Screamland

by Harold Sipe, Hector Casanova

In the age of computer animation and special effects, where will the real-life monsters go? After decades starring in Hollywood's top-grossing films, werewolves and mummies alike find modern-day LA far more frightening than any creature feature. Screamland sheds light on the creatures haunting the twilight of fame. All five issues of the critically-acclaimed series, Screamland, are now collected in one volume!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Horror, Graphic Novels Comics

144 pages, Paperback

First published November 12, 2008

About the author

Harold Sipe is an award-winning author, game designer and producer who has acted as the creative vision holder and project manager for games produced in partnership with such licensors as Paramount Pictures, National Geographic, Lifetime TV and others. Sipe also writes cutting edge comics; his first book, Screamland, received honorable mention in Publishers Weekly and was named Best Horror Series by Fangoria Magazine. He also produced the highest-grossing title ever for publisher Merscom (later acquired by Playdom, a division of Disney Interactive), which spent 12 weeks on North American and European game portal best-seller lists

Reviews

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've had this sitting around for a while: finally decided to read it. It was pretty decent, overall. I really appreciate the creative approach, the gothic aesthetic and the art style. It definitely had an old school vibe and I could definitely relate to the dilemma posed by the ever-growing CGI business. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but as someone entranced with special effects makeup, seeing technology swoop in and replace it all--whatever the reason--saddens me.

If you're big on classic monsters, I say give this a go: it wasn't the best I've read, but it was very creative and a lot of fun.

[K · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s a cool idea. I didn’t really care for it. Not too compelling. And I need glasses...

[Timothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant look into the "real" lives (and un-lives) of famous Hollywood monsters as they try to find peace as type-cast characters, on & off screen. Beautiful art highlights a sharp tale.

[Valéria. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent story with some funny parts, but nothing I would read again.

[Matti Karjalainen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harold Sipen käsikirjoittama ja Hector Casanovan piirtämä "Screamland" (Image Comics, 2008) on minisarja neljästä vanhasta Hollywood-näyttelijästä, joiden kunnian päivät ovat jääneet kauan sitten taakse, mutta jotka kerääntyvät vielä kerran yhteen esiintyäkseen japanilaiseen mangasarjaan perustuvassa elokuvassa "Monsterhunter 2000". Skenaariossa ei sinänsä olisi mitään kovin erikoista, elleivät kyseessä olisi Frankensteinin hirviö, Dracula, Ihmissusi ja Muumio.

Jokaisella monstereista on ollut rankkaa viimeisten vuosikymmenten ajan. Havajilaispaitaan sonnustautunut Frankensteinin hirviö juo liikaa, kuvioista kadonnut Muumio on WTC-tornien romahduksen jälkeen kiinnostanut enemmän USA:n turvallisuuspalvelua kuin elokuvissa käyvää yleisöä, Ihmissusi joutuu elääkseen pyörimään scifi-conien ikääntyvänä vetonaulana ja Dracula yrittää pysyä kaapissa. Uusi elokuva voisi avata jo kertaalleen sulkeutuneet ovet, mutta onko vanhoilla hirviöillä enää sijaa CGI-aikakauden Hollywoodissa?

Näistä aineksista syntyy hauska ja oivaltava sarjakuva, joka onnistuu paikoitellen olemaan vielä melankolisen koskettavakin. Loppuratkaisu on hieman hätäinen ja kiirehditty, mutta muuten sarjakuvasta ei löydy pahemmin nokan koputtamista, vaan se on tutustumisen arvoinen kokemus niin sarjakuvista kuin klassisista Universal-kauhuelokuvista pitäville lukijoille.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure what to make of this book. On the one hand, I like it a lot--the art is cool, the writing is sharp, the concept is original and fun, and overall it's very well-done, especially for a first work. But on the other hand, some of the comedic swipes--especially the nerd/fan/convention mockery in the Wolf Man issue--seem a bit mean-spirited and much more stereotypical than I would expect of a comic book writer.

But Harold Sipe is a really nice guy, and I definitely don't regret picking up his comics (after Matt Fraction, in conversation at HeroesCon 2008, extolled his virtues). I look forward to reading Sipe's future work--I just hope it doesn't resort to the cheap jokes next time.

[Reetta Saine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ihminen, joka sanoo jotain pahaa Frankensteinin hirviöstä, Draculasta, Wolfmanista ja Muumiosta on joko sivistymätön tai saatanasta. Minä en sano.



Juoni on välillä hiukan sirpaleinen, mutta kantaa perusidean loppuun asti. Neljän tähden pläjäyksen tästä kuitenkin tekevät perushahmot, joissa on sotkettu sopivassa suhteessa todellista (elokuva)historiaa, puhtaita myyttejä, hupaisaa sarkasmia ja empaattista melankoliaa.

[Jacobi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book is great. It imagines that all of the Universal monsters actually existed, and that once they fell out of fashion, became washed up has-been actors. Good stuff. The story didn't feel like a story to me, so much as a collection of vignettes, but that worked just fine for humor of this book.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 or more is good for comics, manga or graphic novels. I never really know how to rate some of these. There are some where I'm totally in love, know automatically it is a 5 star, but then some I am just not sure about in the first couple volumes.

*I just don't know if this one is my cup of tea. I liked it, but not sure I want to continue the series.*

[Christopher]

Monster Porn and Gay Dracula, what more could you ask for?

[Jordi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty cool idea and quite an entertaining read. Poor monsters!

[Juliana]

recommended by Nick Q

[J. Christopher · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good premise with predictable results. I was not impressed by the story or the artwork. Skip unless you're a huge classic monster fan.

[Baal Of · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an unexpected surprise. A cool premise executed with flair, and the author brought a lot of humanness to the old classic monsters. Liked the humor as well.