Curse of the Vessel #1 Written by Michael Leal
Illustrated by Mike Wilson
Colored by Michael McElveen
Cover by Joelle Jones Danger Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.99
It’s a wonderful thing when a Kickstarter can get the financial backing it’s looking to create its project. It’s equally as fantastic when the said Kickstarter is creative, original, and engrossing. Curse of the Vessel #1, a comic by Michael Leal with illustrations from Mike Wilson and colors from Michael McElveen is one such endeavor.
Vincent, a hired thug for the mob boss, Eddie Roman, is sent to make the local magic shop owner, Mr. Zicari, reconsider an offer he had recently refused. When things go awry, Vincent ends up in a motel with a strange symbol branded into his chest, forcing him to recall the events that led him to his current surroundings. Vincent quickly discovers that he has become the vessel for lost souls seeking another chance at life. With this newfound curse, Vincent’s body is unwillingly forced into dangerous situations with the wrong sorts of people.
Bela Lugosi’s Tales of the Grave #4 Written by Mark Finn, Lowell Isaac, Ed Polgardy, Michael Leal and Kerry Gammill
Art by John Lucas, Bill Sienkiewicz, Lowell Isaac, Rob Brown, Nik Poliwko and Kerry Gammill
Edited by Kerry Gammill
Covers by Alex Tuis and Carlos Valenzuela Monsterverse
Release Date: August 21, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99
The fourth installment of Bela Lugosi’s Tales of the Grave contains five horror stories that are straight out of the late night tv horror shows. Campy and fun, the horror is the standard mix of cautionary tales and revenge. It also contains a poster gallery from Bela Lugosi’s Invisible Ghost, a classic movie from 1941.
A couple of the stories, “The Evil Eye” and “The Monster” deal with children being bullied. Hopeless and alone both stories have someone befriend the lonely outcast. When that friendship is taken away, they snap. The stories are fun and the consequences gruesome. Both have art styles that fit the story, though “The Monster” is definitely the more twisted, in both art and story, of the two.
Students of the Unusual™ comic cover used with permission of 3BoysProductions
The Mercuri Bros.™ comic cover used with permission of Prodigal Son Press