The Grave Robber's Daughter

by Richard Sala

97 pages! Something is very wrong in the town of Obadiah's Glen. The streets are empty. The phones don't work. The cars are all gone ? and so are the people, at least most of them. The ones who are left are hiding and shivering in fear. They know it's only a matter of time before the clowns come and get them. Because the town of Obadiah's Glen now belongs to the clowns. And these clowns have a special secret, one that lies buried in the old cemetery on the hill...The Grave Robber's Daughter is a deliciously scary thrill ride from the author of the critically acclaimed horror graphic novel The Chuckling Whatsit ("A masterpiece!" ? Rue Morgue Magazine) and stars Judy Drood, the highly strung and short-tempered girl sleuth. The Grave Robber's Daughter is filled with Sala's unique blend of horror and whimsy that will please his many fans and new readers alike.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Horror, Graphic Novels Comics, Mystery, Fiction, Supernatural

97 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2007

About the author

Richard Sala grew up with a fascination for musty old museums, dusty old libraries, cluttered antique shops, narrow alleyways, hidden truths, double meanings, sinister secrets and spooky old houses. He has written and drawn a number of unusual graphic novels which often combine elements of classic mystery and horror stories and which have been known to cause readers to emit chuckles as well as gasps. Although most of his books are written with teens and older readers in mind, his book, CAT BURGLAR BLACK, can be enjoyed by younger readers as well.

To view current art and activity, please visit: http://richardsala.tumblr.com

Note: I am new to GoodReads ~ and I am happy to have a place dedicated to sharing my love of books with other book lovers. Please be patient with me if I seem rather slow and clumsy! Thanks to all my readers over the years!

Reviews

[Juho Pohjalainen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is compelling enough, but the writing is flat and wooden and relies on swear words to the point of banality.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coulrophobie!

Was ist angsteinflößender als ein Clown? Vielleicht viele Clowns. Oder doch Teenager?
Girl Detective Judy Drood, die wir aus Mad Night, Featuring Judy Drood, Girl Detective kennen, hat mitten in der Pampa eine Autopanne und landet in dem kleinen Kaff Obidiah´s Glen.

(F-Bombs sind ihre Spezialität)
Wenn sie hofft, dort Hilfe zu finden, eine Autowerkstatt oder ein Telefon: Fehlanzeige! Dafür gibt es einen Jahrmarkt, zwar ohne Besucher, aber dafür mit sehr, sehr vielen Clowns; nicht diese netten bunt geschminkten Kerle, sondern richtig üble Horror=Clowns. Und dann ist da noch eine Gruppe schauriger Teenager, die für Judy auch alles andere als eine Hilfe ist. Stellt sich die Frage: Wo sind all die Erwachsenen geblieben, die in Obidiah´s Glen gelebt haben?
In weiteren Rollen tauchenn u.a. auf: ein alter Friedhof und die Tochter des Grabräubers.
Am Ende gibt´s den großen Show-Down:


Ich liebe Richard Salas abgedrehte Horror-Stories: Ed Gorey meets Stephen King!

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sala is one of the best comics creators at telling an engrossing story in relatively few pages. He doesn't waste dialogue or exposition or panels--everything on the page helps further the story. I love that I can get through most of his work in a sitting (usually less than an hour)--it's like a tasty but healthy snack. I finish and feel refreshed and like I've escaped a little. Grave Robber's Daughter isn't my favorite Sala, but there is some cool ideas and characters in here. Judy is a plucky protagonist who doesn't need rescuing. It turns out the little girl doesn't need rescuing either, providing a nice bookend of strong women in the story. While evil clowns are nothing new, how they come to be in this story is interesting and unique.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 3 out of 5]

Judy Drood's car breaks down in the middle of nowhere forcing her to walk to the nearest town. When she gets there she finds it deserted and in the midst of the town is a carnival. She finds some strange looking teens loitering there along with a group of nasty looking clowns. But where is everyone? Why aren't the phones working? And how is the grave robber's daughter tied into this? Judy Drood investigates...

It's an interesting story that Richard Sala has created here that smacks somewhat of horror b-movies and old Scooby-Doo cartoons. The story rolls along nicely and is well illustrated by Sala who has a distinct style that makes his art look deceptively easy to emulate. I liked the character of Judy Drood who kicks ass and gets out of sticky situations almost as easily as she gets into them.

It's like a Twilight Zone episode with a 21st century heroine with gothic overtones making this a pretty decent original indie comic book. The book was good fun to read but didn't contain enough depth to make me think this is Sala's best work. It was however good enough to make me want to seek out his other books so it's definitely got plenty going for it. And those clowns are damn scary.

[Kathryn Grace Loves Horror · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Sala never disappoints me. His Nancy-Drew-with-an-attitude heroine, Judy Drood, is at it again, this time investigating a town full of killer clowns. That’s a scenario I could never say no to. I’m only disappointed that I’m now out of Judy Drood comics. I definitely recommend checking them out if you’re a Sala fan, and even if you’re not, they’re a great introduction to his work. I loved every piece of The Grave Robber’s Daughter and can’t recommend it enough!

[Trey Causey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little bit horror, a little bit black comedy. No-nonsense gal sleuth Judy Drood's car breakdown near the town of Obadiah Glen. The town is deserted except for a group of ne'er-do-well teens, a little girl--and an abandoned carnival full of sinister clowns. Drood will face sideshow mutants and magic potions before she solves the weird mystery.

[Just a Girl Fighting Censorship · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always Sala's art is beautifully morbid and creepy. The story here is a good one full of frightening clowns and a mysterious child, but it is told in a very rushed manor. I would have preferred a story that unfolded a little more slowly to heighten the horrific tension.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

This feels almost like an unmade episode of The Twilight Zone. It's got that same vibe and lack of reasoning why these strange things are happening. A woman's car breaks down and she walks to this town that is deserted except for some creepy clowns and some teenagers at the circus in town. Things get more stream of consciousness from there. It's not bad but the story does feel rushed.

[Jess Tell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Judy Drood, the kick-ass narrator who goes out for a walk & remains unflappable in the face of killer clowns, jerk teens & a weird little girl.
Great page details, highly stylized yet still easy to read.

[Citybones · Rating 3 out of 5]

El estilo del arte es interesante, muy tira de periódico antigüa. Los protagonistas tienen chispa y muchos dibujos son realmente aterradores, pero no acabé de conectar con la historia. Muy rápida de leer y sin más.

[chrstphre campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

UnSatisfactory Ending !

Interesting Enough I suppose, but it just wasn’t going anywhere ( ? )
It needed another crazy character with its own divergent ideology to twist The ending into something more satisfying ( ? )

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, fun, a bit scary.

[Ayacchi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creepy

[Scott Potter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty strange. I like to read an occasional graphic novel. This was filled with horror and a few lines that had me laugh.

[Nigel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judy Drood in deserted-town-creepy-carnival-killer-clown nightmare. Love it.

[Fatima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story with a great twist and it's pretty f-ed up. Hate the font though.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was actually a pretty good graphic novel. It has a sinister quality. It can certainly be made into a TV series as the artist included great visuals.

[Zach Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoopy

[Francesca Giardiello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lettura molto interessante dalle giuste tinte splatter e creepy, peccato per il finale, che non le permette di eccellere, ma di rimanere fra le "belle opere", purtroppo non memorabili.

[Sara G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, that exposition ending seemed so unnecessary, but everything else was great.

[Cicey LaBella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so fun thank you Nik :) Short and sweet and the art ruled

[JD · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best horror comics I've ever read, hands down.

[Luke Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sala does scary clowns! Fun!

[Leew49 · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Judy Drood's car breaks down not far from the town of Obidiah's Glen, much more ensues than the girl detective's characteristic foul language. The town appears to be deserted: no people, no cars, no working telephones. But nearby is a bleak, rundown old carnival inhabited only by huge, menacing clowns and a handful of uncommunicative teenagers (Hmmmm... is that one cliche or two?) And at the far edge of Obidiah's Glen is a little girl who lives alone and hides for her very life.

The fearless and tenacious Judy solves the mystery and puts things more or less to right but not before experiencing a chamber of horrors, slimy monsters, reanimated corpses, a menacing teen who looks like a young Jack Nicholson and a healthy shot of coulrophobia.

Richard Sala's continuing parody of the Nancy Drew stories continues on its not so merry way. This episode begins with Judy needing to get away; it could follow either her short origin story or the events of MAD NIGHT. Dressed almost exactly like Bonita Granville in the Nancy Drew movie series, Judy is far more outspoken, foulmouthed and violent. In the comic book tradition of Will Eisner's Spirit and Bob Kane's Batman, Judy never ever loses a fair fight. She can only be taken down by a cowardly blow from behind, and not for long even then. Like Sala's other recurring heroine Peculia, she has a propensity to stumble onto dangerous situations and dark, intricate plots, but she is more aggressive and confident in her determination to get to the bottom of any mystery.

Sala's storytelling and noirish artwork do a great deal to establish a dark and threatening mood. His protagonist is likable despite her violent temper and unladylike language. As usual the violence is a bit over the top, and though THE GRAVEROBBER'S DAUGHTER is technically a comic book, it is not meant for younger readers.

[Hollowspine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judy Drood, young sleuth, finds her way into a ghost town after car troubles leave her swearing on the side of the road.

The swearing was awesome, I really enjoyed how Sala starts the story out with our heroine not so delicately cursing the world. It let's readers know that Drood is no Nancy Drew, appearances aside. The mystery begins when, in search of a gas station or working telephone, Drood finds the town, creepily named Obidiah's Glen, uninhabited except for rude teens hanging out in the town's carnival (again creepy).

One of my favorite moments in the comic is when, after swearing doggedly at any and all misfortunes, whether it's a broken phone or being startled by a clown, Drood remarks, "Holy Moley," as she witnesses the tentacled death of one teen-aged goon. I also loved, throughout the comic, how Drood solves her problems with two fists and a concealed knife. She doesn't back down and has very little (or no) sentimentality. When she realizes that the kid she was guarding was kidnapped she doesn't say, "Oh noes, poor little Nellie!" Nope, she's just ticked that they got away right under her nose, and she's determined to make them pay.

Both the style and the characters depicted give the book a nostalgic feel, which makes the dialog used throughout the story very funny (for lack of better term). It all seems to fit together though, making a highly engaging and empowering story. I loved how Drood, literally, pulled no punches. There were no sissy slaps from this "chick," and she didn't need any help from the Hardy Boys either.

I'll not be visiting Obidiah's Glen in the near future, to be sure. But, I would love to see more adventures with Judy Drood.

[Artur Coelho · Rating 3 out of 5]

É impossível ler este livro sem pensar nas míriades de filmes de terror de série B com que se consomem momentos de tédio. O livro desenrola-se com a precisão de um destes filmes. Num ermo avaria-se o carro de rapariga com algo de pouco inocente no passado. Esta vê-se obrigada a procurar ajuda na localidade mais próxima, terra misteriosa e abandonada. Depara-se com uma ameaça aterradora num circo das proximidades, porque, enfim, palhaços assassinos ficam sempre bem nestas coisas. Consegue fugir e encontra outra misteriosa habitante, também com os seus segredos, que a ajuda. Investiga e depara-se com conspirações mortíferas e negras invocações dos poderes do oculto. Contra todas as expectativas, sobrevive e foge, regressando ao mundo normal. Soa familiar, não soa? Mas é neste reviver nostálgico destas histórias que está o encanto do trabalho de Richard Sala. Lê-lo evoca fragmentos de memórias cinematográficas, que preenchem os espaços deixados em vazio pela simplicidade deliberada das suas ilustrações.

[Paul Eckert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book by Richard Sala that I have read, and I was thoroughly impressed. At first, the plot seems like nothing new - girl's car breaks down right next to a creepy, seemingly empty town. However, then you learn the town is popluated solely by clowns and teenagers. Sala avoids cliche and surprises with a multitude of twists to the classic formula.

The drawings are in black and white and have an unrefined look, which is a plus for this type of story and adds to the terror. The clowns are scary as hell and make my coulrophobia kick into overdrive. The heroine of the story is lots of fun because she is not the typical whiny, scared-of-everything girl that horror stories produce in legion. Instead she is fearless and willing punch a freaky, man-eating clown in the face.

For such a short story, Sala infuses a lot of heart and thought.

[Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

[3.5]

Creepy, weird, and whimsical, The Grave Robber’s Daughter is a fun, frothy macabre mystery-horror comedy perfect to read as Halloween approaches. A fairly straightforward spooky plot involving gothic tropes such as grave robbing, mysteriously empty towns, creepy old carnivals, and the occult, it is not the deepest work but it uses its material well and Richard Sala’s art has a great style. I had not read the previous appearance of the amusingly foul mouthed “girl detective” Judy Drood but it quickly became apparent that she took no guff from anything, not even undead clowns, and it was hilarious how she kicked and clubbed her way out of the horrifying situation she found herself in without batting an eye. By the way, this might not be the best thing to read late at night for anyone who finds clowns more than a little creepy as it will certainly not help this!

[Geoff Sebesta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A minor work that I read in the car, it took about thirty minutes. Great fun.

Judy Drood is just a BAMF. You don't expect a character like that to be so nimble with an ice pick, but it's great. It actually makes it a lot of fun. This comic describes a situation that should be hellish, but watching Judy clean house makes it pure entertainment. Good will triumph, because it is tough and strong and mean and hot. Evil will perish, because Judy has a knife.

There's no morality here, no particular lesson. It's pure candy.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

In terms of story, I felt this was one of Sala's more cohesive efforts. And downright creepy.

I was a bit bothered by his incessant dropping of "fuck," into speech, not because such language offends my so-very-dainty ears, but because after a bit they seemed a contrivance to assure this book a place well away from the "juvenile" shelves.

Art-wise, perhaps a step down from what Sala can do when he's hitting on all cylinders, but the flow of the story corrects that during actual reading.