Product Description: Steve Niles is the writer of the hit comic 30 Days of Night and the Cal McDonald horror/noir novels, Savage Membrane and Guns, Drugs and Monsters. Niles is also the writer of the monthly comic book Dark Days for IDW Publishing. Steve got his start in the industry when he formed his own publishing company called Arcane Comix, where he published, edited, and adapted several comics and anthologies for Eclipse Comics. His adaptations include works by Clive Barker, Richard Matheson and Harlan Ellison. He has also worked as a writer for Todd MacFarlane Productions and Image comics, creating the series Fused, and contributing to titles such as Spawn: The Dark Ages, Hellspawn, and most recently 9-11: Artists Respond.
Interesting horror book, but art inadequate If you like zombie/supernatural type themes, the story is interesting enough. However, the art is inadequate. I don't expect fantastic "top shelf" art from a book like this -- but if some panels are so blurry and poorly defined as to be nearly worthless, what's the use? I would rather have crisper black and white art (ala "Walking Dead") than poor color art.
Ugh I love Steve Niles' other work but why one star for Criminal Macabre?
It has terrible, scribbly, inconsistent art and the story is both derivative in general and derivative of Niles' own work. Disappointing and not worth the money.
Undead Noir! Combining supernatural horror with a sleazy and dangerous present-day Los Angeles and a hero who seems to be equal parts James Woods and Charles Bukowski makes "Criminal Macabre" something very special indeed. Buffy this ain't, although there is humour here (of a much darker tone). The grim scratchiness of the artwork perfectly complements the ass-kicking storyline, and gives it a hallucinatory quality that will have you hooked from page one. Creepy, action-packed, seedy, drunken...what more can I say, it's brilliant.
X-Files + Sin City + Underworld = Criminal Macabre Nothing less than THE best horror comic I've read in over a year, Criminal Macabre outshines it's distant cousins, 30 Days of Night and Dark Days. Though they are good, solid comics, this is so much more than that. It's created out of love, and it shows.
The story revolves around a down on his luck supernatural private detective Cal McDonald, who finds himself in the middle of a gang war between various monsters. The story unfolds quickly, sucking you in. Once you start reading this, it's impossible to set down. Though the subject and the monsters are horrific, Niles, uses humor as an offset to remarkable effect. There were times when I was laughing out loud, I couldn't help it. Niles's dialogue is also at it's peak, as it is flowing and natural.
And Templesmith's art perfectly suited for this story. With it's assortment of classic monsters, his wicked art, a combination of Jae Lee, Bill Sienkiewicz, yet beautifully his own renders the characters perfectly for the mood of the story.
If you like monsters, if you like Sin City, or 30 Days of Night, if you're looking for a book that's different and way better than average, then give this graphic a try. I promise, you won't be disappointed in the least.
Highly recommended to new fans and established comic collectors alike, but it is for mature readers.
This graphic reprints Criminal Macabre #1-5 by Dark Horse Comics.
The best of times, the worst of times.... Funny, scary, and everything good about Steve Niles and Cal Mcdonaldm even the author's commentary and the intro was funny and interesting, and that's saying a lot because, who EVER reads those?
The illustrations though, they could use more definition. Sometimes it was hard to understand what was going on because some of the pictures were either not clearly defined enough or too small, like the Producers told Steven and Ben to shorten the book and make the illustrations smaller. That's kindof what it seems like.
Well, Steve, Ben, GREAT BOOK!!! BUT COULD YOU TWEAK THE ILLUSTRATIONS A BIT PLEASE?
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
