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Monday, March 30, 2026
PREVIEW: Two Upcoming Horror Titles From CRYSTAL LAKE PUBLISHING
Sunday, March 29, 2026
Book Review: BONES OF OUR STARS, BLOOD OF OUR WORLD
BONES OF OUR STARS, BLOOD OF OUR WORLD by Cullen Bunn (Gallery Books, November 11, 2025) Paperback, 464 pages. ISBN # 9781668065273 / 1668065274
Synopsis on the Goodreads website . . . . .
New York Times bestselling and Eisner Award–nominated comics writer Cullen Bunn presents his adult novel debut—a high-stakes hunt for a masked killer whose brutal murders may be a portent of an evil as ancient and cold as the stars themselves.
The bodies are stacking up on Wilson Island.
The town’s sheriff has his suspicions but no genuine evidence for an arrest, even as the murders continue and appear increasingly ritualistic in nature. And when an arrest is finally made, all hell breaks loose—literally—as a terrifying horror rises to envelop the town. Soon it’s all up to an unforgettable and motley group of residents to band together and eliminate an ancient evil in a desperate struggle for survival.
MY FOUR-STAR REVIEW on the Goodreads website . . . . .
Cullen Bunn is a well-established writer of comics and graphic novels, mostly in the horror genre. With his first print novel aimed at an adult audience, he hits the mark and will remind some readers of Stephen King (particularly Salem's Lot and It).
With BONES OF OUR STARS, BLOOD OF OUR WORLD Bunn taps into three sub-genres, and blends them together as the story moves forward. First, we meet an interesting and diverse ensemble cast for a slice-of-life look at small town life on a South Carolina island that is a resort destination and also noted for its independently owned fishing industry. At the same time, and increasing in intensity through the first and middle thirds of the novel, a vicious serial killer stalks the island as the body count mounts and law enforcement doesn't seem capable of determining the suspect/perpetrator. Finally, the story evolves into cosmic horror with an island invasion initiated by an ancient alien entity.
The story is divided into five sections which correspond to the days of the week, beginning with Monday: "For so many, this is the last week on Earth." The short chapters (95 in all) only help to illuminate the enormity of the conflict and build up suspense as they shift from one scene to another.
There are many characters to empathize with and worry about. As the story proceeds all bets are off as to how many may actually survive. The encounters are bloody, gory, and frightening. The final third of the novel is a page-turner/nail-biter.
Well done. This novel deserves a wide audience. I also appreciate how Bunn chose to end this, and leave an opening for more story (dependent on sales, recognition, etc - - of course).
MY WEEKS IN COMICS - - MARCH 29, 2026
MY WEEK IN COMICS - - - for the three weeks beginning March 9 and ending March 29
#122-#126 = I WAS A FASHION SCHOOL SERIAL KILLER #1 - #5 of 5 by Doug Wagner and Daniel Hillyard (Image Comics, April-August 2025)
This is what I said on my blog about Issue #1 of this series in April 2025:
"Mixing the fashion industry with murder? Now, that’s a concept I don’t recall seeing before - which attracted me to this book just based on the title alone. This is creepy and bloody, but it’s more than just that. There’s a good story behind the front window displays. This title shows promise.
Main character Rennie is skilled at both design and execution, and the former earns her acceptance at a fashion school. She’s a serial killer on the side, but she seems to have valid reasons for who is victimized (just who she judges as bad people). Besides her skills with leather, she also hand-carves a pair of hair chopsticks/sewing needles/weapons from bone and sews with human skin.
We don’t learn too much about her in Issue #1. She seems sort of an outcast, wears punk styles, and scratches at various itches when she gets annoyed. The supporting cast is also interesting.
Two murders occur in the debut issue, but I think Rennie is just getting started."
I rated the debut issue 3.5 stars, and that prompted me to pre-order the remaining four issues and wait until the series was completed to resume reading. Alas, priorities change and I finally finished reading this in March of 2026 - - not too long of a wait compared to other series I have been stock-piling for that rainy day.
Overall, this was an enjoyable series. It's goofy and gory, and if you just don't ask too many questions and go with the flow - you'll enjoy it as well.
We really don't learn that much more about Rennie beyond what was revealed in that first issue; but there's just enough characterization of her as well as the supporting cast to emphasize with some of these characters, especially her new friend and fellow outcast at the fashion school - - Sofie. Perhaps the creative team, both males, decided not to venture too far with troubled female characters lest they get called out for it.
We never learn how Rennie became a serial killer, and knowing that detail would have been appreciated. She does evolve as the story moves forward, choosing her victims when she feels that her friends have been endangered or wronged. The source of her itching/scratching affliction is never specified; and it seems that the killings are a salve of sorts that makes the irritation go away after she bathes in victims' blood.
As the story progresses, the previously introverted Rennie comes out of her shell a bit and socializes, embracing her friendship with Sofie - most likely the only best friend she's had in her life.
In the latter issues, a grave injustice/cruelty plays a role in the proceedings and Rennie becomes the solution. The ending is satisfying.
I'm sticking with my 3.5 star rating.
#127-#128 = DEATH DOG #1 - #2 of 2 by Bryce Ingman and Alan Robinson (Ahoy Comics, November-December 2025)
I love a good dog story, and this one doesn’t belabor its fine points. If you also have a fond spot for dog tales like Lassie, Marley and Me, The Art of Racing In The Rain, etc . . . then check this out. Others may have mixed feelings.
In a near future, dogs are extinct. Using their brain patterns, scientists at Cupid Canine made robot dogs that look and behave just like real dogs. They also have the ability to speak up to 100 words.
However, that wasn’t enough to keep the company solvent. So Cupid Canine made some behavioral updates and put them into new militarized dogs to sell as security to various governments, companies and organizations - - the “Death Dogs”.
Two of the scientists became very attached to one of the former dogs, Lucky, who had a flaw: she couldn’t pronounce as many words and used one excessively - - “potato.” When the order came through to turn off Lucky, they installed her data chip into one of the Death Dogs.
Flash forward a year later, and the former Lucky is not performing to standards as a security dog. When she fails to bite the hand off of Wyatt, a 13-year old shoplifter, and licks him instead - - she bolts from the scene. Later she follows Wyatt and ends up rescuing him from a thug who is a body scalper and wants to monetize parts of his body.
The death dog, containing the Lucky chip, follows Wyatt everywhere. When he makes an effort to sneak into a gated community to visit his mother the dog hurdles a fence and joins him. Wyatt planned a surprise birthday greeting but his mother rejects him, as she had abandoned him and moved on with a new lover who despises kids.
Meanwhile, the FPP (Federal Police Force) have been searching for the missing death dog to return him to the mega-corporation owner. Lucky ferociously defends Wyatt, and Wyatt steps up to assist in a critical moment. A bond is formed and they leave together . . . . for more adventures.
I realize I’ve just told you the whole story, but that won’t spoil it for you if you decide to read this. The magic is in the little touches that Ingman adds to the script and the playful and expressive art of Robinson. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#129 = D.C. K.O.: RED HOOD VS JOKER #1 (DC Comics, February 2026) I read the first issue of the K.O. crossover event; but I did not read the entire series. From there, I picked up some random issues. Nothing I read convinced me that I needed to get the entire series. Of them all, RED HOOD VS JOKER was the best that I read - both for story and art.
If you can overlook the glaring premise, and my nomination for the best oxymoronic statement of the year - - “This is a fight to the DEATH. Best two out of three wins.” — then you can still be entertained and have fun reading this.
In my view, Red Hood won two of the three battles. But somehow Joker had a trick and he gets the final victory, moving onto the next round versus Zatanna (who beat Harley Quinn). Sorry to reveal the ending, but the fun is within the story itself, the references to Batman lore, and the engaging artwork. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#130-#137 = SWEETNESS & LIGHTNING Volume One manga by Gido Amagakure (Kodansha Comics, 2016) Synopsis on the Goodreads website . . . .
A Recipe for Family
Having lost his wife, math teacher Kôhei Inuzuka is doing his best to raise his young daughter Tsumugi as a single father. He's pretty bad at cooking and doesn't have a huge appetite to begin with, but chance brings his little family and one of his students, Kotori Iida, together for homemade adventures. With those three cooks in the kitchen, it's no wonder this dinner table drama is so delicious.
The story is very cute, light-hearted and generates warm and fuzzy feelings. Whenever I want a break from darker subject matter I can usually find something more upbeat in manga, which covers more genres and themes compared to American comic book fare.
I normally would not pick up this type of book, and am grateful to the graphic novel book club I belong to for making it this month's selection.
Having a single father high school teacher bond with a female student can raise the eyebrows and red flag the story, but it's handled carefully here. They were both lonely and become friends over trying to cook healthy meals for a precocious younger daughter. Perhaps the relationship will change in further volumes, but I'm not going to be following this any further. It was a welcome departure in my reading but there's not enough here to convince me to keep going.
I do appreciate how the writer/artist adds a page of recipes for each dish they work together to cook up. THREE STARS.
#138- #141 = WEREWOLF BY NIGHT: RED BAND #1-#4 by Jason Loo and Sergio Davila (Marvel Comics, October 2024-January 2025) Trying to catch up with the multitude of comic waiting for me in my storage boxes, I came across these. While I appreciate the “Red Band” imprint to display violence in more graphic detail that’s not really enough to sustain a series. This volume lasted ten issues, and I stopped ordering it before that.
One of the side effects of Marvel’s Blood Hunt crossover series is that every time Jack Russell (no relationship to the canine terrier) transforms into the werewolf he loses complete control as well as memory of his actions, with even greater ferocity and bloodthirst.
To prevent his berserker outbursts, Jack chains himself up at night. HIs friend Elsa Bloodstone offers to help him uncover the cause of his violent frenzy and seeks the help of Moon Knight.
Meanwhile in Transylvania, The Hood has reformed the Darkholders and capturing the Werewolf is one of their initial missions. They fail, but the elder mage Dorgana was able to take a pound of Jack’s flesh to clone their very own Werewolf By Night. THREE STARS.
#142-#143 = WOLVERINE: PATCH #1-#2 of 5 by Larry Hama and Andrea Di Vito (Marvel Comics, May-June 2022) Sometimes I don’t even read the first issue of a mini-series before deciding to subscribe. That happens when I base my decision on the strength of the creative team, more so for the writer than the artist. That’s what I did here, but this book got lost in the shuffle and I neglected to order the remaining issues.
While I’m a big fan of Larry Hama, after reading these two issues I’ve decided I don’t really need to try to find the remaining issues, or pick up a trade paperback if one is available. Not because I didn’t like what I read so far - - it’s more a case of there being so much good material out there that I don’t have to desperately try to track something down from four years ago.
IF you happen across the full series in a bargain bin or see a reasonable price for a paperback collection - you could do a lot worse. Hama has a solid reputation for writing realistic action-oriented adventure tales.
Wolverine/Logan is living incognito in Madripoor (think a fictional Singapore) as “Patch”.
NIck Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. get involved when he finds Patch and his pilot friend Archie Corrigan doing aerial reconnaissance in the highlands of Madripoor. Warned to stay away from a S.H.I.E.L.D. mission, Patch ignores those orders and jumps from the plane direct into the jungle. He runs into and fights Beth and Gimel, two enhanced mutants as well as an indigenous tribe, the mysterious Prince and Tyger Tiger as well as Chinese General Coy and his troops.
Everybody wants to find out what the mysterious Dr. Malheur (a play on HG Well’s Doctor Moreau, perhaps?) is doing at an isolated research center.
What really made me smile is that Patch drops into the hot, humid jungle in the same formal wear that is pictured on the cover of Issue #1. Guess he didn’t have time to change clothes before getting on the plane. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.