Grimm Tales of Terror Quarterly Review

 Writer: Joe Brusha

Artists: Ralph Tedesco, Babisu Kourtis, 

Dario Tallarico + more

Rating: 6 of 8

Grimm Tales of Terror Quarterly

Some people like thrills, some laughs and a few even tears... but there's nothing quite like a good scare. In Grimm Tales of Terror, readers are treated to a trio of terror tinged tales, all involving some kind of dark retribution for it's 'hero's' dark deeds.

In the 1st story, we get a man struggling to survive as he embroils himself in the fearsome grip of crime and addiction. What makes this even worse is the face that he's a father of two and, as we find, he's far from the kindest father around. 

Despite this, his sons try to get him some help, though that may hide a far darker purpose... Though Brusha's writing here works, it's Kourtis' art that really makes it stand out. Thanks to him showing some things from the Dad's unique POV, he lends the tale a sense of claustrophobia, which adds a greater feeling of unease.

The dark shadows and splashes of blood only add to it. Though it's not the issue's scariest tale, as that honour goes to the lupine centered one. Even early on, Oliver Borges' art gives us some great scares, as a fearsome werewolf leaps to attack it's latest victim. Thereafter, we're treated to an unflinchingly, though not overly bloody scene.

Surprisingly, Brusha and Borges give us a good laugh before the horror, as a previously uber confident cajun runs and screams at the sight of the wolf. After the attack, Savannah, the tale's heroine, is cursed to become a werewolf every time the moon is full. 

Brusha and Borges very successfully capture the horror of such a curse, as she initially transforms gradually, then almost bowls over from the pain. It's from this first night she learns an invaluable lesson. As she and her family venture for an island holiday, the scene's filled with a palpable sense of tension as we wonder when it will happen.

The only problem I had with the story with the idea that her husband wasn't at all curious why she has to perform such a ritual every full moon night, though that's made clear by tale's end. The issue ends perhaps with it's most disturbing tale, as we meet Oliver, a man who becomes increasingly obsessed over cam girl, Jade Rose.

Though I can't blame him for trying for even a digital intimacy, it's the extents he goes to keep her where he stops being understandable and starts being despicably cruel. It's a chillingly current lesson in how an attempt to be close to someone can become much, much darker. If there's anything I'd criticize about it, it's the sudden involvement of supernatural entities, though it does make for a pretty funny, though unexpected, scene.

Overall, it's a pretty good horror anthology, which could make for very apt reading during such a spooky month. Despite my few criticisms, it's still worth a read, especially now.