The Creep #2
Written by John Arcudi
Art by Jonathan Case
Cover By Ryan Sook
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: October 10, 2012
Cover Price: $3.50

Oxel Karnhus is a private investigator who’s looking into a teen suicide case that the cops brushed aside. His main reason for even taking the case is because the client, Stephanie, is an old flame from his younger days. Since they last saw each other, Oxel developed a case of acromegaly, a condition that causes body tissues to get larger over time. In Oxel’s case, his jaw grew crazy-huge like Rondo Hatton.

The Creep follows Oxel’s investigation into Curtis’ suicide which is apparently linked to his buddy, Mike’s suicide a few months earlier. The Creep #2 continues the investigation as Oxel visits Mike’s mom, Laura. Steph interrupts his visit with a timely phone call describing Curtis’ grizzly father’s visit to her house that morning where he debo’d her credit card and slipped out of town. This issue is a necessary cog four-issue mini-series that undoubtedly puts forward some vital clues “” we just don’t know how it all fits together yet.

Monster
KISS
Produced by Paul Stanley
UMe
October 9, 2012 (US) CD | MP3
October 8, 2012 (UK) CD | MP3

After an 11-year gap between albums last time out, KISS stomped on the heads of the naysayers and showed the world they were once again (or always were) a relevant band in rock and roll with love guns at the ready. Realizing they were on to something good, they wasted little time in releasing the appropriately titled Monster.

KISS teased us with “Hell Or Hallelujah” way before the release and it gets Monster off to a flier with its infectious guitar riff and superb Paul Stanley lead vocal. We all know the life story of Gene Simmons‘ monster, but he has thankfully put it away long enough to put his mind to better use. “The Devil Is Me” and “Eat Your Heart Out” bounce along on that trademark groin-rumbling bass sound and he is up to his usual tricks on the gloriously filthy “Take Me Down Below.”

Hello Geeks and Ghouls, Famous Monster here. Well, it’s finally October and you know what that means? Breast Cancer Awareness 5Ks? Good guess. Pumpkin Spice Lattes? Delicious, but no. Halloween? YES. Horror movies? DOUBLE YES!

Welcome to 31 Days of Horror, where I’ll cover at least two noteworthy horror films a day for the entirety of the month. That’s 31 Days of Horror and 62+ scary movies perfect for a cold, dark October night. Be sure to visit Geeks of Doom every day this month for a double-shot of chills and thrills!

Today’s double-shot features the grandfather (or grandmother?) of the slasher sub-genre, Alfred Hitchcock‘s 1960 film, Psycho, and Tod Browning‘s 1932 Pre-Code horror film about sideshow oddities, Freaks.

“˜Whatever happened to the heroes?’ sang Hugh Cornwell in a sneering tone on one of The Stranglers‘ most memorable tracks. Well for those of us who consider Cornwell a musical hero, he has been up to much since he sang those words 35 years ago.

Leaving British punk rock icons The Stranglers in 1990, after over 13 years of writing the band’s staples like “Golden Brown,” “Peaches,” and of course “No More Heroes,” Cornwell has been forging ahead with a succession of successful tours and a run of solo albums. His latest effort, Totem and Taboo, lays out his characteristic loose-hipped guitar licks and Cornwell’s trademark laid-back Cockney drawl and stinging lyrics.

While gearing up for his latest tour of the UK, Cornwell and I discussed his latest music, dealing with criticism, and preferring a toilet to Madonna. It’s all here in black & white…

Geeks of Doom: Your new album, Totem and Taboo, was funded through a Pledge music campaign.

Hugh Cornwell: That’s right, we formed sort of a relationship with them to fund the record. It was very successful.

Geeks of Doom: Were you surprised at the reaction you got because you’re well over your total now, aren’t you?

Memorial
Written by Chris Roberson
Art by Rich Ellis
Colors by Grace Allison
Letters by Neil Uyetake, Robbie Robbins, and Shawn Lee
Edits by Mariah Heuhner
Cover by Michael WM Kaluta
Collection Edits by Justin Eisinger & Alonzo Simon
Design by Neil Uyetake & Robbie Robbins
Introduction by Bill Willingham
IDW Publishing
Release Date: September 26, 2012
Cover Price: $24.99

It’s always a safe bet to trust your gut. Way back in February I wrote a lukewarm review of the new Fantasy book from Chris Roberson (Superman, co-publisher of Monkey Brain Comics) Memorial #3. I said, in essence:

What I just read is the middle of a larger story. It was ok, but it’s too early to say if the bigger book will be any good just yet.

I suspected it would deliver, but I’m kind of a coward sometimes. Add to that, for whatever personal reasons Fantasy is not a genre I’m usually drawn to. I have massive respect for your Elf Quests and Conan The Barbarians for their craftsmanship, but for as far back as I can remember it’s never been my bag, y’know?