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Basketful of Heads #1-7
Basketful of Heads
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Graphic Novels & Comics (2020)June Branch visits her boyfriend, Liam, on Brody Island for a relaxing last weekend of summer. After an escaped group of criminals breaks into the house that June and Liam are watching, Liam is taken by them. June grabs a strange Viking axe and flees from the intruders. When one of the attackers finds her, she swings the axe and takes off his head, which rolls away and begins to babble in terror. For June to uncover the truth, she'll need to hear the facts straight from the mouths of her attackers, with...or without their bodies attached. Collects issues #1-7.
184 pages, Hardcover
First published September 8, 2020
About the author
Joe Hill
451 books27.2k followersJoe Hill's debut, Heart-Shaped Box, won the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel. His second, Horns, was made into a film freakfest starring Daniel Radcliffe. His other novels include NOS4A2, and his #1 New York Times Best-Seller, The Fireman... which was also the winner of a 2016 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Horror Novel.
He writes short stories too. Some of them were gathered together in his prize-winning collection, 20th Century Ghosts.
He won the Eisner Award for Best Writer for his long running comic book series, Locke & Key, co-created with illustrator and art wizard Gabriel Rodriguez.
He lives in New Hampshire with a corgi named McMurtry after a certain beloved writer of cowboy tales. His next book, Strange Weather, a collection of novellas, storms into bookstores in October of 2017.
He writes short stories too. Some of them were gathered together in his prize-winning collection, 20th Century Ghosts.
He won the Eisner Award for Best Writer for his long running comic book series, Locke & Key, co-created with illustrator and art wizard Gabriel Rodriguez.
He lives in New Hampshire with a corgi named McMurtry after a certain beloved writer of cowboy tales. His next book, Strange Weather, a collection of novellas, storms into bookstores in October of 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,002 reviews
April 20, 2024
How many severed heads constitute a basketful?
Asking for a friend.
Ok, so June and Liam are in love. Sweet start to the story, right?
But you don't get an entire basketful of heads by spending the weekend snuggling on the couch with your honey.
Bad shit happens after some prisoners get loose and start terrorizing the town during a massive storm. Which means, it's up to June to save the day.
Well, June and a big-ass magical ax.
What's magical about it?
Well, I'm glad you asked. I'm not 100% sure, but it had something to do with Norse mythology and it allows you to chop the head off of a person without killing them. Now, I know what you're thinking: what kind of quality of life are you going to have as a severed head?
Probably not much, if we're being honest.
Fortunately, the heads that June collects belong to some pretty awful people, so you don't really worry much about whether or not their life in a basket will be a fulfilling one.
Also, they've got June's boyfriend and he's in a lot of trouble if she can't find him in time.
There's a whole murder-mystery thing she's got to solve...
Clock is ticking, heads are rolling, and the twists keep on coming right till the end.
Joe Hill can be somewhat hit or miss with me, but I really thought this one was a hit.
Recommended for fans of horror comics and baskets.
Asking for a friend.
Ok, so June and Liam are in love. Sweet start to the story, right?
But you don't get an entire basketful of heads by spending the weekend snuggling on the couch with your honey.
Bad shit happens after some prisoners get loose and start terrorizing the town during a massive storm. Which means, it's up to June to save the day.
Well, June and a big-ass magical ax.
What's magical about it?
Well, I'm glad you asked. I'm not 100% sure, but it had something to do with Norse mythology and it allows you to chop the head off of a person without killing them. Now, I know what you're thinking: what kind of quality of life are you going to have as a severed head?
Probably not much, if we're being honest.
Fortunately, the heads that June collects belong to some pretty awful people, so you don't really worry much about whether or not their life in a basket will be a fulfilling one.
Also, they've got June's boyfriend and he's in a lot of trouble if she can't find him in time.
There's a whole murder-mystery thing she's got to solve...
Clock is ticking, heads are rolling, and the twists keep on coming right till the end.
Joe Hill can be somewhat hit or miss with me, but I really thought this one was a hit.
Recommended for fans of horror comics and baskets.
November 7, 2020
Omg!! That was such fun!! Ima buy this when I can!! I’m just going to add some pics. A couple could be spoilery, so look out!! 🙄
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾😘
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾😘
August 18, 2020
One thing to get out of the way, first of all. I’m not a true connoisseur of graphic novels. Not that I’m not a fan, I grew up and learned to read on comic books. It’s just the job, the family, and such cut out twenty years of media in the middle of my life, so I largely missed out on the Graphic Novel explosion. However, I am a huge Stephen King and Joe Hill fan, so that’s really where I’m coming from. I can’t speak knowledgably about shading or color schemes or anything else that differentiates a graphic novel, but I know what I like. And I liked this graphic novel. It had everything, setting, gore, mystery, and twists and turns. Yes, a few aspects of the plot were simplistic, but there were also surprises and flourishes. I caught a bit of ‘Jaws’ vibe with Brody Island, not sure if that was intentional or not.
With multiple beheadings, this series puts the ‘graphic’ in graphic novels! Great art, great setting, great characters, a large dose of the supernatural, and plot twists I never saw coming. Five stars for this series. Thanks to NetGalley and DC Entertainment for providing a review copy.
With multiple beheadings, this series puts the ‘graphic’ in graphic novels! Great art, great setting, great characters, a large dose of the supernatural, and plot twists I never saw coming. Five stars for this series. Thanks to NetGalley and DC Entertainment for providing a review copy.
January 7, 2021
2020 was weird enough, so how did I decide to start 2021? With a title that screams “this is gonna be weird”: Basketful of Heads
It’s Joe Hill and with that title, if you have had any experience with Hill, you know it is will be some pretty gory horror. He has a history of releasing some very decent graphic novels. If you haven’t tried the Locke & Key series you really should.
Unfortunately, this was probably my least favorite of his so far. Not that I think everyone who likes Hill and/or horror comics will have the same lukewarm experience as I did. Overall, I just found it kind of silly – not horrifying or suspenseful at all. I guess you could say that it was a horror/comedy, but that doesn’t feel right either as it seemed more like it was accidentally silly. But, maybe not . . . maybe that is exactly what Hill was going for. It just didn’t feel like organic horror/comedy.
The art was decent. It reminded me a lot of the art in King’s Creepshow, so if you are nostalgic for an 70s-80s comic book feel, this should fulfill that need. While it was not consistently strong throughout, it was still one of the highlights of the experience.
I can’t say I suggest you rush out and read this one. But, if you are looking for a Hill or horror title and have nothing better to do, it is not a terrible way to spend a couple of hours.
Side note: some of the alternate art/covers featured in the collected edition are very cool!
It’s Joe Hill and with that title, if you have had any experience with Hill, you know it is will be some pretty gory horror. He has a history of releasing some very decent graphic novels. If you haven’t tried the Locke & Key series you really should.
Unfortunately, this was probably my least favorite of his so far. Not that I think everyone who likes Hill and/or horror comics will have the same lukewarm experience as I did. Overall, I just found it kind of silly – not horrifying or suspenseful at all. I guess you could say that it was a horror/comedy, but that doesn’t feel right either as it seemed more like it was accidentally silly. But, maybe not . . . maybe that is exactly what Hill was going for. It just didn’t feel like organic horror/comedy.
The art was decent. It reminded me a lot of the art in King’s Creepshow, so if you are nostalgic for an 70s-80s comic book feel, this should fulfill that need. While it was not consistently strong throughout, it was still one of the highlights of the experience.
I can’t say I suggest you rush out and read this one. But, if you are looking for a Hill or horror title and have nothing better to do, it is not a terrible way to spend a couple of hours.
Side note: some of the alternate art/covers featured in the collected edition are very cool!
October 25, 2020
Vote: ☆☆☆☆ 1/2
An excellent twisted, brutal, grotesque, hilarious tribute to classic Creepy/Eerie horror magazines 100% Joe Hill.style.
Totally loved author's Derry prison reference/easter-egg setting this deliciously wicked tale inside his dad Stephen's universe... no pun intended if it sounds like a popular animated tv show.
And now I just have to look out for other Hill House comics.
Highly recommended, if you've already read and liked Joe Hill's Locke and Key you are going to love this one too.
'Nuff said.
August 1, 2020
It’s September 1983, ‘cos the ‘80s is in these days, in a small coastal Maine town and June and her cop boyfriend Liam are busy being young and sexy. BUT DEN. Some inmates from the local prison break out - wuh oh! And then a storm hits, stranding everyone on the small archipelago - say whaaa! And June finds a magical axe from Norse mythology that keeps decapitated heads alive after it separates them from the body - hhwugiuhdsh! Time for… something… make it through the night/storm ok, I guess?
Like Bendis’ Jinxworld and Wonder Comics labels, DC has given another big name writer - Joe “Dad Writes Better Books Than Me” HillKing - their own line to lord over. This is Hill House Comics boyyyy, full of fresh, original horror titles spearheaded by this, also written by Hill: Basketful of Heads. And it’s baaaad!
I suppose the ingredients are there for a potentially decent story but Hill doesn’t pull it off and things get repetitive very quickly. June encounters a one-dimensional bad guy - and EVERY guy she meets is a POS - she lops his head off lickity-split and adds it to her basket of talking heads (Talking Heads had a great song called Psycho Killer - complete non sequitur but feels oddly appropriate).
The bad guy’s plan was boring (corruption, drugs, something about a tape, yawn), I didn’t really care about June or Liam, partly because whatever happened to her, June would be fine. Hey look, a reference to Shawshank prison - as if you didn’t already know Joe’s dad is Uncle Stevie! And of course it’s set in Maine because the King family will never acknowledge the world outside of their depressing nook full of gurning weirdos.
But I loved the art. Leomacs’ (as if that’s a real name!) style looks exactly like David Lapham’s if he were coloured by Dave Stewart. I was thinking of Lapham because June’s also a dead ringer for Beth from Stray Bullets. Fantastic line work, great colours from Stewart as always. Also: Stray Bullets is highly recommended - read that series instead!
The premise is kinda amusing but my desire to find out what happened next waned real quick as I rapidly lost interest until I didn’t care no more. But you can’t trust a word I say because I also didn’t like Hill’s Locke & Key series over at IDW so I wouldn’t know a good comic if it came up to someone and did something somewhere. Basketful of boring horror, qu’est-ce que c’est, fa fa fafaaa fafafafafafaa fafa…
Like Bendis’ Jinxworld and Wonder Comics labels, DC has given another big name writer - Joe “Dad Writes Better Books Than Me” Hill
I suppose the ingredients are there for a potentially decent story but Hill doesn’t pull it off and things get repetitive very quickly. June encounters a one-dimensional bad guy - and EVERY guy she meets is a POS - she lops his head off lickity-split and adds it to her basket of talking heads (Talking Heads had a great song called Psycho Killer - complete non sequitur but feels oddly appropriate).
The bad guy’s plan was boring (corruption, drugs, something about a tape, yawn), I didn’t really care about June or Liam, partly because whatever happened to her, June would be fine. Hey look, a reference to Shawshank prison - as if you didn’t already know Joe’s dad is Uncle Stevie! And of course it’s set in Maine because the King family will never acknowledge the world outside of their depressing nook full of gurning weirdos.
But I loved the art. Leomacs’ (as if that’s a real name!) style looks exactly like David Lapham’s if he were coloured by Dave Stewart. I was thinking of Lapham because June’s also a dead ringer for Beth from Stray Bullets. Fantastic line work, great colours from Stewart as always. Also: Stray Bullets is highly recommended - read that series instead!
The premise is kinda amusing but my desire to find out what happened next waned real quick as I rapidly lost interest until I didn’t care no more. But you can’t trust a word I say because I also didn’t like Hill’s Locke & Key series over at IDW so I wouldn’t know a good comic if it came up to someone and did something somewhere. Basketful of boring horror, qu’est-ce que c’est, fa fa fafaaa fafafafafafaa fafa…
August 7, 2020
This was like an 80's horror flick and thriller all rolled into one, along with an ode to EC Comics. June has come to visit her boyfriend on the last day of summer on an island in Maine. There's a tropical storm brewing and four prisoners have just escaped from a work gang. So when she finds a magical axe that keeps its victims alive, it's snicker-snack. There's a lot of twists and turns and dark humor involved. I like the little Easter eggs Hill throws in there from Daddy's books, too. Leomacs was a perfect choice for artist on this.
January 26, 2021
I graciously received a copy of this for free from Netgalley.
Well that was fun from beginning to end! I loved practically everything about this. The only thing that was missing was mythology about the axe, but it didn't detract from the story. The plot was awesome, the pace was spot on, the art was beautifully drawn and colored, and the ending was superb. I loved it all! I especially enjoyed the son paying homage to the father with Stephen King easter eggs sprinkled in that only hardcore fans will notice. This was excellently done and I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the series. This is horror done right! On to the next!
Well that was fun from beginning to end! I loved practically everything about this. The only thing that was missing was mythology about the axe, but it didn't detract from the story. The plot was awesome, the pace was spot on, the art was beautifully drawn and colored, and the ending was superb. I loved it all! I especially enjoyed the son paying homage to the father with Stephen King easter eggs sprinkled in that only hardcore fans will notice. This was excellently done and I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the series. This is horror done right! On to the next!
March 8, 2021
When her boyfriend is kidnapped, June is forced to fight against her own would-be abductors, search him out, and solve a mystery. Luckily, she is assisted by a magical axe that leaves her victim's heads conscious and coherent after being separated from their bodies.
There is no weak link in this series. The story is amazing, the graphics are stunning, and June is a heroine for the ages.
I can't wait to find more Hill House comics.
There is no weak link in this series. The story is amazing, the graphics are stunning, and June is a heroine for the ages.
I can't wait to find more Hill House comics.
April 21, 2024
[ESP/ENG]
Este cómic lo conocía de oídas, hasta que un día Córdelum lo reseñó en su canal de Youtube. Habiendo leído novelas del autor, me picó la curiosidad. Así que el día del cómic y del tebeo me lo encontré en un puesto y me lo llevé para casa.
En esta obra Joe Hill al guión y Leomacs al dibujo nos traen la historia de June Branch, que va a la idílica (en teoría) isla de Brody Island a buscar a su novio, que ha estado trabajando allí en verano como policía en prácticas. Son invitados a cenar a casa del jefe de policía, un hombre de ascendencia vikinga y orgulloso de ello, que tiene una sala con objetos de la época. Cuando una tormenta deja la isla aislada y unos presos fugados aparecen en la casa, June echará mano de un hacha de dicha colección para intentar defenderse. Hasta aquí puedo leer, aunque esto es apenas el primer numero de un total de siete.
La historia es aparentemente sencilla, pero cuando acaba te das cuenta que es bastante mas compleja de lo que parecía. Eso es un punto a favor del guionista. Además los personajes tienen cierta miga, sobre todo June. En cuanto al dibujo, me funciona, pero ese estilo de dibujo no es mi favorito y en ciertos momentos es algo flojo. El tomo trae recopiladas las portadas, esta que comparto es el estilo que me habría gustado:
Ya que pongo está imagen, decir que la portada principal del tomo, y alguna más de las siete, son erróneas. Al dibujante se le dijo hacha vikinga y eso hicieron, realistas son, pero no son las del cómic, el hacha correcta es la de la imagen de aquí arriba. Hablando de imágenes, los indicadores de cada capitulo son bastante divertidos, ya que anuncian el número haciendo uso de manos y cabezas, un toque bastante cachondo del dibujante.
Poco más que decir de esta obra, me lo he pasado bien, es una lectura que merece la pena. Hay secuela, pero la ponen peor y no guioniza Joe Hill, no sé si la leeré en algun momento: Una nevera llena de cabezas
🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓
I knew this comic by hearsay, until one day Córdelum reviewed it on her YouTube channel. Having read novels by the author, this got my curiosity. So on comic book day I found it at a stall and took it home.
In this work, Joe Hill, the script, and Leomacs, the drawing, bring us the story of June Branch, who goes to the idyllic (in theory) Brody Island looking for her boyfriend, who has been working there in the summer as a police officer in practices. They are invited to dinner at the home of the police chief, a man of Viking descent and proud of it, who has a room with objects from the period. When a storm leaves the island isolated and some escaped prisoners appear at the house, June will use an ax from said collection to try to defend herself against it. I can read this far, although this is only the first number of a total of seven.
The story is apparently simple, but when it ends you realize that it is much more complex than it seemed. That's a point in the scriptwriter's favor. Furthermore, the characters have a certain charm, especially June. As for the drawing, it works for me, but that style of drawing is not my favorite and at times it is a bit weak. The volume has the covers compiled, this one that I share is the style that I would have liked:
Since I put this image, I can say that the main cover of the volume, and some more of the seven, are wrong. The artist was told a Viking ax and that's what they did, they are realistic, but they are not the ones in the comic, the correct ax is the one in the image above. Speaking of images, the indicators for each chapter are quite fun, as they announce the number using hands and heads, a rather fun touch from the artist.
Little more to say about this work, I had a good time, it is a worthwhile read. There is a sequel, but they make it worse and it's not scripted by Joe Hill, I don't know if I'll read it at some point: Refrigerator full of heads
Este cómic lo conocía de oídas, hasta que un día Córdelum lo reseñó en su canal de Youtube. Habiendo leído novelas del autor, me picó la curiosidad. Así que el día del cómic y del tebeo me lo encontré en un puesto y me lo llevé para casa.
En esta obra Joe Hill al guión y Leomacs al dibujo nos traen la historia de June Branch, que va a la idílica (en teoría) isla de Brody Island a buscar a su novio, que ha estado trabajando allí en verano como policía en prácticas. Son invitados a cenar a casa del jefe de policía, un hombre de ascendencia vikinga y orgulloso de ello, que tiene una sala con objetos de la época. Cuando una tormenta deja la isla aislada y unos presos fugados aparecen en la casa, June echará mano de un hacha de dicha colección para intentar defenderse. Hasta aquí puedo leer, aunque esto es apenas el primer numero de un total de siete.
La historia es aparentemente sencilla, pero cuando acaba te das cuenta que es bastante mas compleja de lo que parecía. Eso es un punto a favor del guionista. Además los personajes tienen cierta miga, sobre todo June. En cuanto al dibujo, me funciona, pero ese estilo de dibujo no es mi favorito y en ciertos momentos es algo flojo. El tomo trae recopiladas las portadas, esta que comparto es el estilo que me habría gustado:
Ya que pongo está imagen, decir que la portada principal del tomo, y alguna más de las siete, son erróneas. Al dibujante se le dijo hacha vikinga y eso hicieron, realistas son, pero no son las del cómic, el hacha correcta es la de la imagen de aquí arriba. Hablando de imágenes, los indicadores de cada capitulo son bastante divertidos, ya que anuncian el número haciendo uso de manos y cabezas, un toque bastante cachondo del dibujante.
Poco más que decir de esta obra, me lo he pasado bien, es una lectura que merece la pena. Hay secuela, pero la ponen peor y no guioniza Joe Hill, no sé si la leeré en algun momento: Una nevera llena de cabezas
🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓
I knew this comic by hearsay, until one day Córdelum reviewed it on her YouTube channel. Having read novels by the author, this got my curiosity. So on comic book day I found it at a stall and took it home.
In this work, Joe Hill, the script, and Leomacs, the drawing, bring us the story of June Branch, who goes to the idyllic (in theory) Brody Island looking for her boyfriend, who has been working there in the summer as a police officer in practices. They are invited to dinner at the home of the police chief, a man of Viking descent and proud of it, who has a room with objects from the period. When a storm leaves the island isolated and some escaped prisoners appear at the house, June will use an ax from said collection to try to defend herself against it. I can read this far, although this is only the first number of a total of seven.
The story is apparently simple, but when it ends you realize that it is much more complex than it seemed. That's a point in the scriptwriter's favor. Furthermore, the characters have a certain charm, especially June. As for the drawing, it works for me, but that style of drawing is not my favorite and at times it is a bit weak. The volume has the covers compiled, this one that I share is the style that I would have liked:
Since I put this image, I can say that the main cover of the volume, and some more of the seven, are wrong. The artist was told a Viking ax and that's what they did, they are realistic, but they are not the ones in the comic, the correct ax is the one in the image above. Speaking of images, the indicators for each chapter are quite fun, as they announce the number using hands and heads, a rather fun touch from the artist.
Little more to say about this work, I had a good time, it is a worthwhile read. There is a sequel, but they make it worse and it's not scripted by Joe Hill, I don't know if I'll read it at some point: Refrigerator full of heads
February 11, 2024
7.8/10
Hell yeah!!!
A dark horror story but at the same time surprisingly fun. With it's premise, this could have been just a cheesy horror story with some funny bits and some gory ones. However, Joe Hill is a great writer and as the story goes, you realise that there is more and more to it.
I would like to see this as a movie. It has a classic horror movie vibe to it.
Hell yeah!!!
A dark horror story but at the same time surprisingly fun. With it's premise, this could have been just a cheesy horror story with some funny bits and some gory ones. However, Joe Hill is a great writer and as the story goes, you realise that there is more and more to it.
I would like to see this as a movie. It has a classic horror movie vibe to it.
May 16, 2023
I loved reading Basketful of Heads. It was such a fun and gorgeous graphic novel.
Heads will roll....
The plot had me on the edge of my seat, with surprises and laughs along the way. The characters felt real and likeable, and the art was amazing. The colours were bright and the faces were expressive, showing the feelings and mood of each moment. Bloody, funny, sleek, sexy and action-packed to boot. Joe Hill is a master storyteller. I have enjoyed all of his works so far, and this one was no different. He created a unique and captivating story that I couldn't put down.
If you like horror, mystery, or just great stories, you should read Basketful of Heads. It's awesome!
Heads will roll....
The plot had me on the edge of my seat, with surprises and laughs along the way. The characters felt real and likeable, and the art was amazing. The colours were bright and the faces were expressive, showing the feelings and mood of each moment. Bloody, funny, sleek, sexy and action-packed to boot. Joe Hill is a master storyteller. I have enjoyed all of his works so far, and this one was no different. He created a unique and captivating story that I couldn't put down.
If you like horror, mystery, or just great stories, you should read Basketful of Heads. It's awesome!
August 25, 2020
A truly excellent horror comic. Seven issues of exquisite scares, creepy atmosphere, unexpected twists and turns, a little Norse mythology, all wrapped up in some seriously great artwork. This is definitely one of my favourite comicbooks this year.
Here comes the chopper to chop off your head... You won't be alive but you sure won't be dead...
Here comes the chopper to chop off your head... You won't be alive but you sure won't be dead...
January 11, 2021
So, perhaps unsurprisingly, this is a book about a girl with a basket full of heads. The heads can talk and are super upset about being heads stuck in a basket, again not exactly shocking. I'd be pretty upset about being a head in a basket if it were me.
I love me some Joe Hill. I re-read Locke & Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft probably about once a year and I will never not think Heart-Shaped Boxis one of the greatest, scariest ghost stories ever.
This not so much.
This is a pretty typical, certainly very yucky revenge tale about a young woman looking to avenge her missing and presumed dead boyfriend who's the latest victim of a Kennedyesque family of rich jerkfaces who think money and power make them invincible.
This was fun, don't get me wrong, but there's not a whole lot going on. It feels a bit like a grindhouse movie where we neither know nor really care why there's a basketful full of talking heads because its cool just to watch all the big kills happening.
Another, very quick, read that was good for a mild thrill and definitely more than a few "okay that's just gross"es.
I love me some Joe Hill. I re-read Locke & Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft probably about once a year and I will never not think Heart-Shaped Boxis one of the greatest, scariest ghost stories ever.
This not so much.
This is a pretty typical, certainly very yucky revenge tale about a young woman looking to avenge her missing and presumed dead boyfriend who's the latest victim of a Kennedyesque family of rich jerkfaces who think money and power make them invincible.
This was fun, don't get me wrong, but there's not a whole lot going on. It feels a bit like a grindhouse movie where we neither know nor really care why there's a basketful full of talking heads because its cool just to watch all the big kills happening.
Another, very quick, read that was good for a mild thrill and definitely more than a few "okay that's just gross"es.
September 29, 2020
This started off interesting so I gave some of the first issues decent ratings, then it got kind of repetitive, and then it ended ... ok. Kind of campy and cliched if you've ever watched '80's horror movies, but it wasn't bad.
Individual issue reviews: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | #7
Total review score: 3.18
Individual issue reviews: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | #7
Total review score: 3.18
September 29, 2020
Fun blonde vs. the forces of evil.
Joe Hill does a pretty good job of capturing the over-the-top energy of recent horror films Happy Death Day and Ready or Not with a young heroine for whom it is easy to root. I liked the early reference to Shawshank Prison, tying this to Hill's father's horror universe. The second half of the book lags a bit with too much exposition, but a little twist at the end brought me back around to positive vibes.
Joe Hill does a pretty good job of capturing the over-the-top energy of recent horror films Happy Death Day and Ready or Not with a young heroine for whom it is easy to root. I liked the early reference to Shawshank Prison, tying this to Hill's father's horror universe. The second half of the book lags a bit with too much exposition, but a little twist at the end brought me back around to positive vibes.
April 4, 2021
En una entrevista que hay al final de este cómic, Joe Hill dice: " Yo quería contar una historia que fuera tensa, divertida y obstinadamente grotesca".
Eso es exactamente lo que me he encontrado y me ha encantado. La única pega que le pongo es que es demasiado corto y la diversión me ha durado muy poco.
Eso es exactamente lo que me he encontrado y me ha encantado. La única pega que le pongo es que es demasiado corto y la diversión me ha durado muy poco.
October 28, 2021
Excellent art, story was ok.
November 22, 2021
I’m going to keep this relatively short because if not I’ll ramble on endlessly about how freaking great this graphic novel was! I have fallen deeply in love with this story, it instantly captured my attention and I was hooked from the first page. The illustrations are SO beautiful, I spent so long just absorbing each page, I wanted to feast my eyes on the images as long as possible! I’ve read all Hill’s graphic novels minus Wraith and this is my favourite by far. The story is just so freaking good, it’s been weeks since I’ve read it and I still can’t get it out of my head. I wish the story continued but I’ll satisfy myself with the rest of the graphic novels published under Hill House Comics. If they’re even half as good as this one then they’ll still be amazing because this one is just THAT good.
November 23, 2023
June is a high-spirited young lady enjoying a beautiful summer break with her boyfriend Liam that works as a cop on Brody Island Maine. Things take a turn for the worse when a dead girl washes ashore and five escaped convicts who seem to think June is hiding something that they desperately need to get their hands on stop at nothing to track her down. The only thing June has to defend herself from these violent thugs is a magical viking axe with the strange power to give life as well as take it. A big murder conspiracy gives June and her boyfriend an awful summer to remember.
Not super deep or emotional like some other horror comics I've read, but it's an extremely fun story that combines the best of classic horror slasher tropes and final girl tropes with an extra layer of weird Norse Viking shenanigans as the icing on top. The main character June is a clumsy goofball but very capable and lovable as well. The humor is sharp and the artwork is wonderfully retro. Though I wouldn’t say there’s anything in here that’s genuinely scary, it’s a bloody fun time with a great protagonist, entertaining villains and great humorous banter.
Really enjoyed it.
Not super deep or emotional like some other horror comics I've read, but it's an extremely fun story that combines the best of classic horror slasher tropes and final girl tropes with an extra layer of weird Norse Viking shenanigans as the icing on top. The main character June is a clumsy goofball but very capable and lovable as well. The humor is sharp and the artwork is wonderfully retro. Though I wouldn’t say there’s anything in here that’s genuinely scary, it’s a bloody fun time with a great protagonist, entertaining villains and great humorous banter.
Really enjoyed it.
July 18, 2020
Gotta love a quippy slasher-mystery featuring a heroine who really comes into her gruesome own!
How does a mysterious hooded figure come to possess a wicker basket of decapitated heads? Well, the story begins as the summer of 1983 draws to a close, and June Branch travels to Brody Island, Maine, to visit her boyfriend Liam. What happens next is gory and darkly funny; after many puns about heads (or lack thereof), the obnoxious men of the island get their dues at the hands of June... and a wicked Viking axe she's picked up along the way.
I wasn't big on the illustration style (one too many constipated-looking expressions imo lol), but I did enjoy the story arc that unfolded across the seven issues—particularly the ending.
How does a mysterious hooded figure come to possess a wicker basket of decapitated heads? Well, the story begins as the summer of 1983 draws to a close, and June Branch travels to Brody Island, Maine, to visit her boyfriend Liam. What happens next is gory and darkly funny; after many puns about heads (or lack thereof), the obnoxious men of the island get their dues at the hands of June... and a wicked Viking axe she's picked up along the way.
I wasn't big on the illustration style (one too many constipated-looking expressions imo lol), but I did enjoy the story arc that unfolded across the seven issues—particularly the ending.
February 27, 2023
Después de leer mangas de Junji Ito, con quien he caído rendida con sus historias y estilo de dibujo, cambio de tercio y empiezo la colección de cómics de Joe Hill.
En este primer volumen de la serie nos sentiremos como si estuviéramos viendo una película de serie B de los 80'.
El inicio nos sitúa en la localidad de Brody Island, donde June Branch pasa el verano con su chico, el agente de policía Liam. Una noche en una cena familiar, quedan retenidos en la mansión del padre de Liam, y es que están al tanto de que cuatro convictos han escapado de la cárcel. Eso, unido al mal tiempo hace que nos les quede más remedio que esconderse, pero todo se tuerce cuando atrapan a Liam. June se muestra muy decidida y no duda en hacerse con una de las armas que el padre de su novio guarda en una vitrina, es un coleccionista de objetos vikingos, y por suerte para June hay un hacha que le vendrá de lujo para librarse de esos malhechores.
Pronto demostrará una gran fuerza y romperá el cliché tan manido de las rubias 😜
Las ilustraciones vienen a cargo de Leomacs y aportan ese aire retro tan necesario para esta historia ambientada en los inicios de los 80'.
Y qué decir de las ilustraciones que ocupan una página entera y las portadas alternativas que nos regalan al finalizar.
Una maravilla.
Además de un cierre de lujo con una entrevista tanto a Joe Hill como al ilustrador.
Me ha gustado si, pero no me ha encantado por el trasfondo de la historia que no es del todo de mi gusto.
Pero me quedo con las risas que me he echado y el festival de sangre del que disfrutará todo amante del género.
Recomendable para leer en una tarde 👌
Lo mejor: los guiños a las novelas de su padre Stephen King, lo sangrienta que es y los toques de humor que tiene.
Sin duda, seguiré con el resto de títulos que ya los tengo esperando pacientemente su turno en la estantería.
https://www.facebook.com/LaLocadelosL... 📚
En este primer volumen de la serie nos sentiremos como si estuviéramos viendo una película de serie B de los 80'.
El inicio nos sitúa en la localidad de Brody Island, donde June Branch pasa el verano con su chico, el agente de policía Liam. Una noche en una cena familiar, quedan retenidos en la mansión del padre de Liam, y es que están al tanto de que cuatro convictos han escapado de la cárcel. Eso, unido al mal tiempo hace que nos les quede más remedio que esconderse, pero todo se tuerce cuando atrapan a Liam. June se muestra muy decidida y no duda en hacerse con una de las armas que el padre de su novio guarda en una vitrina, es un coleccionista de objetos vikingos, y por suerte para June hay un hacha que le vendrá de lujo para librarse de esos malhechores.
Pronto demostrará una gran fuerza y romperá el cliché tan manido de las rubias 😜
Las ilustraciones vienen a cargo de Leomacs y aportan ese aire retro tan necesario para esta historia ambientada en los inicios de los 80'.
Y qué decir de las ilustraciones que ocupan una página entera y las portadas alternativas que nos regalan al finalizar.
Una maravilla.
Además de un cierre de lujo con una entrevista tanto a Joe Hill como al ilustrador.
Me ha gustado si, pero no me ha encantado por el trasfondo de la historia que no es del todo de mi gusto.
Pero me quedo con las risas que me he echado y el festival de sangre del que disfrutará todo amante del género.
Recomendable para leer en una tarde 👌
Lo mejor: los guiños a las novelas de su padre Stephen King, lo sangrienta que es y los toques de humor que tiene.
Sin duda, seguiré con el resto de títulos que ya los tengo esperando pacientemente su turno en la estantería.
https://www.facebook.com/LaLocadelosL... 📚
January 11, 2023
This was so good omg!
Okay this story is about a girl June Branch who is with the love of her life and they are making plans for vacation when everything goes wrong or rather everything wrong gets exposed, I am getting ahead of myself but the story takes a turn when her bf is kidnapped and she has to rescue him meanwhile navigating serial killers on the loose and the secret of the town and the people around her that will haunt her, plus she has this supernatural viking axe that if it cuts someones head doesn't kill them but just segregates their head from the body. Can June along with her axe and her basketful of heads save her bf plus the wild secrets she will discover. Plus so many revelations and dark themes and the spine tingling horror.
Its one of those books I had been wanting to read for a long time and finally did and I love it, this is Hill at his best and he does it wonderfully showcasing the dark themes, the slow unrevealing of secrets, the "he is not how you know him" kinda vibe, the many characters that make up the heads, the slow exposition and all that is all very good, the art by Leomacs next level as he shows the heads being lopped off in a brutal manner, and the moody atmosphere. All in all a great read!
Okay this story is about a girl June Branch who is with the love of her life and they are making plans for vacation when everything goes wrong or rather everything wrong gets exposed, I am getting ahead of myself but the story takes a turn when her bf is kidnapped and she has to rescue him meanwhile navigating serial killers on the loose and the secret of the town and the people around her that will haunt her, plus she has this supernatural viking axe that if it cuts someones head doesn't kill them but just segregates their head from the body. Can June along with her axe and her basketful of heads save her bf plus the wild secrets she will discover. Plus so many revelations and dark themes and the spine tingling horror.
Its one of those books I had been wanting to read for a long time and finally did and I love it, this is Hill at his best and he does it wonderfully showcasing the dark themes, the slow unrevealing of secrets, the "he is not how you know him" kinda vibe, the many characters that make up the heads, the slow exposition and all that is all very good, the art by Leomacs next level as he shows the heads being lopped off in a brutal manner, and the moody atmosphere. All in all a great read!
May 22, 2020
I didn't know about the Hill House Comics line before seeing this on Netgalley, but I was immediately so excited for new Joe Hill content, naturally, I grabbed it right away and I'm so glad I did. This was a really fun, intriguing horror/mystery set in Derry County, Maine (yep — there's even a Shawshank Prison reference), with some intriguing paranormal elements and a weird, creative plot exactly along the lines of what I've come to expect from Joe Hill: a little bit strange, a whole lot of gruesome, and laced with a few dark humor elements, too. The art style wasn't my favorite but I do think it's objectively well done with a lot of attention to detail and some great color palettes.
Content warnings for:
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this review copy in exchange for an honest review!
Content warnings for:
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this review copy in exchange for an honest review!
October 20, 2020
Whoa this was WAY more fun than I expected.
Not to say I expected something bad here. This is Joe Hill, and even at his worst, he still always tells a interesting tale. No, I was expecting a gritty horror book based on the cover but I was glad to be wrong, this was over the top, horror fun, with a 80's vibe, and super interesting colors/art design.
Our main character, June, is visiting her boyfriend Liam over the summer. This guy is training to be a police officer of some sort and has been living with the chief of police at his house for the summer. Soon into the story we learn 4 convicts have escaped and they are coming after Liam! June is on the run and when they come after her too she has no choice but to fight back with her AXE!
This is super fun, over the top, and kind of loved it. June is a great protagonist, weird, exciting, and full of life. It's her actual strangeness yet her eagerness to help people that made me love her. Then you have the rest of the cast, who are all pieces of shit, but man oh man are they fun to have around. When June has to fight back you root for her 1000% and it's so much fun.
The art is fantastic. a Mix of cartoony 80's style art, but also light and colorful at times mixed with gritty moments. The emotions are clearly displayed and love the way a lot of the characters are design.
The ending is fantastic wrap up and well worth the read here. This was one of my favorite horror comics/books I read recently because of its playfulness. A 4.5 out of 5 but I'll bump it to a 5.
Not to say I expected something bad here. This is Joe Hill, and even at his worst, he still always tells a interesting tale. No, I was expecting a gritty horror book based on the cover but I was glad to be wrong, this was over the top, horror fun, with a 80's vibe, and super interesting colors/art design.
Our main character, June, is visiting her boyfriend Liam over the summer. This guy is training to be a police officer of some sort and has been living with the chief of police at his house for the summer. Soon into the story we learn 4 convicts have escaped and they are coming after Liam! June is on the run and when they come after her too she has no choice but to fight back with her AXE!
This is super fun, over the top, and kind of loved it. June is a great protagonist, weird, exciting, and full of life. It's her actual strangeness yet her eagerness to help people that made me love her. Then you have the rest of the cast, who are all pieces of shit, but man oh man are they fun to have around. When June has to fight back you root for her 1000% and it's so much fun.
The art is fantastic. a Mix of cartoony 80's style art, but also light and colorful at times mixed with gritty moments. The emotions are clearly displayed and love the way a lot of the characters are design.
The ending is fantastic wrap up and well worth the read here. This was one of my favorite horror comics/books I read recently because of its playfulness. A 4.5 out of 5 but I'll bump it to a 5.
October 21, 2022
Me ha gustado la historia, los giros argumentales y el final que es bastante sorprendente. Los dibujos también me han gustado mucho.
November 4, 2022
Kinda wanted something more from this one! A bit disappointing
July 23, 2024
Hill is a master at graphic novels and this story was no exception. Master, I tell you.
January 12, 2023
Don’t let my 3 star rating fool you. This book was a ton of fun, had some great illustrations and a really cool concept. My issues stem from the fact that this story was so much more convoluted than it needed to be. As Joe Bob Briggs always says, “way too much plot getting in the way of the story”. There’s a plot twist like every 3 pages, and after awhile it started to make my severed head spin.
So overall, this was a fun ride, but I wish the road was a lot less bendy. Recommended for Talking Heads fans.
So overall, this was a fun ride, but I wish the road was a lot less bendy. Recommended for Talking Heads fans.
September 29, 2023
Meh. I had high expectations, having enjoyed Locke & Key a lot. In the end, I was disappointed. The idea of the basket is fun, the story around it wasn't worth it.
⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐
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