In Review: This Comic is Haunted #3

By Luke Williams on November 7, 2023

Review by Luke Williams

Released appropriately around Halloween Eve, This Comic Is Haunted, The77 Publications horror anthology, reaches Issue 3 with a choice of cover. Purchasers can choose between a skeleton / Ouija board vibe, or a riff on the World War One Lord Kitchener recruitment poster, but neither are particularly indicative of the content, save just horror themed.

Getting into the issue proper, it seems to be a bit of a fresh start, with serials “Bones of Winter” and “Drummer From Hell” taking a break.

“Hidden in Sight” by Christoff Rodriguez and Lola Bomato kicks things off. A tale of sibling rivalry and bullying that goes a bit “Wickerman”. The cartoony and whimsical art style art adding to the unsettling feeling of a story that has a creepy (ier) Mary Poppins vibe.

This Comic is Haunted #3 - “Hidden in Sight” by Christoff Rodriguez and Lola Bomato

There are two vampire strips this issue. First up is “Ravenous”, created by ‘77 regulars Dave Heeley and Andrew Sawyers. We’re introduced to London vampire who hunts other fanged blood sucking creatures of the night and has a passing resemblance to a certain Mr. J Constantine, kind of making him a scouse/cockney “Blade the Vampire Slayer”. Four pages, 25 per cent of which is T & A, doesn’t give it enough space to get going, but more is promised.

This Comic is Haunted #3 - Ravenous by Dave Heeley and Andrew Sawyers

One off “Hurry” by Dave Heeley and beautifully drawn by James Fletcher, is a “Tales Of The Unexpected” style strip. A guilt ridden writer leaving a deadly gift in his will, the story doesn’t quite work, it feels like there is a page missing, more space is needed to develop the relationship between the two central characters. James Fletcher is one to watch out for in future.

This Comic is Haunted #3 - Hurry by Dave Heeley and James Fletcher

The sepia woodcut look of the peculiarly titled “Hand of God In The Eyes of Nature” is striking and effective. Plotwise, the daughter of a once respected 19th Century Gentleman investigates her father’s fall from grace into Lovecraftian elder god style worship. Intriguing work from Dan Pollard and Gary Burley.

This Comic is Haunted #3 - Hand of God In The Eyes of Nature by Dan Pollard and Gary Burley

“The Screaming Skull” by Jo Heeley and Ian Stopforth continues the adventures of Horace Mosse : Clearance Expert., a refreshing spin on the paranormal investigator trope. Stopforths’s highly detailed faces, imaginative use of colour lends atmosphere to a story of a haunting in a British suburbia.

This Comic is Haunted #3 - “The Screaming Skull” by Jo Heeley and Ian Stopforth

In the tradition of EC’s “Crypt Keeper“ and early 2000AD “Future Shocks” as presented by Tharg, “Jack O’Lantern” presents “The Fishmonger”, is presented by Jack O Lantern. Beautifully drawn by Damianed, with great use of greytone and lighting, the story by Noel K Hannan of a monster rescuing seemingly doomed fishermen from their stricken boat is efficient, but there’s not much of a twist.

This Comic is Haunted #3 - “The Fishmonger” by Damianed

“Blood Money” is the second of the vampire strips. Without creeping into spoilers, it stars a stripper and Nosferatu counterbalances “Ravenous’” cheesecake, with beefcake. At four pages, it’s probably a bit too brief, but Laurence Alison’s story pays off with a neat twist. Jack Bates art lays on the gore, but occasionally is a little stiff with some slightly off figure work.

This Comic is Haunted #3 - "Blood Money" by Laurence Alison and Jack Bates

The black and white “Memento Mori” written by Dave Bedford and drawn by Andy Meacock is evocative of Si Spurrier and Boo Cook’s 2000AD strip “Harry Kipling (deceased)”. The skeletal Memento and his latin loqui assistant Erraticus have the task of retrieving the undead and important magical artefacts from Earth back to the other side, silly and fun.

This Comic is Haunted #3 - “Memento Mori” by Dave Bedford and Andy Meacock

Finally, Lew Stringer wraps things up with another of his one page “Short Sharp Shocks”, an extended one page gag which works on every level.

Credit should also go to Andrew Richmond, who provides excellent lettering for most of the strips.

With Issue 3, despite the unforeseen breaks in the serials, This Comic is Haunted seems to have settled and found a formula. It’s a well balanced package, with different aspects of horror represented and a mix of one offs and serials.

Good stuff, check it out.

Luke Williams

• This Comic is Haunted #3 is available to order from The77 Publications web shop

Be aware this comic is not for young children and has adult themes

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Luke Williams

Brought up on a diet of Commando, British Boys Annuals and Asterix, Lucas Williams’s day job limits his reading time. Luckily for everyone else this also restricts his writing time.