Tag: illustration

Horror Manga: Like I Need Another Hobby

Stefanie Snider

Since I stumbled onto Hell Yeah Horror Manga a few days ago, I can’t stop thinking about Japanese horror. North America has nothing on the Japanese in terms of visual horror impact.

To illustrate my point:


“Fushigi no Tatari-chan”


“Corpse Party Blood Covered”


“I Am a Hero”

Even taken completely out of context, as these are, they’re immediately effective. (Tell me at least one of these won’t show up in your dreams tonight…)

I read horror comics when I was a kid, and “normal” comics when I got older. It’s been a while, but I’m getting the urge to pick up the habit again.

Any recommendations?

Dark Craft: Lovecraft Edition

Stefanie Snider

“In his house at R’lyeh, dead Cthulhu waits dreaming.”

And of course, a special mention: Disappointing Monsters, a webcomic with a recurring Cthulhu who’s “a bit of a dick”.

(crafts via Geek Crafts, Grim Reviews, and Geek Art Gallery)

Judge a Book By Its Cover

Stefanie Snider

I love, love, love pulp covers. Whether they were for comics or cheap paperback novels, the lurid covers spoke of dread and danger. Monsters and shadowy villains lurking around corners hinted at impending doom. I remember reading horror comics that looked like these, and they heavily influenced my tastes in horror.

I mean really, how great are these?

Side note: I specifically remember reading a comic featuring Death menacing a man in his dreams, and it culminated in him waking to find a miniature Death digging a grave in the man’s own chest. Anyone know what I’m talking about?

For countless more vintage and pulp covers, check out Cover Browser, the best website I’d never heard of.

Not Just a Word Nerd

Stefanie Snider

I find so much inspiration in art. In filmmaking, in special effects, in design. In the artists themselves, in people who are RIGHT NOW making and writing and drawing and painting. Isn’t that exciting? I see so many successes and so much potential in my artistic peers that I can’t help wanting to join them in making something fantastic.

I didn’t go to an art school (though I wanted to), and I don’t have a ton of artsy friends (though those that I do know are remarkable). I have next to zero visual-art ability. But it tickles my creativity to peek into the lives of artists who are as we speak creating amazing and wonderful things.

So, check out A Studio Visit with Allison Sommers at hifructose.com. Her art is impressively detailed and instantly recognizable. I want to live in her studio.

I also love Nikki Burch’s illustrations and cartoons; she’s been a favourite of mine for quite a while. Her stuff is dark, but silly and fun at the same time. She uses teeny tiny little pen and brush strokes that make me glad I don’t have to print out my stories by hand.

And although I only get some of the references, I’m 200 pages in on Art Student Owl and it’s made me smile and laugh more times than I can count. Underneath the smart-assed jokes, though, it’s genuinely nice to think of all these artists out there giving up so much to maybe, someday, get somewhere doing what they love. I admire that, because I’m working toward a future where I can put my writing first.

(I just realized it is in fact Monday and this should have been a Movie Monday post. I’m sure the world at large will cope.)