EJ Moreno reviews Myths From The Abyss #1…
SYNOPSIS: Five strange tales are included in this compendium of comics from the Abyssmal vault. This tome collects stories of monsteriffic scientific experimentation, a horrible first date, Biblical beginnings, a creature caper, and an out-of-this-world adventure. So buckle up, buttercup, and get ready to go on a roller coaster ride of carnage from the demented mind of writer Steven Shea.
Horror comics are something many of us remember growing up. While they are still around, the prime era of EC Comics and the Marvel Horror brand is gone. Well, almost gone as Myths From The Abyss feels like a return to the classic age of horror comics.
A collection of short horror stories put together, Myths From The Abyss is a new comic from filmmaker Steven Shea. There’s a handful of stories written by Shea here, all diving into some pretty dark stories. Though, there’s still an element of fun that makes going through each page a pleasure.
Horror comics have to be rooted in some charm, as you wouldn’t want to go through a Saw-style collection of comics. No, stories like The Last Man on Mars and Fiend Fatale are brutal, bad-ass but keep you smiling throughout. While I don’t love each entry, there’s still an enjoyable quality about each that backs why it’s included here.
I admired Myths From The Abyss because the stories felt so detailed and dense that they could’ve easily been films. Sometimes in comics and even some novels, the world feels excellent for that medium. You can visualize the moments, but trying to bring them to life wouldn’t be easy. Not with this though, you could easily see these stories brought to life, and I almost want that.
Sure we have a budget in comics that allows for more insanity, but a story like The Last Man on Mars on the big screen would be lovely. Author Steven Shea is someone who can craft a story and sees the big picture. While the finer details in a few of these stories could’ve been fleshed out more, it’s nice to see something so bold.
On the surface, the story Fiend Fatale feels a bit exploitative. I saw the art style and the design of some of the women and wasn’t thrilled. But I was happy to see the women have more layers in their personas than what they’re wearing. These horror-inspired bad-ass are the ones I want to see more of and something I hope the artists continue with going forward.
Kinda like more adult Monster High dolls, Fiend Fatale is going to be one a lot of people get into, for sure. The bold designs, fun characters, and wild story are all there and again, something that needs to be expanded on in a different medium.
For the most part, the art style works for me. One or two stories weren’t my favorite based on how they looked, but nothing was downright wrong. The Book of Lilith and The Vandyls felt like a step backward from how strong the first two entries were but still offer a fun few pages of reading.
The artist Chickenz, who worked on with Shea on two stories here, is an absolute star. Their work, coupled with the stories written, is stellar. The art felt fresh yet familiar. There was horror and gore but never dipped into anything too outlandish. The aliens crafted for The Last Man on Mars are utterly terrifying and another example of something I’d like to see done on a larger scale.
Fiend Fatale is another story with intriguing art. While I mentioned it, I didn’t love it initially, feeling like one of those saucy mangas more than a horror comic. But diving into it more, the artist who brought it to life had a clear vision and something I ended up enjoying by its end.
Simply put, Steven Shea is onto something with Myths From The Abyss #1. While I think future editions of the comic could go above and beyond, this was a solid start and something I’d want to see more in the future.
Like I mentioned at the start, horror comics are still around, but they aren’t getting the love as their superhero counterparts. While Myths From The Abyss #1 will play for a niche crowd at first, this can be a horror hit for comic fans.
Rating: 8/10
EJ Moreno
