As sleigh bells ring and comic shops are decked out in Christmas spirit, it’s time to enjoy holiday one-shots like Dred the Halls. Created by Jordan Hart, Chris Lyall, and a host of artists, Dread the Holes includes four stories of fear, cheer, and Santa’s taunts. This is a bona fide hit, and in most cases, at least two of the four books are worth reading.
It begins with a story by Hart and artist Fabio Velas titled “Dead Notes.” This story features carols like you’ve never seen them before. Their singing will put you in a trance and eat you. This is a clever idea, told well in sequence by Velas in a scene where a young woman wakes up and demands her partner turn up the music before it’s too late. It’s a mad rush through the story with eerie flashbacks to the young woman’s past. This story could easily fit into a Creepshow style TV show or movie.
Velas uses shadows and darkness to create a sense of coldness and fear. The use of musical notes and lyrics playing over the characters conveys the power of the music well, and when they feed, the images are stretched strangely, adding to the creepiness.
Next up is “Gone Fishin'” by Lyall & Lee Ferguson. It depicts two boys who aim to catch Santa using fishing lures. The boys bite off more than they can chew and get something a little different than Santa. Although Santa resembles a jolly old St. Nick. This story suffers from the problem of needing to tell more than it shows, even though the final panel is quite haunting. This is a clever twist where the naughty kids get what they deserve.
These kids are planning something bad!
Credit: Image
“Northerners” by Hart and artist Walter Pax is a mostly black-and-white story featuring Pax’s beautiful pencil drawings. The story involves a man riding a snowmobile who gets into a terrible situation, but then stumbles upon a cabin with a lovely woman inside. At least she seems like a normal woman. The story takes an interesting twist with some very scary threats thanks to Pax’s design, but it unfolds into a heartwarming tale. The balance between creepy and scary is well reflected in the pleasant story.
Rounding out the anthology is “Krampus Slayers” by Hart and Jimmy Cucarj. Be sure to read the afterword to this story by Hart. We see an interesting twist in the story about two Krampus hunters. Kukai writes great action in this story, with the killer Krampus moving like he’s straight out of a Spider-Man or other superhero book. Using sound effects will amplify the awesomeness. Although mostly battle scenes, Hart’s afterword adds some interesting context as to why this story is being told in the first place.
Dread the Halls offers a fun combination of festive horror and creative storytelling, and the standout entries make it worth reading despite some uneven execution. Whether you’re a horror fan or a fan of holiday cheer, this anthology has something to offer, but it may not fully satisfy those looking for a sophisticated collection.
‘Dread the Halls’ is an eclectic mix of clever stories
fear the hall
Dread the Halls offers a fun combination of festive horror and creative storytelling, and the standout entries make it well worth reading despite some uneven execution. Whether you’re a horror fan or a holiday fan, this anthology has something to offer, but it may not completely satisfy those looking for an overall polished collection.
Four unique stories offer diversity in tone, theme, and horror.
Stories like “Dead Note” and “The Northerners” are packed with surprising twists that heighten the impact.
Each story showcases a striking art style, from the shadowy eeriness of Veras to the masterful penciling of Pax.
A story like “Gone Fishin”’ falters more in “telling” than in “showing.”
Krampus Slayer focuses more on action than narrative complexity.
