Book Review: HEX by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

HEX by Thomas Olde Heuvelt (Tor Books, April 2016) Hardcover, 384 pages. English translation and revisions (First published April 2013)  ISBN #9780765378804 

Synopsis on the Goodreads website . . . . .

Whoever is born here, is doomed to stay 'til death. Whoever settles, never leaves.

Welcome to Black Spring, the seemingly picturesque Hudson Valley town haunted by the Black Rock Witch, a 17th century woman whose eyes and mouth are sewn shut. Muzzled, she walks the streets and enters your homes at will. She stands next to your bed for nights on end. Everybody knows that her eyes may never be opened.

The elders of Black Spring have virtually quarantined the town by using high-tech surveillance to prevent their curse from spreading. Frustrated with being kept in lockdown, the town's teenagers decide to break their strict regulations and go viral with the haunting, but in so doing send the town spiraling into the dark, medieval practices of the past.

MY FIVE-STAR REVIEW on the Goodreads website . . . . .

An outstanding read with a unique premise: a small town under quarantine, with strict monitoring and penalties in order to conceal from the rest of the world what the problem/conflict is: a centuries-old witch who cursed the town and despite being shackled and her eyes shown shut, can appear anywhere within the town, including residential bedrooms. 

The descriptions and settings are excellent, as well as the characterization - including a bunch of interesting secondary characters. You may not like many (or none) of them, but they feel realistic and easy to understand and empathize with. The story is as much about the town of Black Springs as it is about the presence of Katherine the witch. 

I"m reminded of the writing style of Stephen King in the way that Heuvelt is able to convey exactly what characters are experiencing and feeling inside. I'm especially reminded of SALEM'S LOT. Both are stories of small towns that are taken over and transformed - - King's story by vampires, and Heuvelt's story by a curse. 

Because the witch has been appearing in the town for centuries, there is a comfort level among the residents who tend to ignore or work around her manifestations. However, once that fragile truce is disrupted by some teens (bored of their confinement and restrictions on their lifestyle) things escalate to a fever head and the storyline becomes truly scary and disturbing. 

The ending was inevitable and blunt, but still left me surprised. I did not expect that.

This novel is even more remarkable in that Dutch author Heuvelt re-wrote it for an American audience in the English translation and even changed the final chapters of the book and the ending. It reads like an American author wrote it with many local references. Definitely an author to check out more.

MY WEEKS IN COMICS - - - August 16, 2026

MY WEEKS IN COMICS  - - -  for the three weeks ending  AUGUST 16, 2026  

297+ =  DEAD ACRE: BLACK BADGE #1 story by creators Rhett C. Bruno & Jaime Castle with script by Cullen Bunn and art by Riley Brown (Vault Comics, July 2026) Who doesn’t welcome a good western comic with supernatural themes?  - - Always a favorite of mine. The visuals in this debut issue are well-thought out and very expressive. 

   In a flashback sequence, a gunslinger (James Crowley) with a big heart/conscience lets that get the better of him and dies in a six-versus-one shootout. Now, he’s alive once more and wandering the Western desert, mission/purpose unknown. He arrives at the small town of Dead Acre. 

    At the local saloon he learns that Rosa/Mrs. Massey’s husband hasn’t come home in a couple of days and offers to help her find him. Other bar patrons don’t appreciate his interference and a brawl breaks out, ending when the bartender pulls out his rifle and fires a warning shot. 

  Crowley’s thought captions after he secures a room for the night: “I found myself thinking about all the dirty saloons I’d called home for a night . . . The way some troubles plague every town - - big or small. . . . The way memories blur together ever since the White Throne brought me back . . .”

  There’s the supernatural connection, and the issue ends when the ghostly image of Shargrafein, an angel of the first order, appears in the full-size mirror in his rented room as the issue ends.

  An interesting beginning. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.

#298 =  THE RING: THE MAN WHO BEAT THE MAN #1 by Gail Simone and Elisa Romboli (Dark Horse Comics, June 2016) The promotional pitch . . . . . . 

“Influential writer Gail Simone (Uncanny X-Men) launches a new series that mixes boxing lore and strategy with a fictional, merciless landscape where everyone wants to beat—and be—The Champ! 

The Ring: The Man Who Beat the Man is an exciting action series that takes a look at both the rich history of boxing and the mindsets of those who step in the ring! Produced with the editorial leadership at the historic boxing magazine The Ring—Dark Horse pairs Simone with the creative team of artist Elisa Romboli (You Never Heard of Me) and colorist/letterer Iolanda Zanfardino (The Least We Can Do) to deliver a boxing tale like no other!”

This was much better than I anticipated. The storyline feels authentic and the characterizations are very good. In addition to a couple boxers with heart and determination there is an interesting side story about a veteran journalist paired up with a social media upstart who does a bit of upsetting traditions. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.

#299 =  DISPATCHED #1 by B. Clay Moore and Daniel Gete (Ignition Press, June 2026)  One of the pleasures of visiting your local comic shop every week is the fun of discovery. Impulse buyers know what I’m talking about: the cover art, the title, or just the fact that it’s a debut issue makes you pick it up, scan the pages (mostly for the art), then decide if you buy it.

  Sometimes that’s enough to determine what the story is about and if it appeals to you - -  sometimes it’s not enough. What I really appreciate about Ignition Press is that they include a short synopsis on the back cover of all their titles. For example, here’s the back cover text of DISPATCHED #1:

“Ex-black ops agent Morgan Powers is living under a government-issues alias, working as a delivery driver for a major global courier company. It’s a 180 from his action-packed classified work abroad, until a routine shift puts him in the crosshairs of a domestic terrorist takedown.

    Trapped in a besieged corporate office park, Powers must go back to basics with nothing but his survival skills and a van full of unopened packages - - and endless possibilities - - to fight his way from floor to floor and free the hostages.

     Some boxes hold more trash than treasure, and Powers will also have to contend with his intensifying PTSD as the situation escalates and time runs out.”

That is what persuaded me to pick this up, and then order the remaining issues.

   The story by Moore delivers on that promise and the dynamic art by Gete manages to mirror the story moods from group counseling to quiet reflection to violent action. The art style will remind you (as other reviews have mentioned) of both Frank Quitely and Geoff Darrow. The story reminded me a little of the first DIE HARD movie. Good stuff. FOUR STARS.

#300 =  THE ACCESSORIES #1 of 4 by David Dastmalchian & Leah Kilpatrick with art by Patrick Piazzalunga (Rocketship Entertainment / PanicK Entertainment, August 2026)

If you’re a fan of those old classic monster movies (Frankenstein, Dracula, etc) then you’lll want to check this out. It’s a homage not to the monsters, or their creators, but to the sidekicks of the creators and monsters. Plus, the art evokes those classic film settings and reminds me of Eric Powell’s best stuff. 

   Synopsis from the credits page:  “After lifetimes in the background, three of history’s greatest horror sidekicks finally say what they’ve never dared to before: Enough is ENOUGH!”

     The main focus this issue is on Igor, Victor Frankenstein’s assistant, who was promised a cerebral transplant for decades. Victor continues to make excuses so Igor decides to walk out, trashes the place, and plays a cruel prank on Dr. Frankenstein’s grand experiment. He seeks out the mortician who has a side gig supplying the Doctor and others with bodies/supplies.

    There he meets Renfield, also a disgruntled sidekick of Dracula and they begin to bond immediately. Future issues promise to include other sidekicks, including Mrs. Hyde. Fun. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.

Book Review: THE UNHELD by Luke Larkin

THE UNHELD: A NOVEL by Luke Larkin (Hyperion Avenue, expected date of publication August 26, 2026) Hardcover, 336 pages. ISBN #978136817210  

Synopsis on the Goodreads website . . . . .  

Startling monsters and occult oddities abound in this chilling horror Western as a girl journeys across the haunted Montana Territory to rescue her father from an otherworldly creature.

Charlie’s life is a lonely one. While other twelve-year-olds are in school, she spends her days skinning the animals her mercurial father hunts in the woods just outside their cabin. And the woods and its twisted creatures—an owl with four wings, a boar with two heads, a fox with gills—are becoming stranger by the day.

One night, a nightmarish beast appears and drags Charlie’s father into the wilderness. To find him, she enlists the aid of two unlikely allies also in search of the beast: an Englishman with a connection to a mysterious occult society and a Northern Cheyenne policeman exiled for a crime he didn’t commit. Yet as the trio prepare for the confrontation with the beast, Charlie must decide if her father, a brusque man who has always withheld his affection, is ultimately worth saving.

With its blend of Western grit and supernatural menace, The Unheld is an unsettling and atmospheric horror novel about loneliness, human connection, and how we find each other in a world that seems designed to alienate. With this assured debut, Luke Larkin marks his arrival in the genre and proves the American frontier still harbors untapped stories in its shadows.

My FIVE-STAR review on the Goodreads website . . . . .

I received a digital advanced review copy from NetGalley without obligation to write a review

THE UNHELD is a deft blend of historical American West, supernatural themes, magical realism, secret societies, and the weird western genres. As a debut novel, it is exceptional, and near perfect. Luke Larkin is a writer to watch. The characterization is rich and intriguing, and the storyline is not without well-detailed emotional moments. 

The story is told from three different points-of-view from main character Charlie (a 12-year old girl living with an introverted and selfish father), and secondary characters Theodore (a member of a society dedicated to exploring and containing weird occurrences) and Patton (a Cheyenne police officer exiled from his family). They come together as all three are searching for a lost family member or lover - - all who were allegedly spirited away by a monstrous threat that manifests with severely mutated wildlife in the Montana wilderness of the 1800's. Larkin has the ability to vividly capture the emotions and mindset of these characters and memorably conveys that to the reader.

The story contains one of the most unique and disturbing monsters in horror fiction, and very symbolic. I can't say more without spoiling things. 

At its core THE UNHELD is a rich depiction of loneliness and the importance of family and friends connections throughout life. 

If there is any limitation to the novel, it's that Larkin offers no explanation as to the origins of the monster and why it picked this particular area of the American West to manifest. It also surprised me that none of the characters even speculated or discussed this. However, it did not ruin my reading enjoyment or appreciation for this excellent work of fiction.

MY WEEK IN COMICS - - - JULY 26, 2026

MY WEEK IN COMICS  - - -  for the week ending Sunday, JULY 26, 2026  

#284 - #289 =  SUICIDE SQUAD: GET JOKER Book One -Three of Three by Brian Azzarello and Alex Maleev (DC Comics/Black Label, October 2021 - July 2022)

Is it possible to be entertained and disappointed both at the same time? The answer is yes, at least as far as my personal tastes/feelings go, and this story serves as evidence. 

What hooked me on picking up this book was its' premise. DC's Black Label imprint is meant to take some liberties with established comics icons and allow for more adult themes than standard comics. A mission to kill the Joker, not just subdue him like Batman does and put him in Arkham Asylum or prison until his eventual escape? I 've been in favor of a story where the Joker dies for a long time. Realizing that DC would never let that happen to a top-tier popular villain, it seemed to me like this Black Label (also kind of an Elseworlds/What If? alternate universe) version would finally get the deed done. I'm in for that. While I appreciate the character of The Joker, sometimes he can be so annoying that it caused my desire to see him finished off. 

This story started out very promising, and along the way it lost some of that mojo. Perhaps the long delay between Book Two and Three contributed to that. Also, the art is not representative of what Alex Maleev is capable of. There are some great scenes, but also some that look cluttered or just sloppy. 

However, the rough language (plenty of f-bombs and sexual innuendoes), extreme violence, and some truly off-the-wall scenes (Suicide Squad in an adult bar with naked female dancers, and Harley doing a pole dance) some plot twists (a mole/traitor in Amanda Waller's orbit), plus snarky exchanges among the Squad members (totally dysfunctional) held my attention (guilty pleasure, I admit) and kept me reading. As the writing of Brian Azzarello goes, this is also not representative of what he is capable of. 

I'm going to spoil it here, so stop if you have decided to read this . . . . . the alleged death of Joker occurs off panel, with only a "blam" textural sound effect and a teary Harley Quinn, to hint that Red Hood shot him. Or, shot himself - as Joker was trying to talk him into suicide. What happened is left up to us readers, as the story ends there. 

Across the three issues, all but two of this Suicide Squad bite the dust.] Led by Red Hood/Jason Todd this particular Suicide Squad includes arsonist Firefly and vigilante Wild Dog (a January 6th insurrectionist). New members are Silver Banshee (energy absorber), Pebbles (strong with impervious skin, like Marvel's Luke Cage/Powerman), Meow Meow (necrotic, and an under-utilized character), Plastique (explosive touch), and Yonder Man (teleporter, also under-utilized). 

Fun, as long as you lower your expectations - - - but mostly non-essential reading.  THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.

#290 - #291 =  SHUDDER magazine #2 by various creators (Warrant Publishing, February 2022) 

The cover story is my favorite for two reasons. It features werewolves (my favorite creatures) and some really fine art. In “Happy Howl-Aween!” by Don Glut and Kelley Jones a couple’s car breaks down, stranding them in the creepy countryside on Halloween night.

   The second-place story (my ranking, of course) is “Flesh For Fantasy” by Bambos Georgiou and Benito Gallego, not because of the predictable ending but because it also serves as a warm tribute to the genius of stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen.

Third place goes to the adaptation of E.F. Benson’s classic “At The Farmhouse” by Artie Godwin and Santos Zaballos. An artist plans to murder his nagging, alcoholic wife. Plans can be disrupted. 

In other stories, a ventriloquist gets in trouble by listening to his dummy in the appropriately named “Who’s The Dummy?”; a big-game trophy hunter tries to gain membership in an exclusive club (“Under His Heads”) and an Old West outlaw murders and robs to pay for his passage to the land of the dead. (“Hell To Pay”). Overall, 3.5 STARS - - beter than Issue #1, but not at the high quality level of Issue #3.

#292-#296 =  THE MANY DEATHS OF LAILA STARR trade paperback by Ram V and Filipe Andrade (Boom! Studios, July 2024) Collects the five-issue mini-series . . . . . .

Superb story. Excellent visuals. Bold colorization. A book that entertains and offers food for thought and later contemplation. So good that I read it a second time to make sure it all sinks in. This is one of those books you tell your friends about and share. Thanks to Captain Blue Hen’s Book Club for making it the July selection.

Writer Ram V utilizes Hindu mythology (but with his own slight twists here and there) to tell a powerful story on the meaning and significance of both life and death. The main character is the Goddess of Death, robbed of her immortality and send down to Earth as a mortal after it is learned that a child is about to be born who will later discover immortality for humans - therefore making the presence and importance of Death meaningless.

The goddess (Kali) requests that she be placed on Earth in close proximity to the soon to be born child (Darius),She then inhabits the recently deceased body of Laila Starr. Kali's plan is to find the baby and kill him so that immortality will never be discovered and she can return to her place among the gods. But, she is either interrupted by security guards within the hospital or decides that she just can't kill a baby. 

I'm not going to spoil this. It's too good not to be discovered fresh and unspoiled. Suffice to say that Laila herself experiences death as well as life, and this influences her thinking as the years and decades pass. She eventually has a heart-to-heart discussion with Darius. The cycle of Hindu mythology is life - - death - - reincarnation. Kali/Laila gets to experience it all, but rather than be reincarnated she is resurrected within the same body of Laila Starr, brought back to life by another banished god (the God of Life) who becomes her friend and more. 

There are heart-warming moments throughout, and many fascinating characters such as a young ghost, a funeral crow that talks, and a lonely Chinese temple of worship. The story is also told from various points-of-view, which often separate the chapters. None is more entertaining than the passages that are narrated by . . . a cigarette. 

I did not anticipate the irony/surprise of the ending. I want to share this great graphic novel with relatives and friends, and may need to purchase a second copy to keep and re-read again some day.  FIVE STARS.