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In the Bins: Marvel Horror Comics from the 90s

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Marvel Horror Comics

Horror surged to the front of comic readers’ minds in the 1990s when Sandman, Hellblazer, and other DC Vertigo books met with critical and commercial success. Marvel naturally took notice and began releasing properties to sate the desires of horror-hungry comic fans. But are these Marvel horror comics worth the hunt with your back-issue dollars?

Marvel Horror Comics in the 90s

Terror, Inc.

Terror, Inc. (1992) is the first on the list. The character was technically created in 1988 but appeared on his own in this short-lived thirteen-issue series.

Terror is an excellent character design–his supernatural gift allows him to attach body parts and absorb the abilities from them–yet the execution fails to deliver on the character’s promise. This holds true throughout the Terror, Inc series, the highlight of which is the first five issues.

Terror, in an attempt to void Beelzeboul’s contract with supernatural crime lord Roger Barbatos, finds an avenue in a partnership with Beelzeboul’s son, Mikal Drakonmegas. It is a wild, demonic, and slightly corny ride. It’s not perfect, but it’s a fun read.

Darkhold

From the same Marvel era (but less fun) is Darkhold: Pages from the Book of Sins (1992). Part of the ‘Midnight Sons’ group of titles spanning Ghost Rider, Morbius, and Nightstalkers, it had similar potential as shlocky, demonic fun. Unfortunately, Darkhold throws too many elements at the reader and fails to launch.

Following Victoria Montesi and her fellow Darkhold Redeemers (Sam Buchanan and Louise Hastings), the plot surrounds a mysterious dwarf who uses resurfaced pages of the Book of Sins to tempt evil people into darker, more powerful desires. Those who read them get their desires turned on them, and chaotic evil spreads as a result.

Again, the premise is interesting, but the story gets muddled from a messy and convoluted plot involving too many characters, especially guest-stars.

Hellstorm

Hellstorm (1993) is a different experience depending on which issue you have in front of you.

The first eleven of the 21 issues are all over the place. While the art ranges from quite good to spectacular, the story is often lacking. There is a similarity to both ‘satanic craze shlock’ and superhero comics of the 1970s, with lines like “Who dares summon the angel of light, the tempter, the lord of the flies” populating the pages.

While there are high points, such as the tour of hell in Hellstorm #11, the similarity to Neil Gaiman’s run on Sandman–both visually and story-wise–is derivative enough to raise questions. In issue 11’s case, some of the lines seem pulled almost directly from the excellent Season of Mists story arc.

The title improves starting with issue #12, when relatively unknown (at the time) writer Warren Ellis took over script duties. From the first few pages, something greater seems at play, from scattered worldwide occult events to a notable change in henchman Isaac. Satanic mumbo-jumbo decreases and personal, gut-clenching horror increases.

The final ten issues move fast, sending the reader on a thrilling–though still not entirely divorced from Sandman’s influence–roller-coaster ride toward the series finale.  Both collectors and Marvel understand this. While not collectible, issues 12-21 are harder to find than 1-11, and only the first 13 issues are available on Marvel Unlimited.

Of all the books mentioned here, Hellstorm issues 11-21 stand as the strongest.

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‘Alien’ is Being Made Into a Children’s ABC Book

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Alien Book

That Disney buyout of Fox is making for strange crossovers. Just look at this new children’s book that teaches children the alphabet via the 1979 Alien movie.

From the library of Penguin House’s classic Little Golden Books comes A is for Alien: An ABC Book.

Pre-Order Here

The next few years are going to be big for the space monster. First, just in time for the film’s 45th anniversary, we are getting a new franchise film called Alien: Romulus. Then Hulu, also owned by Disney is creating a television series, although they say that might not be ready until 2025.

The book is currently available for pre-order here, and is set to release on July 9, 2024. It might be fun to guess which letter will represent which part of the movie. Such as “J is for Jonesy” or “M is for Mother.”

Romulus will be released in theaters on August 16, 2024. Not since 2017 have we revisited the Alien cinematic universe in Covenant. Apparently, this next entry follows, “Young people from a distant world facing the most terrifying life form in the universe.”

Until then “A is for Anticipation” and “F is for Facehugger.”

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Holland House Ent. Announces New Book “Oh Mother, What Have You Done?”

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Screenwriter and Director Tom Holland is delighting fans with books containing scripts, visual memoirs, continuation of stories, and now behind-the-scenes books on his iconic films. These books offer a fascinating glimpse into the creative process, script revisions, continued stories and the challenges faced during production. Holland’s accounts and personal anecdotes provide a treasure trove of insights for movie enthusiasts, shedding new light on the magic of filmmaking! Check out the press release below on Hollan’s newest fascinating story of the making of his critically acclaimed horror sequel Psycho II in a brand new book!

Horror icon and filmmaker Tom Holland returns to the world he envisioned in 1983’s critically acclaimed feature film Psycho II in the all-new 176-page book Oh Mother, What Have You Done? now available from Holland House Entertainment.

‘Psycho II’ House. “Oh Mother, What Have You Done?”

Authored by Tom Holland and containing unpublished memoirs by late Psycho II director Richard Franklin and conversations with the film’s editor Andrew London, Oh Mother, What Have You Done? offers fans a unique glimpse into the continuation of the beloved Psycho film franchise, which created nightmares for millions of people showering worldwide.

Created using never-before-seen production materials and photos – many from Holland’s own personal archive – Oh Mother, What Have You Done? abounds with rare hand-written development and production notes, early budgets, personal Polaroids and more, all set against fascinating conversations with the film’s writer, director and editor which document the development, filming, and reception of the much-celebrated Psycho II.  

‘Oh Mother, What Have you Done? – The Making of Psycho II

Says author Holland of writing Oh Mother, What Have You Done? (which contains an afterward by Bates Motel producer Anthony Cipriano), I wrote Psycho II, the first sequel that began the Psycho legacy, forty years ago this past summer, and the film was a huge success in the year 1983, but who remembers? To my surprise, apparently, they do, because on the film’s fortieth anniversary love from fans began to pour in, much to my amazement and pleasure. And then (Psycho II director) Richard Franklin’s unpublished memoirs arrived unexpectedly. I’d had no idea he’d written them before he passed in 2007.”

“Reading them,” continues Holland, “was like being transported back in time, and I had to share them, along with my memories and personal archives with the fans of Psycho, the sequels, and the excellent Bates Motel. I hope they enjoy reading the book as much as I did in putting it together. My thanks to Andrew London, who edited, and to Mr. Hitchcock, without whom none of this would have existed.”

“So, step back with me forty years and let’s see how it happened.”

Anthony Perkins – Norman Bates

Oh Mother, What Have You Done? is available now in both hardback and paperback through Amazon and at Terror Time (for copies autographed by Tom Holland)

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Sequel to ‘Cujo’ Just One Offering in New Stephen King Anthology

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It’s been a minute since Stephen King put out a short story anthology. But in 2024 a new one containing some original works is getting published just in time for summer. Even the book title “You Like It Darker,” suggests the author is giving readers something more.

The anthology will also contain a sequel to King’s 1981 novel “Cujo,” about a rabid Saint Bernard that wreaks havoc on a young mother and her child trapped inside a Ford Pinto. Called “Rattlesnakes,” you can read an excerpt from that story on Ew.com.

The website also gives a synopsis of some of the other shorts in the book: “The other tales include ‘Two Talented Bastids,’ which explores the long-hidden secret of how the eponymous gentlemen got their skills, and ‘Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream,’ about a brief and unprecedented psychic flash that upends dozens of lives. In ‘The Dreamers,’ a taciturn Vietnam vet answers a job ad and learns that there are some corners of the universe best left unexplored while ‘The Answer Man’ asks if prescience is good luck or bad and reminds us that a life marked by unbearable tragedy can still be meaningful.”

Here’s the table of contents from “You Like It Darker,”:

  • “Two Talented Bastids”
  • “The Fifth Step”
  • “Willie the Weirdo”
  • “Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream”
  • “Finn”
  • “On Slide Inn Road”
  • “Red Screen”
  • “The Turbulence Expert”
  • “Laurie”
  • “Rattlesnakes”
  • “The Dreamers”
  • “The Answer Man”

Except for “The Outsider” (2018) King has been releasing crime novels and adventure books instead of true horror in the past few years. Known mostly for his terrifying early supernatural novels such as “Pet Sematary,” “It,” “The Shining” and “Christine,” the 76-year-old author has diversified from what made him famous starting with “Carrie” in 1974.

A 1986 article from Time Magazine explained that King planned on quitting horror after he wrote “It.” At the time he said there was too much competition, citing Clive Barker as “better than I am now” and “a lot more energetic.” But that was almost four decades ago. Since then he’s written some horror classics such as “The Dark Half, “Needful Things,” “Gerald’s Game,” and “Bag of Bones.”

Maybe the King of Horror is waxing nostalgic with this latest anthology by revisiting the “Cujo” universe in this latest book. We will have to find out when “You Like It Darker” hits bookshelves and digital platforms starting May 21, 2024.

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