Review- BLACK-EYED KIDS VOL. 3: SONS AND DAUGHTERS

BLACK-EYED KIDS VOL. 3: SONS AND DAUGHTERS (Aftershock, First Printing, 2016*; Softcover)

*Book actually released in 2018. Indicia states October 2016. It looks like a lot of copy and pasting from Vol. 1.

Collects Black-Eyed Kids #11-15 (cover dates February- December, 2017)

Writer: Joe Pruett

Artists: Szymon Kudranski

Colorist: Guy Major

The way that they were talking during the solicits made it seem like this was the end of the series. With that in mind I expected some sort of resolution. While we get a lot of background on the BEKs, we get neither a definitive answer to their origins nor do we get the reason of what this series has been building up to. Instead we get an End Of Season One blurb at the end of the book. Fair enough.

There is still a lot of good Horror fun to be had along the way. We finally discover what Meredith and Gus have meant to this group of BEKs and why they have been allowed to live...so far, at least.

I'm still enjoying this series, so I will be back if and whenever it is relaunched. It's been a fun ride and aside from the endless sea of blues used in the color palette I can't find any fault with the series. It's a good classic style Horrror comic brought into the 21^st century.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4.25 out of 5.

The OCD zone- This is the part where I go into tactile sensations and materials of physical media. Those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, or women who are pregnant should exit my blog at their earliest convenience, as their safety cannot be guaranteed beyond this point.

This book was originally announced as Vol. 3: Past Lives, for those interested in that sort of trivia.

Paper stock: Glossy coated stock.

Binding: Perfect bound trade paperback.

Cardstock cover notes: Matte finish with spot varnish.

Review- BLACK-EYED KIDS VOL. 2: THE ADULTS

BLACK-EYED KIDS VOL. 2: THE ADULTS (Aftershock, First Printing, 2017; Softcover)

Collects Black-Eyed Kids #6-10 (cover dates September, 2016- January, 2017)

Writer: Joe Pruett

Artist: Szymon Kudranski

Colorist: Guy Major

The second arc in the series continues along it's thankfully humorless path. There isn't much in the way of clearing up the mystery of what these Black Eyed Kids are or where they originated from, only that they are some sort of ancient or even alien evil.

This is a quick read with nice pacing and clear, concise storytelling. The artwork is gritty when necessary and slick when it's not. The coloring seems flat even though it is not, and the palette seems to give this an air of flat coloring due to Major's use of a limited color palette. This is intentional and done to give the art a more solid feel.

I'm still unsure if there will be a payoff or if this is just a fun ride, but either way I'll be back for Volume 3.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4.25 out of 5.

The OCD zone- There is an exclusive eight page black and white bonus story in this book. All variant covers are included as extras.

Paper stock: Good weight glossy coated stock.

Binding: Perfect bound trade paperback.

Cardstock cover notes: Matte finish which can be scuffed with even reasonable handling. Spot varnish on select portions of the cover. 

Review- BLACK-EYED KIDS VOL. 1: THE CHILDREN

BLACK-EYED KIDS VOL. 1: THE CHILDREN (Aftershock, First Printing, 2016; Softcover)

Collects Black-Eyed Kids #1-5 (cover dates April- August, 2016)

Writer: Joe Pruett

Artist: Szymon Kudranski (with cover art by Francesco Francavilla)

Colorist: Guy Major

I read the first issue via the black and white Halloween ComicFest edition a couple of months ago and was blown away by it, so much so that I grabbed this book and bumped it to the top of the reading pile.

Black Eyed Kids, or Black Eyed Children as they are referred to online, are a modern day boogeyman of sorts. For the past 20 years they have popped up all over the Internet. This comic book series takes the myth and spins into something else. Are the BEKs an ancient evil older than man? An invading alien species? Beings from another dimension which possess the bodies of children? We shall see...

Modern day comics (meaning anything made in this century) are cinematic in layout and delivery. Old comics were something in between a novel and movie, but modern comics rely on “camera angles” and “edits” for impact. For my money this style worked for this material. Horror comics benefit from less explanations, as a fear of the unknown and a lack of understanding have a tendency to add some kick to the proceedings.

The writing and artwork are top notch. While I felt that the black and white version of #1 was moodier and somewhat more effective, this was very enjoyable in color as well. Black and white is a tougher sell for a mainstream comic book audience, and a series as slick as this stands a fair chance of reaching a wider audience than the standard Horror comic crowd.

I'm in for Volume 2 whenever it arrives. I liked this so much that I read it twice before reviewing it. I never read anything twice anymore.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4.5 out of 5.

The OCD zone- Nothing unusual to report here.

Paper stock: Matte coated stock.

Binding: Perfect bound trade paperback.

Cardstock cover notes: Matte coating with spot varnish.