For readers, comic stores are like a mini fantasy land where they can get their hands on an assorted line of action figures and merchandise and shuffle through a plethora of comics of all genres. For retailers, aside from boasting the privilege of managing one’s own business, the challenge is often offset by the allure. In this haunted comic shop infested with creepy crawlies and mysterious objects, not only is the retailer beyond spooky but apparently, so are the books it contains. Shock Shop #1 from Dark Horse Comics, written by Cullen Bunn with artwork from Danny Luckert and Leila Leiz and letters from Nate Piekos of Blambot, brings spine-chilling tales of horror and suspense from a haunted comic book shop.
Shock Shop #1 is a two-parter with the tragedy of the human condition being the prevalent theme connecting the stories. Cullen Bunn presides over both tales, setting a trap for the unsuspecting readers, which springs at the last moment for a horrific shock. The deceptively charming hostess of the comic book store presents each account with an underlying sinisterness, warning anyone daring to venture further into the book with hyperbolic puns. As Shock Shop #1 progresses, it becomes abundantly clear that those words carry grains of truth, as whether the characters like it or not, darkness follows them, ready to pounce at any minute.
Titled “Something In The Woods, In The Dark,” the first story in the book talks about a camping trip gone wrong. Like the flames of a bonfire, it burns slowly and allows the narrative to unravel by itself. Soon the characters start to bicker amongst themselves as the underlying tension starts to bubble up to the surface. By that moment, the darkness from the surrounding woods percolates into the dialogue and makes things caustic. Danny Luckert masterfully portrays that through his art. The scene where the estranged couple, Clark and Willa, sit inside the tent speaks volumes through the characters’ positioning, with the distance between them signifying the gulf in their relationship. It is the nightmare-induced illustrations, however, that readers need to watch out for, which are just as terrifying as it says on the label.
“Familiars” is an off-kilter story, for it deceives the audience right from the start. The narrative starts slowly, but unlike the earlier story, it adds an upbeat tone to the proceedings. This is where Cullen Bunn creates a subversion, figuratively turning a seemingly derelict house into a magical palace, only to play a mean trick on the readers on the very last page. The jumpscares work, leaving a chilling aftertaste. Leila Leiz uses heavy inking throughout to depict the changing state of the house. From the dingy atmosphere to intricately detailed layouts, the art style flows dynamically, taking readers from one lively moment to another until showing the shock in store.
Shock Shop #1 lives up to its name in every way. It tells two back-to-back stories in an almost similar fashion, but the factor separating them is the sub-genre. The first story sneaks into the body horror territory, something along the lines of John Carpenter’s The Thing. Meanwhile, “Familiars” stays in the rather familiar genre of supernatural horror but with an eerie twist that sets it apart from other tales. This recycling of overused premises but with a twist makes Shock Shop #1 a hidden gem, making it a must-have on everyone’s pull list for a fun, spooky read.