The Shadow Glass
Written by Aly Fell
Art by Aly Fell
Letters by Nate Piekos of Blambot
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: January 4, 2017
Cover Price: $19.99

I remember when I reviewed the first issue of this series, back in March. I found the premiere issue to be both entertaining and intriguing. Now, after seeing the first six issues brought together in this graphic novel, nothing has changed in my mind. The Shadow Glass is one of my favorite comics of 2016.

Alabaster: The Good, The Bad, And The Bird Hardcover
Written by Caitlin R. Kiernan
Art by Daniel Warren Johnson
Colors by Carlos Badilla
Letters by Nate Piekos of Blambot
Cover by Greg Ruth
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: August 31, 2016
Cover Price: $19.99

It’s not every day that I get to read an introspective comic book that deals with a character experiencing their own personal hell. But leave it to Dark Horse Comics to give me exactly what I didn’t know I needed! Alabaster: The Good, The Bad, And The Bird is a shining example of why I keep coming back to them for unique stories and comics! Please, allow me to elaborate further.

Dancy Flammarion is dead. She knows it and we know it. But apparently death comes in varying degrees of
permanence, as it seems she is being tempted/threatened with life. And though she repeatedly declines, sometimes events can spiral out of our control. Much akin to her tenuous grasp on her sanity.

Rat God #5
Written and Illustrated by Richard Corben
Colored by Richard Corben and Beth Corben Reed
Lettered by Nate Piekos of Blambot
Cover by Richard Corben
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: June 3, 2015
Cover Price: $3.99

What a weird and wild ride Rat God has been! In the fifth and final issue of Richard Corben‘s horror mini-series, Clark Elwood risks all to save the woman he loves, in what is surely the strangest installement yet.

Narrated once again by Mag the Hag — a bizarre, omniscient wanderer found in many of Corben’s stories — Clark Elwood finally comes face to face with the Rat God and its worshippers. In a last ditch attempt to save Kito, Clark must fight the crazed religious fanatics and monstrous beasts. And in the end, he’ll uncover an ancient truth that will change his world forever.

Fight Club 2 #1
Script by Chuck Palahniuk
Art by Cameron Stewart
Colors by by Dave Stewart
Letters by Nate Piekos of Blambot
Cover by David Mack
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: May 27, 2015
Cover Price: $3.99

‘Destiny has a pesky way of catching up’

For a sequel that divided the Space Monkeys, Fight Club 2 #1 is a sucker punch to the face that reminds you why you joined the club in the first place. You know which one. What? We’re all rule breakers here. Author Chuck Palahniuk being the biggest one, who after years of saying there’d never be a sequel to his breakout novel and it’s subsequent film adaptation, has crafted something real special. But with Palahniuk’s sense of humor, this continuation we’ve begged for or bemoaned may lead us to his particular brand of surprises. Like Rant’s momma who baked her meals with shards of glass and nails, Palahniuk makes you chew on every page from the start.

The Occultist, Volume 2: At Death’s Door
Created by Mike Richardson
Story by Mike Richardson and Tim Seeley
Script by Tim Seeley
Art by Mike Norton
Color by Allen Passalaqua
Letters by Nate Piekos of Blambot
Cover and Chapter Break Art by Steve Morris
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: June 25, 2014
Cover Price: $16.99

As I’m sure you probably gleaned from the title, this graphic novel is centered around mystical powers. And if that’s all that The Occultist, Volume 2: At Death’s Door had going for it, it would still be a darn fine read. But fortunately for us, there is more going on here than you might first think. This is not your typical supernatural story, not by any means.

Since this was a miniseries originally, it is exceptionally nice that the writers included a couple of pages of back story to help new readers. Most of the time we don’t get that luxury. The premise here is a young man named Rob Bailey has been given the power of an ancient tome entitled The Sword. Following the loss of his trusted friend and mentor, Rob teams up with a local detective to stop the demons and the undead from seizing power and killing innocents. And that leads us to the current chain of events in this five issue series.