CSBG Archive
The Scariest Comic Books of All-Time! – The Wallace Expedition
A reader named Chris S. suggested that I devote October to the scariest comic books of all-time, as suggested by you readers out there! Sounds like a plan to me! So all October-long, I’ll be featuring 31 comic book tales of terror, based on YOUR suggestions! So e-mail me at bcronin@comicbookresources.com your scary suggestions! Here is an archive of all the comics featured so far!
Reader “the man with no alias” suggested that I spotlight Eric Powell’s contribution to Dark Horse Comics’ 2005 anthology, Book of the Dead, titled “The Wallace Expedition,” about a disturbing discovery on a mission across the Arctic Circle.
Enjoy!
This is a short story (only eight pages), so I don’t want to give away too much of the story, and because of that, you’re actually going to miss out on when things get REALLY crazy in this story. However, I think these first few pages can properly prepare you for the dread that these characters are feeling. This is one of the most restrained Powell stories that I can recall reading (unrestrained Powell is amazing, of course, just noting that this is a different type of approach for him) and the art is, as usual for Powell, excellent…
Did that suitably pique your interest? Pick up a copy of Dark Horse’s Book of the Dead, then! You won’t be sorry (the rest of the book is very good, as well, including a Beasts of Burden story by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson and a Hellboy story by Mike Mignola).
5 Comments
Timothy
October 12, 2011 at 4:50 am
I can’t really think of anyway to improve this story. Though I want to. Because it’s scary, but at the same time I feel like it should be really scary. But it isn’t. But I guess that’s how it is in the story. A vague sense of unease. Also, Book of the Dead is great, though it’s mostly non-horror stories. I loved the tales of the necromancer and his dad and the necromancer cat. Good stuff.
Michael P
October 12, 2011 at 5:16 am
I get a very Lovecraft feel from this, to the point where I wonder if Lovecraft himself hadn’t read about the expedition and used it as fodder for his stories.
Dan Bailey
October 12, 2011 at 6:28 am
Brian –
Typo/wrong word/whatever — It’s “*pique* your interest.”
mckracken
October 12, 2011 at 6:43 am
Lone tree in the artic. (kinda spoiled the story?! – oh well…)
No siree, the very best horror does not involve zombies or exploding guts.
Oh and Powell? A damn fine writer. (though quite unsung)
OtakuLad
October 15, 2011 at 8:41 am
I’ve always thought the Dark Horse Book of: a) Hauntings, b) Witchcraft, c) The Dead, d) Monsters
are some of the best deals in comics. They’re hardcover collections of vignettes from some of the best creators out there for $15 (or less).
This one is amazing. Loved it then, love it now. Well done Eric Powell.