What happens when a bunch of classic monsters converge on a small-town screening of a lost horror movie? Utter anarchy and carnage in Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt‘s new comic, The Midnite Show #1.
We reviewed the book on the Stack podcast. But in the interest of highlighting more about the title, here’s a summary of the conversation with our thoughts. And if you prefer the longer audio version, that’s below as well!
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The Midnite Show #1 Review:
In the first issue of this new horror series from Dark Horse Comics, we head to a small town showing off a lost print of a classic monster movie. The mash-up flick brings together all the classic Universal horror monsters: the Werewolf, the Mummy, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and of course, Dracula. As the film unspools, the monsters come to life in the town, with extremely gory repercussions.
Host Alex Zalben said that he “really enjoyed this,” and noted that while writer Cullen Bunn can often go a little esoteric and cosmic with his heart, “this is very down to Earth, straight across the bar, perfect Halloween fare… A lot of blood, a lot of guts, and a lot of scares.”
He also loved the way the issue was laid out, particularly noting artist Brian Hurtt’s panel structure in a sequence cutting between different people in the town being attacked by the monsters, while the attendees in a theater watch similar sequences on screen.
Justin Tyler agreed, stating that in, “the onslaught of Halloween books we’re about to get in the next few weeks, this one really stood out.”
He also enjoyed the art in particular, comparing Hurtt’s style as “adjacent” to Chris Samnee or Darwyn Cooke in his clean use of lines. “It really works in this monster world, and just a really great first issue.”
The Midnite Show #1 Official Synopsis:
From the creators of The Sixth Gun and Manor Black comes this new supernatural horror series about monsters of the silver screen coming to life and wreaking havoc on a small town.
Basil Saxon is a legend among horror fans. Over fifty years ago, he vanished during a freak accident on the set of the film that would have been his masterpiece. The cursed film–God of Monsters–was never completed and has never been seen. But when a film festival shows footage from the long-lost movie, classic horror monsters manifest to wreak havoc and terror on the unsuspecting populace. A ragtag group of misfits must band together to stop the most famous creatures of all time and send them back to the realm of celluloid nightmares.
Cullen Bunn, Brian Hurtt, Bill Crabtree, and Jim Campbell unleash this tale of terror. Popcorn not included.
