Morbid by Pete Von Sholly
Dark Horse Books $14.95
Morbid is a hoot for fans of old sci-fi monster movies and comics, of which Von Sholly is obviously himself a particularly fervent aficionado. This slim (about 100 pages) volume contains up to date examples of the heretofore generally unimpressive ‘fumetti’ genre, which basically means photo-comics. Us old-timers might remember such examples as the comics based on Horror of Party Beach that used to be advertised in Famous Monsters of Filmland.
While often emphatically satiric, the tone is affectionate, even when the individual stories genuinely become, on occasion, somewhat disturbing. The inspirations range from old giant bug movies to EC comics, with a heavy seasoning of Lovecraft. Von Sholly really knows his stuff, and his attempts to reproduce the stiltedly bombastic speech patterns heard in old sci-fi movies when they attempted to be profound are note perfect:
“Never try to become something you are not, my friends! For you may become something you will not wish to be… I mean something you wish you had not become! For it is far better not to be that which you may come to be sometimes! I know!”
Von Sholly’s technique involves using a recurring cast of actors wearing various appropriate costuming and striking the necessary poses, photoshopped with some truly nifty schlock monster creations. If we’re luckly, another five or ten years will allow Von Sholly to actually turn his tales into little movies. I know I’d buy a DVD from him.
A second volume is also out. I’ll have to track that down.
