W. Maxwell PrinceResenhas

I wasn't sure how to rate this as I couldn't decide whether having a brilliant idea, but absolutely wasting it was a net positive or negative, but this is an infuriating and heartbreakingly piss poor actualization of some great concepts.

The various cover artists are the true stars. I have mixed feelings about Morazzo. I think it is just personal taste, but I don't enjoy the way they draw ordinary scenes and people, who is most of the graphic novel, but when things get weirder, incorporate the surreality of the Electric Sublime and style of famous paintings, their art comes alive! The blending of the images of famous artworks and collages are really cool.

I think the core of my issue is that this is The Matrix and Ready Player One, but for well-known classic paintings. There is also an art murder mystery, but we get so little to go on beyond references and a reveal at the end that is supposed to feel weighty, but with the nature of the storytelling here it's just another familiar face. There is action that feels forced in 'because it's a comic' with movie logic and no significance. Speaking of the Matrix, there's a pointless reference to the display weapons fight in the Merovingian's place from The Matrix Reloaded. It just feels very over eager Tarrantino stan film student.

So much manages to happen or is rushed through without every letting anything to breathe. Let's explore the Electric Blue some more, let's actually appreciate and ground the experience of being in these famous paintings with their meaning and context, and not just one beautiful spread with no narrative weight.

The handling of mental illness as something at the same time silly and something to mock and laugh at, gross and uncomfortable, and a superpower that makes you 'normal' and 'acceptable' when you use it. Fuck all the way off! I tried to find anything out about the creators and if they have any experience with mental health issues or have discussed it at all and couldn't find anything, so it seems it's just neurotypical people using us as a fun freakshow diversion. I hate it. I hate it.

It just feels like this really could have been something magical and there are some brilliant ideas here to be inspired by and do something good with. It's incredibly disappointing to see someone come so close to greatness and step on the rake of their own edgelord, shallow, low-hanging fruit approach.

I feel like I'm nowhere near this mean normally, but I got really hacked of by the ableism from the get go, but I stuck it out to see what they did with the ideas, which was. basically nothing.

I would love more than anything to see a good version of this in any medium.

I really didn't enjoy this at all.

I'm surprised as I've been in such a groove of loving everything from Image Comics I've checked out far and I enjoy Tales from the Crypt, Tales from the Darkside, and Stephen King short stories. Maybe I'm missing something and I am a big believer in the joys of subjectivity, but for me this came across as rather edgelord, bitter, and shallow, which is all good if that's your thing. Personally, I need a bit more humanity and emotional connection in my nihilism. I also thought some of the subject matter, particularly with the heroin addicts, felt exploitative, used for little more than shock and easy access trauma (I'm definitely not phrasing that how I want to convey what I mean). There seemed to just be a lack of care and understanding of addiction beyond the tropes.

I'd be lying if the references to the Sweet Place, hell, and the Man in Black who appeared right at the end didn't intrigue me to know more about who the Ice Cream Man is and the lore of this world, which does genuinely seem interesting. However, short of somone seriously convincing me this is worth pushing through to better stories and pay off, I'm really not untested in reading anymore of this comic.

Addendum:

My feelings about the book haven't changed at all, but the more I read reviews with people saying it's just like or for fans of all the things I like, the more weird I feel. My brain is melting into an autistic puddle.

I liked the idea of zany adventure by going into famous art pieces to save them, but the climactic showdown for the story arc involves our protagonist murdering a ten-year-old boy because he's a "tumor" to art and therefore to everyone else. There is not enough NO in the world for my opinion on that sort of ending being anything other than horrible.

Note: I received access to read this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Art Brut is a visually excellent, silly, and grotesque pulp adventure through the art world. It plays with multiple art styles and uses them cleverly. The psychedelic artwork makes visual sense but moves the story along with dream logic half of the time. You'll have to be okay with the story points resolving this way for this series to work for you.

Ice Cream Man, Vol 2 manages to retain the many elements that worked so well in the first volume while simultaneously expanding and improving on them. The result is a collection of stories that are vicious and horrifying to behold, and yet I couldn’t tear my eyes away. From its startling opening to its shocking finale, this next volume in the series is a thrilling and unforgettable experience. In fact, as soon as it concluded I scoured the pages again to discover any clues I may have overlooked concerning the engaging overarching narrative. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: the Ice Cream Man should be a pop culture icon in horror comparable to the likes of Freddy Kreuger or Pinhead, and I cannot wait to see where his story goes in the third volume!

Full review available at Beyond the Veil (https://gobeyondtheveil.co.uk/comics/icecreamman-vol2-review)!

Ok, I’ll admit it: I’m hooked. I’ve heard the off-kilter jingle and tasted the sickly-sweet treats, and I want more. Ice Cream Man, Volume 1 is a fun and frightening collection of intertwined short stories, full of lifelike characters experiencing bizarre and unnerving turns of events. If the rest of the series is this good then we have a new pop culture icon in the making, and I need to get my hands on the next volume. Lickety Split.

Full review available at Beyond the Veil (https://gobeyondtheveil.co.uk/comics/ice-cream-man-volume-1-review).

"The Brazilian Wandering Spider is one of the most dangerous, deadly spiders recognized by the World Spiders Catalogue... In fact, in 2010, Guinness Book of World Records granted this charming arachnid an official, true-blue title: World's Most Venomous Spider... Most venomous. Ain't that something?"

This is just an excerpt from one of the best surreal horror comics I've ever read. I started back around 2020 and it immediately hooked me in the first few pages, it was quick and didn't take much time at all to catch and hold my attention. I've read the entire series and had to snap up the entire collection for my own shelves. I was recommended this comic by a stranger who only knew I loved monsters- and sure enough, this series is chock full of all kinds of monsters- but not in the way you think. Traditionally defined, yes, but also more of the twisted and warped moral variety too. I'd akin it to a gothic or darker Aesops: tales of caution with a twist and turn that can be both chilling and heartbreaking. It's like the anthology series Tales from the Darkside or Twilight Zone but with the morbidity and heavier tones cranked way up. Each comic is episodic and can be read on its own, but it's HIGHLY Recommended to start at the beginning- as there are little things you pick and piece together for the bigger and more cohesive overarching plot. This is more crucial in later issues, since there's something of a 'good vs evil' element driving the story, but it pales in comparison to the main tales told since normally evil is the side that prevails here. Bleak, grim, macabre, symbolic, and at times touching with consistent art that doesn't disappoint- this series is unforgettable and profound. It very much is its own thing and hard to dislike.

Great first issue that sucked me in! I bought the trade the next day. I can't wait to read this one. The ice cream man is scary for sure.

Creepy but Ice Cream Man is 10x better.

Was any thought put into this? Very disappointed since I love [a:W. Maxwell Prince|8058217|W. Maxwell Prince|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1540357151p2/8058217.jpg] and ICM is a good series.

The circle of life. Literally.

Earl was lucky. He better live life to the fullest.

Destined to be like her mother? That’s not fair. Great issue though!

A great twist that I was not expecting!

I prefer ICM. This series was okay, this issue was a crossover but it wasn't all of that.

I was expecting some big bad but it was actually a sweet story. Very refreshing.

I am still going to continue this series, however this issue wasn't the greatest.

No dialogue and okay artwork. Not a fan of this issue. I still plan on continuing the series though.

This story was dark as heck. Great artwork as well.

Good plot with amazingly creepy art that matches it perfectly! This was a good first issue.

Another amazing issue in the series. Weird vibes all around.

Not as good as the first two volumes. I did like the backstory of Caleb though. I look forward to reading Volume 4.

Great addition to this horror gem. I can't wait to see where Vol. 3 goes. This collection of stories seemed extremely dark.

Horror plot done right, plus bonus points for having [a:Martín Morazzo|6074284|Martín Morazzo|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1540357570p2/6074284.jpg] be the illustrator because he captures horror so well. I love everything he has illustrated. I cannot wait to read volume 2 of this series.

Picked this up the other day because the cover caught my eye, and I’m really glad I did. Collecting the first 4 issues of the series, this gave me a horror-flavored Twilight Zone vibe. The stories aren’t necessarily connected, other than the eponymous Ice Cream Man, who more or less narrates what’s going on in each issue. There may be an overreaching arc, but that’s not made 100% clear in this particular volume. It’s definitely an odd collection of stories, but I enjoyed it enough to want to read some more, so I’ll be seeing if the library can get this one in for me. @imagecomics