Waxwork records underline resurgence in horror comics

Horror comics are having something of a resurgence, thanks in no small part to a raft of recent new titles from Vertigo, the adult imprint of DC Comics.

Vertigo’s new roster, which includes Gail Simone and Jon Davis-Hunt’s Clean Room, David Baillie and Meghan Hetrick’s Glasgow-set Red Thorn, and Survivor’s Club, from novelist Lauren Beukes and Dale Halverson, is certainly setting the pace … but there’s no shortage other horror comics: from old, rotting hands such as The Walking Dead to the likes of Mythic and Wytches from Image Comics.

Even the wholesome old Archie line has been getting in on the act with a series of dark titles based on their characters, featuring a Sabrina who’s more black magic than teen witch, and a zombified Jughead.

So it’s a pretty crowded market, but there’s always room for one more … especially with the USP that a new comics line from Waxwork Records is offering.

In fact, if you drew up a Venn diagram for collectors and geeks with a circle each for vinyl records, horror movies and comic books, then Waxwork would sit right in the overlap.

The New Orleans-based label has made a name for itself with its lavishly packaged vinyl releases of soundtracks from classic and contemporary horror movies, and now they’re pushing more buttons than a mad scientist in a storm-wracked garret with imminent arrival of their very own comic book line.

The new Waxwork Comics range is set to launch next month with the first title, House of Waxwork, which will be an anthology comic modelled on the classic EC horror comics of yore such as Tales from the Crypt and Vault of Horror.

And each comic will come with an exclusive original “soundtrack” to the collection of stories on 7-inch coloured vinyl.

According to Waxwork founder Kevin Bergeron, the anthology will include “all-new tales of the occult, monsters, voodoo, witchcraft, vampires and more.”

Waxwork say they have assembled “an outstanding team of the best writers and your favourite artists”. Bergeron said in an interview last month: “We have writers on board that have worked with Dark Horse, Vertigo, DC, Marvel, IDW, BOOM!, Image, everyone.”

Aiming for a February release date for House of Waxwork #1, Bergeron added: “We really want Waxwork Comics to be fresh and extremely exciting. We’re really going for it. We are doing that by creating new stories, new art, new music, new characters, working with new talent. It’s a very exciting time. We’re learning a lot.”

The EC comics line which Bergeron is modelling his new venture on was published in the 1940s and 1950s and was typified by their gory content and graphic horror. But EC was made the scapegoat of a moral panic on juvenile delinquency, prompted in part by the publication in 1954 of the now infamous book Seduction of the Innocent, written by Dr Frederic Wertham and laying the blame for degenerating youth behaviour at the door of the comics industry in general - and EC in particular.

The backlash spelled the end for the EC horror line and many others, and ushered in the Comics Code Authority self-regulation body which aimed to ensure comic books were suitable for children – thus divesting them of their bite.

But the EC template is fondly remembered, especially for its device of having an extravagantly grotesque “host” – a crypt-keeper, or witch, who introduced each short story. It was something to which the 1982 movie Creepshow, directed by George A Romero and written by Stephen King, paid homage and which Waxwork Comics will be bringing back in the shape of The Projectionist.

The undead Projectionist will haunt the attic of mysterious movie theatre where he will introduce the brand new comic stories in House of Waxwork, which will be “packed with horror, mystery and sci-fi movie mayhem”.

It’s a neat bit of symmetry for Waxwork, who have also released the Creepshow soundtrack (in “bone swirl vinyl with purple splatter”) among the many horror LPs they have issued since starting up in 2013.