Comic Books
Shock Shop #2 Review: Miss Moreau Delivers More Chills in the Newest Entry of the Anthology Series
Shock Shop #2 Review: Miss Moreau Delivers More Chills in the Newest Entry of the Anthology Series
Shock Shop #2 Review: Miss Moreau Delivers More Chills in the Newest Entry of the Anthology Series
Hello dear readers. Tom here. It’s good to see you. It’s been a while. You haven’t called. I know we said it wouldn’t get weird but a phone call would be nice. No, it’s fine. I just have to stop putting expectations on us. There are other comic reviews out there and I know we said it wasn’t an exclusive thing and… You know what? I’m just gonna stop there. Let’s focus on why we are here and that is Dark Horse Comic‘s Shock Shop #2.
If you recall that one time we hung out, I absolutely love anthologies. I grew up watching all things horror at an extremely inappropriate age so needless to say I’ve been a lifelong horror fan. But if you have a few shorter form stories that you can string together into one presentation all the better. Bonus points if those stories are presented by a charismatic host of some sort who throws out puns galore. You know like the Creeper from Creepshow or the Crypt Keeper from the ever popular Tales From the.. from the….? Damn! You know! That one place. From the graveyard? I don’t know but it will come to me. You know the show.
And Shock Shop hits all those lovely notes like Lizzo playing a crystal flute that conservatives can pretend they either knew or cared about. We find ourselves visiting said shop run by the lovely and macabre Desdaemona Nimue Moreau who is all too happy to provide us with the puns that we have come to expect and love from this particular subgenre. We are then introduced to our first tale, Something in the woods, in the dark.
Our story was written by Cullen Bunn with art by Danny Luckert & Leila Leiz. Luckert also provided the art for cover A and provided colors alongside Bill Crabtree. And of course, is lettered by Nate Piekos of Blambot fame. The story is fantastic as we find ourselves with a group of friends who have just come across the desiccated body of their friend in the woods. They now find themselves having to walk out of said woods to find help and the madness ensues. The art of Luckert compliments this story perfectly. The character design and environments are top notch and the action is visceral and makes you feel the fur-wrenching horror at what’s in the woods with them.
The lovely Miss Moreau then introduces us to the next story, Familiars. Again another stellar story from Cullen Bunn. This time the art is being handled by Leila Leiz with colors by Bill Crabtree who also teamed up for the cover as well. And Nate Piekos is back to letter. This time we open on a scene that is all too familiar to those of us who have been through a divorce, the child exchange.
As the children greet their mom and the new boyfriend makes his snarky remarks, the daughter lets it slip that Dad’s new house is haunted. Is it just an overactive child’s imagination or is she telling the adorable yet terrifying truth? If you’re a fan of short horror stories and like them, I can’t recommend Shock Shop enough. Check it out and you won’t be disappointed. And maybe just respond to a text now and then.
Source: Dark Horse
