Thai
Published by Blue Water Comics

Volume 6 of the graphic novel series Vincent Price Presents features classic gothic horror! One of classic Hollywood's most famous scary men, Vincent Price made a name for himself in classic mysteries and thrillers throughout the 1940s, 50s and 60s. The series will feature some of Price's films as well as developing new frightening ones with his estate. Welcome back to the macabre world of Vincent Price. Story include My Dame, Orok and more!

Vincent Price is my favorite horror actor from old films. He was a renaissance man. He acted, collected artwork, and had a recipe book out (my high school friend had this book). He enjoyed doing comedic roles as much as horror. His films included The Tower of London, The Invisible Man Returns, The Ten Commandments, House of Wax (1953), House on Haunted Hill (1958), The Fly (1958), The Tingler, The Comedy of Terrors, Edward Scissorhands, Peter Cottontail, The Great Mouse Detective, and more , many more, ending at the Heart of Justice. You can find out the other films and more at http://www.vincentprice.org/ .

So that there are a comic series attached to him and his estate, well, I gladly took to reviewing this comic and two others. This one contains two detective crossed with the supernatural stories, a twist on the werewolf tale, and a story that shows how dreams and reality can be one and the same sometimes.

The first two have a private detective, Peter Wood who resembles somewhat Price himself, hired to do investigations. The first one a man hires him to find his wife who had disappeared after they saw a movie at the cinema. The man stopped at the restroom while she waited for him outside. All the police found is a few spots of blood. The only clue P.I. Wood found is a coin with blood on it. From there he makes stops around town, then he checks out Romero Park. He finds her all right—no longer alive and just killed two people, eating them. He enclosed her in the trunk of his car and calls the husband. This where there is a twist to the zombie story. And as is quoted in the beginning, “the course to true love never did run smooth.”

The second story has P.I. Peter Wood involved again, this time the theme about what would happen if memories were lost. His client, Jack is a man who seems to forget quite easily. But there is a woman who keeps breaking into his house and he wants her caught. The police haven’t been much help, and he wants his house monitored closely and constantly. Wood stays the night, but the woman gets by him to call the old man by name and tell him she misses him. Then vanish. Though Wood wonders if the old man is losing it, he investigates to see if any enemies and discovered he’d been married. His wife died, but the daughter is alive. She looks like the picture the P.I, found in the house, too. He learns of what is truly haunting Jack. More than ghosts can haunt us.

The third story has Orok, a man of a primitive society who has a young daughter, Do. They live with their clan in a jungle or forest. One night a werewolf attacks them and steals the little girl away. Orok goes after her. Intermingling with his hunting the werewolf who has his child, is the one where his twin brother is attacked and killed by a werewolf and buried, But the werewolf awakens and digs its way out. An elder of the tribe calls his daughter from the belly of the moon. Her spirit will lead him to his twin, who he must slay. This story also has a twist to it. One I didn’t expect. But I admit the werewolf’s story told at the same time as Orok’s confused me. It could have been separated. But that is my only complaint.

The last tale, “The Hampster,” begins with three hamsters in a cage. A white hamster has a nightmare where he is a man killed by another man. He tries to explain this to the two others, Bernard and Ricky when he awakes. Tells them he is not really a hamster. The other two also say they are not. Becomes agitated when two young men enter the room they are in, telling Bernard and Ricky that is him and his killer. The teens call up Bloody Mary and will sacrifice a hamster in the microwave. This time though, the hamster convinces his human self to stop the other as he will grow up to be the Bloody Mary killer. He kills the killers, but ends up in prison. And like the other two, there is a twist ending.

Just be sure to read “Vincent Presents. Volume 6” in the light of day; it’s a nightmare of an anthology.

I give “Vincent Presents. Volume 6” 4 sheep.

Guest Reviewer:

Pamela K. Kinney Website Blog Facebook
aka Sapphire Phelan
Website Newsletter Facebook

Bluewater Productions brings a diverse library of titles and talent to the table. With stories that range from classic myths, science fiction and superheroes to Hollywood legends such as William Shatner, Roger Corman, Adam West, Julie Newmar, Ray Harryhausen and Vincent Price, Also reimagining classic titles like "Logan's Run", " SE Hinton's Puppy Sister", "Lionsgate's Leprechaun" and more. Bluewater is a fresh voice in comic publishing. We have now broken into biography comics with our titles FAME, FEMALE FORCE, 15 MINUTES and POLITICAL POWER.