Hey everyone! I know I’m being a bit erratic with the release date of this newsletter but I ask you to bear with me. I’m really trying to get this out on time but things always get on the messy side it seems.

I’ve been thinking about section names still and I was thinking about changing this one to “Since we last spoke”, what do you think?

Apart from the chaos at work due to certain changes in the hotel chain I work at (that are making me leave work with massive headaches), the week was pretty uneventful but I have some stuff to share nonetheless, so let us move along!

On the writing side of this week, I managed to get some words in. Once again I didn’t write as much as I wanted but I’m picking up speed and will try to keep the momentum.

Apart from a book review (more on that later), I wrote a bit more for the project that I’ve been telling you about, which still lacks a name, and it was interesting to visit some parts of my life and see how well I could transfer them to a fictional character. And I use interesting in the way that someone said that the saying “May you live in interesting” might be more a curse than a blessing. Because what I have in store for this poor guy is not good at all.

Project: Untitled - 821 words (total 1195 words)

Project: Album - 441 words

If you want, you can hit me up with messages so I can be held accountable if I don’t write more…

As I told you last week, I started reading Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix and after reading Horrorstör I was prepared for anything except what I got. All the funny bits are stripped away leaving us with a raw tale about the human condition and how the human being can be scarier than any monster.

This may not be his most supernatural work, but it’s one of his most unsettling. The real terror here isn’t ghosts or demons—it’s the brutal reality of institutional control, misogyny, and societal cruelty.

The story follows a pregnant fifteen-year-old sent to a home for unwed mothers, where shame and silence are enforced as punishment. Hendrix masterfully blends wit with chilling reality, making us feel the weight of these young women’s suffering.

Passages like “We were too young to understand that there were worse things than the devil” highlight the novel’s core horror: a world that dehumanizes the vulnerable under the guise of righteousness.

This is only my second Hendrix book, but it’s clear he has a talent for weaving social commentary into horror. This isn’t just a book—it’s a gut punch, a reminder of injustices that still echo today. Highly recommended for those who like their horror rooted in reality.

In case you are interested in reading the full review for Witchcraft for Wayward Girls you can find it here.

So this week I read a few comics but I want to focus on two of them.

The first one is The Nasty, published by Vault Comics.

Diving into this series feels like stepping into a time machine set for the early 1990s—a decade where horror wasn't just a genre but a cultural phenomenon, and the series doesn't just pay homage; it resurrects the era's essence with a modern twist.

The narrative centers on Thumper Connell, a horror aficionado whose imaginary friend from childhood horror films becomes unsettlingly real. This premise cleverly explores the blurred lines between reality and fiction, delving into themes of nostalgia, the impact of media on the psyche, and the communal experience of horror fandom. It's a meta-commentary that resonates with anyone who's ever found solace in the macabre.

Visually, the series is a treat. The art captures the gritty aesthetic of '80s and ‘90s horror, with a color palette that oscillates between the drabness of everyday life and the vivid gore of slasher flicks. The character designs are distinctive, and the panel layouts enhance the storytelling, making the horror elements pop just when they need to.

The Nasty is more than a comic; it's a bridge between eras, connecting the VHS generation to today's digital horror enthusiasts. Whether you're a seasoned gorehound or new to the genre, this series offers a narrative that's both a tribute and a fresh take. It's a must-read for those who appreciate horror that challenges the mind while quickening the pulse.

I also found a way to read some of the Dampyr comics. Dampyr, originally an Italian comic series by Mauro Boselli and Maurizio Colombo, provides a fresh and engaging introduction to Harlan Draka, a man caught between two worlds. The first three issues lay a strong foundation for this unique horror series, blending war-torn history with supernatural terror.

In the opening issue, we’re thrust into the brutal realities of the Balkan Wars, where Harlan, a con artist pretending to be a vampire hunter, stumbles into a genuine vampire infestation. The dark, gritty artwork perfectly captures the bleakness of the setting, as well as the eerie presence of the supernatural. Harlan’s discovery of his true heritage as a dampyr—half-human, half-vampire—is a revelation that changes his destiny, setting the stage for the philosophical questions about identity, monstrosity, and the blurry line between good and evil that run throughout the series.

The second issue further deepens Harlan’s journey as he begins to grasp the full extent of his role in the battle against the Masters of the Night. Teaming up with the battle-hardened soldier Kurjak and the enigmatic vampire Tesla, Harlan faces the sadistic vampire lord Gorka, who thrives on war and carnage. This issue builds on the mythology of Dampyr, portraying vampires not just as predators, but as cunning manipulators of power. The uneasy alliance between Harlan, Kurjak, and Tesla adds an extra layer of tension, and the intense action sequences drive home the horror elements of the narrative.

By the third issue, Sand Specters, Harlan embarks on a more personal journey, uncovering mysteries tied to his past. A trip to a Cornish manor introduces him to Amber, a beautiful and haunting woman, and together they face off against the ominous Black Man of Screech Wood in a sinister, haunted amusement park. This issue mixes dark mystery with thrilling action, while the gothic atmosphere intensifies with Amber’s presence.

The artwork is a standout in all three issues, capturing the grim atmosphere of war-torn landscapes, gothic settings, and the eerie presence of supernatural entities. The storytelling is both engaging and thought-provoking, weaving horror elements with philosophical questions about humanity and monstrosity.

In conclusion, Dampyr offers more than just supernatural scares. The series presents a rich narrative that blends horror, action, and introspection, with deep character dynamics and a compelling exploration of identity and destiny. For those like me who can’t read Italian, the IDW reprints promise a captivating read and set Dampyr up as a standout series in the genre. It just bothers me that series like this and Dylan Dog are so limited in terms of availability when it comes to languages other than the original.

The covers created for the series by Ashley Wood are amazing as is all of his work but I couldn’t write about this and not share the original covers. I really feel that they evoke the classic Italian horror that I am a fan of.

I saw this a while ago but haven’t shared my thoughts about it with you yet.

If you're into police procedurals, as I am, but want something that feels a little more fresh and real, On Call might just hit the spot. The series dropped on Prime Video at the beginning of the year and it’s not your typical cop show. Created by Dick Wolf, the man behind Law & Order, On Call starts by mixing in bodycam, dash-cam, and cellphone footage with normal filming techniques to give a super raw, almost documentary-style view of life on patrol. Unfortunately, the show decides to forgo this type of approach into a more traditional one, although the pace is maintained.

The show follows veteran cop Traci Harmon (played by Troian Bellisario) and rookie Alex Diaz (Brandon Larracuente) as they tackle everything from routine calls to life-threatening situations in Long Beach, California. The dynamic between the two leads is spot on, and the drama feels pretty grounded. Plus, it’s nice to see Lori Loughlin stepping into a tough cop role as Lieutenant Bishop, alongside Eriq La Salle as the no-nonsense Sergeant Lasman.

What really makes On Call stand out, though, is how it’s filmed (at the start of the show) and the way it tries to capture the real stress and chaos of being on the job. The pacing is quick, the tension is real, and it’s a cool take on the genre. If you’re looking for something that feels a little more gritty and different from the usual cop drama, this one’s worth a watch. Also, each episode is around thirty minutes which for me is a plus.

I also got back to watching Supernatural after pausing my rewatch of the series. I finished the last three episodes from season 7 that I was missing and already started season 8. Say what you want, this is one of my favorite TV shows and I would watch another 15 seasons of it!

So, I started listening to another podcast this week, as I needed to listen to something while driving to work. You see, Lore is only out once a week, and long gone is the time when I had a backlog of episodes to go through. I decided to try Haunted Roads and I have to tell you that I really enjoyed the first episode.

If you're into haunted history and unsolved crimes, Haunted Road is a podcast you’ll want to check out. Hosted by paranormal investigator Amy Bruni, the show takes a deep dive into some of the world’s most infamous hauntings, blending historical research, firsthand accounts, and eerie storytelling.

The first episode, Slay Utterly, starts things off strong with one of America’s most horrifying unsolved crimes—the 1912 Villisca Axe Murders. Eight people, including six children, were brutally killed in their sleep, their faces covered with cloth after the murders. The crime scene was chaotic, with investigators mishandling evidence, townspeople wandering in and out, and multiple suspects emerging over time—but no one was ever convicted.

Bruni expertly unpacks the chilling details of that night, the strange clues left behind (like a plate of uneaten food and a bowl of bloody water), and the eerie atmosphere that still lingers in the house today. The Villisca Axe Murder House has since gained a reputation as one of the most haunted locations in the U.S., with reports of disembodied voices, shadow figures, and even physical attacks on visitors. Bruni speaks with paranormal investigators and researchers who have spent time in the house, giving listeners a full picture of both the historical crime and the supernatural lore surrounding it.

Her storytelling, a blend of true crime and the supernatural keeps you hooked, balancing fact and folklore without sensationalizing the tragedy at the core of the haunting. As an opening episode, Slay Utterly sets the bar high, and I’m looking forward to hearing what the rest of the series has in store. I’ll be sharing more thoughts as I listen—so if you’re into ghost stories backed by solid research, this one’s worth adding to your queue.

You can listen to the episode here or wherever you get your podcasts.

This time I won’t share a story per se (but if you understand Portuguese you can’t try to read the story from the photo below).

This was a story that my friend Daniel included in a little book called Confissões de Uma Mente de Merda (Confessions of a Shitty Mind) that he published all the way back in 2008 and it was the first thing I ever published. I go on a limb and say that it was also his first foray into the publishing realm and I had the honor of having this little tale along for the ride. I guess this was the beginning of a collaboration that is still going strong. The story was a retelling of the events of the Last Supper, and I have to be honest, reading it now I’m not that satisfied with it. But really, not at all. I also did an introduction for the book and oh my god… I really don’t know what to think. More than a book this also came with a mini CD that I can’t remember what is inside and I need to track a computer to check it out. The CD was originally supposed to be an audio tape but in the late 2000s those were rare and expensive, that I can remember.

You can find Daniel’s projects here and he’s also doing a newsletter that you can subscribe to here.

This is it for this week.

I can’t wait to see what you guys have to say about this week’s updates.

I’ll be waiting for your feedback and to hear about your week too.

See you in a few days!

Until then, let the ink of nightmares flow.

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