BY JAMES SABATA  ART BY: CHRIS “OZ” FULTON, MAJA CORNVALL, AND TEO GONZALESIf you’re a fan of horror and use YouTube at all, there’s a good chance you’re at least somewhat familiar with Mr. Creepy Pasta. One of the most popular names in viral horror, MCP has grown his channel to over 1.3 million subscribers. Updated several times a week, MCP’s channel has received just under 210 million hits since debuting in 2011. His partner, Vincent V. Cava has published several books of horror as well as penning many of the stories MCP reads to his subscribers. Together, Vincent V. Cava and Mr. Creepy Pasta have brought great horror to audiences around the world, including print and eBook anthologies of their original stories, their own mobile app, and live performances at conventions throughout the United States. Their most recent venture is the CreepyPasta comic anthology – The first full-length comic book influenced by internet horror. A double issue, the comic is anchored by the mysterious Blueman, an intimidating phantom that lives in the deepest, darkest recesses of the net. He tells two spine-tingling tales full of twists and turns. The first, HE IS… THE RAKE, features a creature that has inspired a massive fandom around the web. Appearing to people in the night, the entity causes the death of one man’s wife. That man will stop at nothing to gain revenge, but his quest for vengeance may be misguided. I WAITED INSIDE HER CLOSET follows a dangerous serial killer with an unhealthy obsession with fame. The homicidal maniac’s grisly exploits soon set him on a collision course with something much more terrifying than he’ll ever be. The two stories are self-contained, and the reader is thrust directly into the story and able to identify with the main characters instantly. One does not require previous knowledge of Creepypastas or the (highly limited) history of The Rake to enjoy this collection. The stories are easy to understand and will live on in your memory due to the way they marry humor, pain, and vengeance. One of the things I loved about these stories is that they found a way to still tell the stories in a mostly first-person point of view; something most successful Creepypastas have in common. I also enjoyed that these stories are able to be devoured by a huge age range. While there are slight implications of sex, it’s never really shown. The deaths occur (as expected), but I would argue the gore level is lower than it is on the cover of the book. However, that doesn’t make those deaths any less emotional for the reader. I think these books would appeal to teenagers as well any adult who reads horror and comic books.  As for the art, this book far exceeded my expectations with its artwork. The colors are vibrant, while maintaining the darkness necessary for stories such as these. The horror of certain monsters shines through in beautiful form as we’re allowed to actually see them, instead of imagining them in our minds. The panels flow effortlessly, drawing the eye on the correct track to allow the story pacing to maintain a stranglehold on the reader. The art adds to the story without being overbearing and distracting. If I had one criticism of the art work, it would be a single word balloon where the font size is too small and drew me out momentarily; which was unfortunate as it is at one of the most important parts of the story. Overall, I cannot say enough good things about this endeavor. I spent time with both Vincent V. Cava and Mr. Creepy Pasta discussing their love of the pulp comics of the past and the horror televisions shows we grew up with (Twilight Zone, Tales from the Crypt, The Outer Limits, Tales From the Dark Side). The influence of these past horror classics is not only evident in this comic, but this comic is, in turn, a true homage to them while also taking its rightful place next to them.
Mr. Creepy Pasta and Vincent V. Cava tapped into something the current comic scene desperately needs more of. Anthology series like this are few and far between. Hopefully this is the beginning of something beautiful from this crew and maybe the book that will influence future storytellers the same way so many of us were influenced by the horror shows and comics we grew up with. The comic is currently available in hardcover and now an e-book version. FOLLOW MR. CREEPYPASTA: YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/MrCreepyPasta FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MrCreepyPasta/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/mrcreepypasta0 FOLLOW VINCENT VENA CAVA: FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/vincentvenacava/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vincentvenacava Website for the Comic: https://www.creepypastacomic.com/ WE ALSO HAVE AN INTERVIEW WITH JAMES SABATA WHICH YOU CAN READ BY CLICKING HERE
 FIVE MINUTES WITH AUTHOR JAMES SABATAComments are closed.
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