Grimm Tales Of Terror #9 Review

Grimm Tales of Terror #9
Story by Joe Brusha and Ralph Tedesco
Written by Gerardo Preciada
Art by Eleonora Carlini
Colors by Vinicius Andrade
Published by Zenescope Entertainment

When Zenescope first started publishing Grimm Fairy Tales, it was a simple anthology title in the tradition of Tales from the Crypt that featured a different story every few issues. It took the fairy tales of the reader’s youth and twisted them into some seriously disturbing stories that fans seemed to really enjoy. It put Zenescope on the map as a comic book publisher, helping to define their “voice” and what made a Zenescope comic special.

In the decade since, Grimm Fairy Tales has transformed from that original idea into the flagship title of the entire Zenescope Universe. It has changed from an anthology title to a more traditional super hero-style book to a YA-inspired comic in the tradition of the Harry Potter series. Gone are the scares and gore that put Zenescope’s books on most readers’ radar in the first place.

So last year, Zenescope launched Grimm Tales of Terror, a new ongoing series that picks up the mantle left behind by Grimm Fairy Tales and returns Zenescope to its horror roots. This time your host is none other than Death herself, and each issue reimagines an urban legend, fable or an entirely new story to maximize the chills and thrills. In issue #9, writer Gerardo Preciada reimagines the “escaped mental patient” yarn and delivers a book that reads like a roller coster on crack.

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“A Killer Hook” is, to put it simply, gruesome and disturbing to the utmost degree. It starts out slow, not even really building the tension but just introducing us to the cast, and then “BAM!” Things quickly go off the rails and turn bloody and macabre.

One thing I will say is that the book sure isn’t subtle. There’s no subtext or deeper meaning to what’s going on. “A Killer Hook” is simply meant to shock the reader, and it does that very well. At least twice while reading I stopped and went “Damn …” just from the sheer amazement of what I was seeing. Grimm Tales of Terror #9 is completely over the top fun just like the best slasher movies from when I was a kid. Sometimes you don’t want a horror book that will make you think or contemplate greater ideas. Sometime you just want a book that will take you out of your own head for a bit while making you just a little nauseous at the same time.

The blame for that nausea can be laid at the feet of artist Eleonora Carlini and colorist Vinicius Andrade. There is a sequence involving a classic car and a eviscerated body that just needs to be seen to be believed. It is totally disgusting and extreme, and maybe a bit in bad taste, but I loved every second of it.

It goes without saying that if violence, blood and gore are not your thing, Grimm Tales of Terror #9 is not for you. This is a book that will appeal to a narrow group of readers, and if that doesn’t include you, there isn’t much here you will enjoy. But if you like the site of blood and intestines all over a desert road, read and have fun.

The Bottom Line: It has been far too long since Zenescope published horror comics, and I really hope Grimm Tales of Terror is just the start. It’s a bloody good time than any fan of the genre will love.

I can’t wait until the next issue, if for no other reason it will help get that ending out of my mind. Damn …

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