The Beauty Of Horror – Tricks And Treats
Reviewed By A.S. MacKenzie
- Paperback: 24 pages
- Publisher: IDW Publishing (17 Sept. 2019)
KR: Apologies, this Kendall Review should have been posted Halloween week.
I’ll admit it. I like coloring books.
Always have, since I was a kid. Once I realized how good an image could look with the right application of color perfectly placed within the lines, I was hooked. Since then, I’ve made it a point to have a coloring book somewhere near our home ever since. And until now, the chance to have an honest-to-goodness horror-themed coloring book was just something I assumed wouldn’t happen.
IDW has released the Beauty of Horror coloring book and I gotta say they nailed it. Alan Robert’s illustrations are equal parts whimsical, fantastic, creepy, gothic, gory, and unsettling. There is an illustration for every horror fan out there. You want demons, there are demons. You want vampires, there are vampires. Witches? Yep. Zombies? Yep Ghosts? Yep. Homicidal maniacs? Yep, indeed.
Each illustration is designed in such a way that they are complete pictures unto themselves, but also fit the overall character arc that Alan seemed to prefer. At the front, we are introduced to Ghouliana, a precocious, if not homicidal, little ghoul of a girl. She, and her friends you meet in the book, have all the usual fun of an undead child and murder, scare, and terrorize all they deem fit. I will add that while this does have “coloring book” in the title and the character is a child, this may not be a good idea for young kids due to the level of violence of some of the drawings.
All the pages are one-sided and perforated so you can rip it out like Ghouliana rips out a spleen, both held high and fit for display. It’s a fun book and will satisfy us rare Venn diagram folks who enjoy all things horror, but also like the meditative and tranquil action of coloring.
Which in itself might also be a little psychotic, but who am I to judge.
Be sure to grab this limited printing while you can.
The Beauty Of Horror – Tricks And Treats
Expect more tricks than treats from bestselling artist Alan Robert as you color each of these GOREgeously drawn macabre masterpieces. While you fill your jack ‘o lantern to the brim with delicious delights, keep an eye out for all of Ghouliana’s contaminated candies before you take a fatal bite. She has already dismantled Christmas with The Beauty of Horror: Ghosts of Christmas coloring book, now it’s time to turn Hallow’s Eve on its head with these brand new FANGtastic designs. Trick Or Treaters beware! These 7″ x 7″, onesided, perforated pages allow you to decorate your haunt with your horrific creations for everyone to see!
You can buy The Beauty Of Horror – Tricks And Treats from Amazon UK & Amazon US
A. S. MacKenzie
A. S. MacKenzie is an Atlanta based author who loves all things books, movies, games, and comics. He lives with his wife, spoiled dogs, and an unhealthy obsession with building things. He can be found building worlds in books, building plastic models, or building with wood. Check out his website at asmackenzie.com for ways to join his newsletter and read free stories. Also, he’s been known to frequent Twitter (@a_s_mackenzie) to say something vaguely interesting and Instagram (a.s.mackenzie) for food, travel, and random pics.
Ice Where There Was None
A block of ice in a Florida park. A victim posed inside.
The first officers on the scene struggle to maintain the melting evidence.
Then it happens again.
…and again….and again…
While the officers wonder why they are always the first on scene, their department begins to wonder the same.
You can claim a copy of Ice Where There Was None via A.S. MacKenzie’s library
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