The Hidden by Richard Sala

My call – The Hidden is nowhere close to Peculia's absolute awesomeness. This Frankenstein-creates-the-end-of-the-world story is, as every Sala's book, beautifully drawn – and even beautifully colored – but the storyline is, ehem, so and so.

Oh well. Enjoy the bloodshed and the macabre!

Peculia by Richard Sala

Peculia, a black and white comic book by Richard Sala, is absolutely stunning. Barely one hundred pages, it contains less than a dozen short horror stories about a brave girl named Peculia, her perfect butler Ambrose, her adversary Justine and her secret admirer Obscrus – and many, many monsters. These tales are quite similar to my childhood horror stories – the crawling hands, big ugly creatures lurking in the dark, waiting to grab little kiddies and eat them.

This is like the best ironic comic book horror I've seen in a while – definitely better than the previous Sala's books I've tried.

Also, black and white with no coloring gives it a distinct, rather peculiar feel – which is only spoiled by colors. Mesmerizing. A tiny gem.

Violenzia by Richard Sala

Yet another macabre short story by Richard Sala, a true master of gothic horror, cults, and scary tales in unique vivid colors.

Funny to read this as a continuation of the Fatale, to see the same ceremonial sacrifices with crooked daggers etc – but with much more irony around it.

A great short, all in all – but only for those of you who are sick enough to enjoy it.