BOOM! Studios threw its name into the hat for publishers putting out horror anthologies back in July with Hello Darkness #1, and it’s a crowded area in comics. Marvel and DC traditionally put them out, and with EC Comics back via Oni Press, it’s one of the busiest times ever for horror anthology lovers in comics. Hello Darkness #1 stunned with some shocking tales, but can it sustain your attention with issue #2?
Hello Darkness #2 contains five stories, four of which are done-in-one tales. All told, the mix of art styles and topics is fairly solid here, with good curation from editors David Mariotte and Bryce Carlson.
This collection opens with “The Clown” by Azam Raharjo. This story has a Junji Ito visual vibe with body horror galore. It’s devious, opening with a mother calling a phone number on a flyer in a hallway. The flyer promises a clown for birthdays, and her son is turning five. It seemed safe enough until the horrific-looking clown showed up, and it didn’t even have the address! There’s some disturbing visuals horror fans won’t want to miss.
Tell me this pinup isn’t scary!
Credit: BOOM!
Next is “Stargazers” by Federik Hornung. It features a blind date gone horribly violent. The art style is reminiscent of pulp comics. The tale is mostly a bloody fight sequence, but it’s hard not to love the nostalgic visual vibe. You probably hid comics like this under your bed so your parents wouldn’t find it.
Wes Craig writes and draws “Apocalypse in Slow Motion.” This story blends corporate jerks with a cult that has had enough. The use of sound effects and gutters filled with insane cultists creates a good blend of horror and chaos. I can’t say I cared much about their words, but the visuals are striking.
Robert Hack writes and draws “I Can’t Take You Anywhere,” a one-page, two-panel tale. It’s simple and a bit dark.
Closing out the anthology is part two of Garth Ennis and Becky Cloonan’s (with colors by Tamra Bonvillain) “The War” story. In the last chapter, we found out a world war started, and this chapter highlights the incredible anxiety we’d all likely feel checking our phones and not knowing what to do next. Ennis dabbles in the futility of hiding in a bunker while people lose themselves in the stress of it all. This is a horror story that doesn’t feel too far off from a possible reality, making it all the more frightening.
Cloonan once again proves she’s a master at character acting and drawing you in. Mostly told in extreme or mid-closeups, you’re right there with these poor souls who can’t help but worry and then worry some more. Cloonan draws you in with the isolation of it all.
There are also a few pinups that act as chapter breaks between tales. Matteo Scalera’s is a nice blend of a cute schoolgirl meeting a goat from hell. The color palette is very Disney’s Haunted Mansion. Miguel Mercado’s has a The Ring vibe but with a computer. The eyes are haunting. Finally, Jenny Frison delivers a blend of plant horror with a beautiful woman with flower eyes. Nuff said!
Hello Darkness #2 is a good reminder that there are so many art styles that work well with horror. Some tales are scary here, but the curation of different kinds of art will sell you. Hello Darkness delivers the unexpected.
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