Cult Classic: Creature Feature
Writer: Eliot Rahal
Artist: John Bivens
Colorist: Hannah Jerrie & Iris Monahan
Letterer: Taylor Esposito of Ghost Glyph Studios
Publisher: Vault Comics
Price: $3.99
In Cult Classic: Creature Feature, aliens from another world drop a powerful item into what would become King Lake in the town of Whisper. Fast forward to millions of years later, and a comet hitting the earth awakens the monster left under the water. The beast begins a feeding frenzy and causes brain slugs to infect the whole town, which forces its victims to vomit up their own skeletons. Unfortunately these bones are hungry and ready to feed. For Jarrod Parker, though, his mission is not to save his town. It is about vengeance.
Written by Eliot Rahal, the new series in the Cult Classic imprint features art by John Bivens, colors by Hannah Jerrie and Iris Monahan, letters by Taylor Esposito of Ghost Glyph Studios, and designs by Tim Daniel. The whole vibe of the comic is a throwback to B horror movies from decades past. There is an appealing campiness, from the design of the monsters to some of the stereotypical supporting characters like the aging horror host and the belligerent high schooler looking for a fight.
To go with the overall feel of the book, the art offers a retro vibe as if it were put together using stills from grainy old B movies. But underneath the gory scares and the nods to cheesy horror, there is a plot brewing featuring a protagonist (Jarrod) who is much more developed—and sympathetic—than most of the leading characters in classic creature flicks.
The first two issues show promise, giving readers a fun and frightening series that is nostalgic and familiar while still delivering scares and unexpected moments.
Cult Classic: Creature Feature #1 will release on October 16. Fans can look for a Vault Vintage B Cover honoring Francesco Francavilla’s iconic cover for Afterlife with Archie #1 (Archie Comics, 2013). Head to your local comic shop next month to purchase or order online through Vault.
