Good evening you beautiful bags of meat.
Welcome to another issue of Love Letters on the Walls. This issue will be a short one as I review two books for a haunting night, like tonight. I also have a special treat for my fiendish fans of the night: inlcuded in this issue is a short story I’ve written for a future project where you’ll read it here first.
Let’s get right to it.
The year was 1962 when the streets of South Central L.A was stalked by a creature of the night known to the public as Blacula. Failing in finding a bride to help rule the night, Blacula was sent to hell to spend the next decades of his life. Fast forward to 2020 and Blacula has pleaded for his life from the dark prince once more before deciding to take his life back into his own hands.
BLACULA RETURN OF THE KING
was a refreshing take on a forgotten tale of torment as Blacula figures it’s finally time to take on the head honcho himself, Count Dracula. I thought Rodney Barnes did a phenomenal job at giving us an expansion on Prince Mamuwalde’s lore as we find out Count Dracula betrayed the prince after asking for help against slave traders. Murdering his wife and cursing him with the eternal thirst for human blood, Blacula sets out for the heart of master.
Although, I felt the ending fight with Dracula was a bit underwhelming and the dialogue of some of LA’s residents were cliche, I thought the visuals of the book were fitting as it felt like a fever dream and the overall story an interesting take on a classic, blacksploitation creature feature.
Blacula: Return of the King 3.5 stars
Entertaining Comics has been a staple in the comic book horror world since the 60’s
and they continue to roll out with the ghoulish heat for fans of the fangoria. This year EC releases Volume 1 of the return to the classic, Creepshow. Packed with scary stories and grimy gore, the creators also tend to interact with their readers. From illustrated fans to featured letters, Creepshow’s Volume 1 is a definite must have for the meanders of the macabre. Out now at Image Comics or your local comic shop!
And now
for a tale of terror to end this horrifically haunting night when Stan calls for his ride home from the bar, he may have some alternative intentions for the end of his night in…
SHEEP
PAGE ONE
Panel One – Outside a small bar sits a car with an LED sign that reads, ‘RYDE’ on it’s hood. It is a beautiful, midfall night as the young crowd roam the streets of the small town for a memorable night.
Panel Two – Stumbling from the bar, STAN (David Harbour) and his group of friends make their exits, speaking their goodbyes. All are dressed in nice suits, but disheveled and drunk as Stan holds a bucket of ice, chilling a few beers.
1. MAN 1- Don’t forget, we have that meeting at nine am tomorrow.
2. STAN – And next time, you tell Fred I’d rather lick his salty ballsack than eat at that shithole again.
3. MAN 3 – You tell’m. I’m not telling him that!
Panel Three – Stan approaches the car and opens the door as he hangs out of it, yelling back at his friends as they jump around one male in the middle of the bunch.
4. STAN – Hey, congrats again Dylan, on being another stupid, sorry son of a bitch!
5. FRIENDS (together) – Yeah! Alright! Our boys getting married! Congrats!
PAGE TWO
Panel One – The door slams shut as Stan gets situated, placing his bucket of beers on the car floor. Looking at him through the rearview mirror, CECILIA (Kali Reis) watches.
1. STAN – How’s the night treating you, hunny?
2. CECILIA – Is okay. You’re Stan?
Panel Two – Stan looks up, into the eyes of Cecilia, stricken by their beauty.
3. STAN – Si, senorita. And you’re bootiful. Cecilia, right?
4. CECILIA – Yes, I’ll be your Ryde driver for tonight.
5. STAN – Beautiful.
Panel Three – The car drives off.
6. SFX – Psk.
7. STAN – You from around here, sweetheart?
Panel Four – Stan cracks open one of the bottles of beer as Cecilia looks through the rearview.
8. CECILIA – Yes and no. From just outside the city so here, often. I don’t think you should be opening that.
9. STAN – Oh, it’s okay sweety. We’re fine. So, you like the big city then, huh? Ever been up north with the big buildings and skyscrapers?
10. CECILIA – No, have you?
11. STAN – I have. I can take you sometime.
PAGE THREE
Panel One – The two continue to speak through the rearview mirror.
1. STAN – Hey, whadya say we go someplace quiet and finish this bucket of beer, here?
2. CECILIA – Oh, I don’t know.
3. STAN – Yeah you do.
Panel Two – They continue to speak through the mirror.
4. CECILIA – I have to keep working. You’re only my second pick-up.
5. STAN – You can pick right back up where you left off. Plus, I can pay you for your time.
6. CECILIA – Heh.
Panel Three – A close up on Cecilia’s eyes through the mirror.
7. CECILIA – Okay. Why, not.
8. STAN (O.P) – That’s what I’m talking about. I knew you was a party girl!
PAGE FOUR
Sitting on the trunk of the car, Cecilia stares out into the nightsky as Stan, stands and leans against the trunk, eye goggling Cecilia. Cecilia is dressed in a long, black furry coat, tailored by a hunter of buffalo. Near Stan’s feet, the bucket of beer sits while they’re parked on the side of an empty road that leads from the city to the cornfields of the Midwest. It’s a silent night as the city lights dance in the distance.
1. CECILIA – What’s a ‘Northerner’ like you doing down here?
2. STAN – An old friend decided to tie the knot. Figured we’d party like we used to.
3. CECILIA – Used to?
4. STAN – I wasn’t always a northerner. Moved out there for work ‘couple years back.
5. CECILIA – And you came back for your friend. How sweet.
6. STAN – That’s me, baby. As sweet as the day they discovered sugar cane.
PAGE FIVE
Panel One – Stan reaches down to grab a couple bottles of beer while Cecilia continues to stare into the sky.
1. STAN – Drink?
2. CECILIA – No, I don’t think it is a good idea. To drink and drive, no?
Panel Two – Stan reaches in his pocket with one hand as he holds the beers with his other.
3. STAN – I’m not saying get fucked up, darling. What’s one drink.
Panel Three – Opening one of the bottles, Stan manages to drop something into it with a slight of hand.
4. CECILIA – True. One drink can’t hurt.
Panel Four – Stan and Cecilia clink their drinks together while staring at one another. Stan, with lustful eyes and a sweaty mess; Cecilia with an emotionless smirk.
5. STAN – Cheers to you. A real beaut, picking ME up.
Panel Five (SPLIT PANEL) – (A) Stan tips his beer up as he chugs it. (B) Cecilia tips her bottle up, as if to chug it, while placing her thumb between her mouth and the bottle’s opening.
Panel Six – Cecilia smacks Stan in the face with the bottle of beer as he’s finishing his.
6. SFX – CrSH.
7. STAN – Agh
PAGE SIX
Panel One – Stan falls to his knees, covering his eyes as blood drips from his head. Fragments of glass are seen in his cheek and forehead as Cecilia stands over him, emotionless.
1. CECILIA – I guess one drink can hurt.
2. STAN – The fuck you doing, you fucking bitch!
Panel Two – Cecilia reaches in her jacket pocket as she stands over Stan. Stan continues to shield his eyes.
3. CECILIA – Yes, yes. Fucking bitch. Yes, yes, stupid whore. Uncle was right, sheep. Every single one of you.
4. STAN – Th’ fuck are you talking about! Fuck Y-
Panel Three – A needle pricks Stan in the neck.
5. SFX – Phft.
6. STAN – What the fuck did you just stick me with?
Panel Four – Stan looks up at Cecilia, holding the back of his neck. His face a bloody mess.
7. CECILIA – Relax, that was just a sedative.
Panel Five – A blurry POV from Stan showcases Cecilia standing in front of him with a syringe in her hand.
8. CECILIA – It’s really the next one you should be worried about. (Indistinct chatter)
PAGE SEVEN
Panel One – Cecilia is standing at a wooden work bench inside a rundown, dilapidated barn.
1. STAN (O.P) – Whu- where am I?
Panel Two – Cecilia turns around with a scalpel in hand and a crooked look, while missing her medical PPE.
2. CECILIA – Ah, so glad you can join us. Looks like the sedatives wore off quicker than expected. You are a pretty big guy.
3. STAN – What the hell you doing?
Panel Three – Cecilia takes a seat.
4. CECILIA – Me? What were you doing? I was just minding my business, making a bit a money when you tried drugging me. Remember?
5. STAN – Wait. Wait if this is abou-
6. CECILIA – And here it comes. Again, sheep. You all think alike. With one head or the other most of the time, but all you sheep are the same.
Panel Four – Cecilia lifts up her wrist to take a look at her watch.
7. CECILIA – Now, unfortunately for you, your sleepy meds woke you up before the numbing ones. So, it’s going to feel like someone poured the heat of the Sun in your pores in about, oooooh, now I’m guessin.
Panel Five – Showing just his head strapped down to a wooden table, Stan screams in agony.
PAGE EIGHT
Panel One (Vertical) - Laid across a long, wooden work bench, Stan is tied down by leather straps and stripped of his clothing with Cecilia sitting next to him.
1. STAN (Bleeding into panel Two) – Agh! Let me go!
Panel Two - Cecilia slides the scalpel down Stan’s chest, blood dripping down his abdomen. Surrounding the worn-down barn, knives, tools, and skeletons of human remains line the walls in a display.
1. CECILIA – I think you mistook me as sheep. Simple mistake. It honestly happens more often than not. But, no, I’m no sheep, I’m a wolf. Raised by wolves…
2. STAN – Aagh! Let me go you stupid bitch!
Panel Three – Cecilia yanks out Stan’s intestines as she holds them in the air, her face donning a look of delight.
3. CECILIA - And a wolf’s got to eat.
THE END
Well, hope you enjoyed your special treat for this night of tricks as we depart for the time.
Until next time, fiends!