Issue: Macabre Massachusetts #1
Writer: Victor Laube
Artist: Victor Laube
Letters: Victor Laube
Publisher: Laube Comics
Release Date: December 2009
Pages: 28
Price: $3.00

“A young man is thrust into a strange adventure of horror, love, and comedy! Macabre Massachusetts is a comic in the vein of H.P. Lovecraft’s stories, and classic horror comedies from the 1980’s.”

Artwork: 3.5 out of 5
For the most part this is a nice looking black and white comic. I enjoyed how the dream sequences were not inked to set them apart it gave them a nice hazy feeling, a cool touch. The characters are very consistent from panel to panel and have a fun look to them. My only downside was that at times they seemed to be a little flat due to shading. However it doesn’t take away from the whole. A nice job overall and one creepy looking sea monster towards the end.

Story: 3.0 out of 5
The tag line across the cover sums this one up “It’s a B movie in a comic book!” Cheesy dialogue on top of a descent storyline make this one interesting. What kind of got to me were the rushed scenes where I would have liked more explanation. I think the character for a first issue could have used a little more depth to them. What did work well here was a great idea overall that leads me to want to read more to find out what happens next.

Dying Breath: 3.0 out of 5
Welcome to Macabre, Massachusetts. Please leave your sense of reasoning at the door and prepare to have your eyes entertained. A good looking issue that I would have liked to have more depth. I like the idea, it is left open for nothing but strange adventures. It just could have used a little more here and there. Fans of the Lovecraft, X-Files and B Movies should take a step aside from the usual reads and give this one a look.

If you would like to buy or know more about Macabre Massachusetts #1 you can find it at victorlaube.blogspot.com.

Review by Dan Royer

Tags | horror comics, small-press