A very enjoyable and blood splattered horror comics anthology with a seasonal theme that delivers a great selection suitable for any time of year. Festive Frightmare is a great collection of hugely talented creators making great comics. An anthology stands or falls on the editorial decisions that allow the content to combine happily to create a whole.This anthology has a big tent approach that allows a very diverse range of styles and content to support each other and deliver a very enjoyable result that showcases the talent involved.
A Christmas Feast. Russel Hillman (Writer), Patrick Halpin (Art). A hungry inmate murderously escapes from a mental institution and settles in an abandoned building. When a group break into the building to have a urban picnic and explore it goes very wrong. Smart set up and bleak humour drive the story. Patrick Halpin’s art is a pleasure, the panels are used to dive into gory detail where required and control the pace of the story with care and attention to detail. The muted colours draw in the reader and bring out all the horrifying details.
A Christmas Drink. Sean McFarland is clever and very engaging, a couple knock on a door to compliment the homeowner on their Christmas decorating and are invited in. This is a mistake. The gray toned art is lovely, relaxed and inviting, the story is paced beautifully and the pay off delivered with flair.
For Goodness Sake. Matt Smith (Writer), James Francis (Art) is a superb, short, black joke, really well set up and with a brilliant pay off. James Francis’ art gives nothing away and them gives the finale all the lift off it richly deserves.
The Full Moon Christmas. Troy Vevasis (Writer), Aleksandar Jovic (Art). Santa is bittern by a werewolf elf and there is a full moon at the North Pole as he start to head out on his travels. The result is delightfully unexpected. Charm is unexpected in a horror anthology and it speaks to the strength of the editor that it is there and works so successfully in the context. Aleksandar Jovic’s art is lighthearted and engaging, exactly what the story needs.
The Naughtiest Boy. Brendan Hykes (Writer), Ramon Gil (Art) is one of the two stand of stories in the collection. Santa goes down the chimney and comes into a cellar to a deeply unexpected reception. The story twists brilliantly in a short space and the ending is just a joy. Ramon Gil’s art is striking and beautiful, it catches the tension and the set up with vivid colours and sharp lines, the cast are bursting with life.
Ho-Ho-Holidays. Jackie Smith (Writer and Art) is the other stand out story. Delivered in one page the idea and execution is a marvel of economical precision, capturing seasonal horror with biting, wintry humor that is simply breathtaking.
