Pop Culture Nonsense: More Contemporary Horror Comics

I'm a a big softie when it comes to animals.  I've spent many a day lamenting that I'd probably rather be spending quality time with pets than people, simply because they seem to be more accepting and agreeable.    I tend to be that way with literature, as well.  Certainly explains my fondness for the works of Richard Adams (WATERSHIP DOWN, THE PLAGUE DOGS).  Also makes it a no-brainer that I'd enjoy two of the better horror efforts in comics of the last decade (IMO), BEASTS OF BURDEN and ROVER RED CHARLIE.

Rover Red Charlie-  The Premise?
Adams' THE PLAGUE DOGS meets 28 DAYS LATER, with a slight dash of LORD OF THE FLIES added for good measure.

It's the tale of three dogs, the Rover, Red, and Charlie of the title, and their efforts to survive and find a new home after an infectious plague of insanity decimates mankind.  It's written by Garth Ennis, popular Scottish writer whose work on Marvel's The Punisher has been lauded as the most gory, brutal, .....and fun depiction of the character ever,  and the mind behind DC Comics' Vertigo imprint critical darling PREACHER, whose television adaptation by cable network AMC is currently enjoying some success.

 It's incredibly brutal, yet the endearing canine characters make it truly touching at the same time.  I'm constantly recommending this four issue miniseries from 2013 to folks....

And, on the note of stuff I'm constantly trying to shove off on people as "the good shit you should be readng.....

Beasts of Burden- The Premise? 
 Imagine if Stephen King co-wrote THE PLAGUE DOGS or WATERSHIP DOWN, and it was directed by Guerimo Del Toro.

Written by "alt. comix" auteur Evan Dorkin (MILK AND CHEESE) and beautifully illustrated by Jill Thompson (SCARY GODMOTHER), through a series of short comic vignettes,  miniseries,  and one shots, they follow a group of neighborhood pets with interesting pedigrees.

 

From Wikipedia:

The stories are light hearted and fun, yet are atmospherically dark in tone.  There's a sly, wicked sense of humor going on in BoB, and it's as refreshing as it is entertaining,   My favorites so far have been the second issue of the 2009 four issue miniseries,  which contains one of the most heartbreaking and haunting ghost stories I've ever read (spoiler:  dead puppies) and last year's HELLBOY/ BEASTS OF BURDEN one shot entitled "Sacrifice" which is just plain old fashioned spooky fun.....

From Beasts of Burden #2 (2009)

(To be continued....)