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Ice Cream Man
Ice Cream Man, Volume 3: Hopscotch Melange
Ice Cream Man continues with four more strange and sad one-shot stories.
Plus: more is revealed about the mischievous Ice Cream Man and his history with the dark cowboy, Caleb.
Collects ICE CREAM MAN #9-12
Plus: more is revealed about the mischievous Ice Cream Man and his history with the dark cowboy, Caleb.
Collects ICE CREAM MAN #9-12
128 pages, Paperback
First published June 18, 2019
23 people are currently reading
416 people want to read
About the author
W. Maxwell Prince
108 books187 followersW. Maxwell Prince writes in Brooklyn and lives with his wife, daughter, and two cats called Mischief and Mayhem. He is the author of One Week in the Library, The Electric Sublime, and Judas: The Last Days. When not writing, he tries to render all of human experience in chart form.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 203 reviews
August 5, 2022
After two pretty solid volumes, Ice Cream Man sadly takes a bit of a dip in quality with this third one. W. Maxwell Prince and Martin Morazzo are still delivering top-notch work in each and every volume of this series, but this one sorely struggles to find a good balance between dealing with the ongoing narrative and delivering satisfying horror one-shots that can stand on their own.
I still enjoyed it well enough since at least two stories in here were quite strong and Morazzo’s art is a constant treat throughout (especially since I read this in the Sundae Edition OHC), but this is definitely the weakest volume of this series by far. Hopefully, Volume 4 can turn it around and the series never dips in quality like this again! Individual reviews are found below:
Chapter Nine: “Western Story” ☆ ☆ ☆ 1/2
I liked the setting of this, but I did expect more of an actual Western and less of just everyone looking like cowboys and being in a desert. We follow both Caleb and Riccardus with their uncle in another universe presumably before the other issues of the series.
We get some development on the ongoing Riccardus/Caleb dynamic, which is fine, but I wish this issue had a better balance to it. This was just a story regarding that ongoing narrative and not really a one-off horror story, and I had just praised last volume for being able to strike that balance perfectly.
It’s still good, but I didn’t love this or think it does a good job at standing on it’s own. I’d be so lost if this was my first issue of the series.
Chapter Ten: “Border Story” ☆ ☆
Sadly this was probably my least favorite issue of ICM to date. I also usually don’t mind translating Spanish for books, but it just wasn’t necessary for this story.
A classic and cliched star-crossed lovers story with an ICM twist. Just felt like a very samey storyline that did nothing new or interesting, since the whole ICM aspect is pretty lame anyway. Morazzo’s art is still great, but I was very disappointed in this one.
Chapter Eleven: “TV Story” ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
The best this volume has the offer so far. We see a man named Will Parsons get trapped in a bunch of reality shows. We get some satire on reality TV as a whole and some nice references to other ICM stories. all wrapped up in a nice one-shot.
Morazzo’s art shines this issue too, with him doing a lot of cool panel work and some disgusting horror imagery. It is still on point and the cover for the issue is one of my favorites from the whole series.
Chapter Twelve: “Space Story” ☆ ☆ 1/2
Another pretty weak story that is admittedly not the best way to end this collection. A recivilization astronaut is looking for life on other planets, and he finds it! But will it be what he is expecting?
The ending was fine and explains a lot of what is happening in the ongoing narrative, but this wasn’t a very good one-off and felt very cliched at times.
TLDR; This was by far the weakest volume of Ice Cream Man so far. I’m not gonna stop reading this, but I hope it doesn’t dip in quality like this again. Still recommended for those who like the series though.
I still enjoyed it well enough since at least two stories in here were quite strong and Morazzo’s art is a constant treat throughout (especially since I read this in the Sundae Edition OHC), but this is definitely the weakest volume of this series by far. Hopefully, Volume 4 can turn it around and the series never dips in quality like this again! Individual reviews are found below:
Chapter Nine: “Western Story” ☆ ☆ ☆ 1/2
I liked the setting of this, but I did expect more of an actual Western and less of just everyone looking like cowboys and being in a desert. We follow both Caleb and Riccardus with their uncle in another universe presumably before the other issues of the series.
We get some development on the ongoing Riccardus/Caleb dynamic, which is fine, but I wish this issue had a better balance to it. This was just a story regarding that ongoing narrative and not really a one-off horror story, and I had just praised last volume for being able to strike that balance perfectly.
It’s still good, but I didn’t love this or think it does a good job at standing on it’s own. I’d be so lost if this was my first issue of the series.
Chapter Ten: “Border Story” ☆ ☆
Sadly this was probably my least favorite issue of ICM to date. I also usually don’t mind translating Spanish for books, but it just wasn’t necessary for this story.
A classic and cliched star-crossed lovers story with an ICM twist. Just felt like a very samey storyline that did nothing new or interesting, since the whole ICM aspect is pretty lame anyway. Morazzo’s art is still great, but I was very disappointed in this one.
Chapter Eleven: “TV Story” ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
The best this volume has the offer so far. We see a man named Will Parsons get trapped in a bunch of reality shows. We get some satire on reality TV as a whole and some nice references to other ICM stories. all wrapped up in a nice one-shot.
Morazzo’s art shines this issue too, with him doing a lot of cool panel work and some disgusting horror imagery. It is still on point and the cover for the issue is one of my favorites from the whole series.
Chapter Twelve: “Space Story” ☆ ☆ 1/2
Another pretty weak story that is admittedly not the best way to end this collection. A recivilization astronaut is looking for life on other planets, and he finds it! But will it be what he is expecting?
The ending was fine and explains a lot of what is happening in the ongoing narrative, but this wasn’t a very good one-off and felt very cliched at times.
TLDR; This was by far the weakest volume of Ice Cream Man so far. I’m not gonna stop reading this, but I hope it doesn’t dip in quality like this again. Still recommended for those who like the series though.
May 13, 2020
Not sure why this volume was part of Hoopla's free borrows instead of volume 1, but whatever. I was on the fence about reading this stuff, so I figured if this one piqued my interest I'd go back and read the 1st one.
Anyway.
Yeah. Ok, this was weird, but especially considering that I started with vol. 3, Hopscotch Melange wasn't too bad. I guess the stories are loosely connected by these two dudes who show up over and over all across time and space playing out this odd little dance of death with each other.
I did think it was kind of pretentious that a good chunk of the 1st part of the 2nd story was in Spanish. It said there was a 'cheat sheet' you could look up in the back, but that's just not something that I would ever take the time to do for a story I'm not terribly invested in. I've done that before for other comics and I've always regretted it because it seems as though authors get a kick out of making readers translate the most mundane, useless shit they can think to write. If this was the final issue of Saga, I'd spend an hour translating every word. <--this isn't Saga.
Besides, I had just enough Spanish under my belt to get the gist if not the nuances.
Alright. Other than that, this was ok. Obviously, I must have missed out on the part where the evil guy was an actual ice cream man in the earlier volumes, because there was nothing but sort of nods to that with little musical notes and whatnot in this one.
I may go back for the other stuff when I'm looking for something horror-y around Halloween.
Anyway.
Yeah. Ok, this was weird, but especially considering that I started with vol. 3, Hopscotch Melange wasn't too bad. I guess the stories are loosely connected by these two dudes who show up over and over all across time and space playing out this odd little dance of death with each other.
I did think it was kind of pretentious that a good chunk of the 1st part of the 2nd story was in Spanish. It said there was a 'cheat sheet' you could look up in the back, but that's just not something that I would ever take the time to do for a story I'm not terribly invested in. I've done that before for other comics and I've always regretted it because it seems as though authors get a kick out of making readers translate the most mundane, useless shit they can think to write. If this was the final issue of Saga, I'd spend an hour translating every word. <--this isn't Saga.
Besides, I had just enough Spanish under my belt to get the gist if not the nuances.
Alright. Other than that, this was ok. Obviously, I must have missed out on the part where the evil guy was an actual ice cream man in the earlier volumes, because there was nothing but sort of nods to that with little musical notes and whatnot in this one.
I may go back for the other stuff when I'm looking for something horror-y around Halloween.
May 9, 2019
Ice Cream Pants begins its slide from a fairly mediocre series to a crappy one with Volume 3: Hopscotch Melange. None of its four stories were all that.
There’s a cliched Latin soap opera-esque romance story about a couple of star-crossed lovers in 1919 Mexico where the woman is betrothed to a man she doesn’t love (and resembles the Ice Cream Man, Rick). It plays out predictably and doesn’t help that half of it is in untranslated Spanish - good luck if you can’t read it!
Some guy gets trapped in a series of reality shows. I didn’t get the point of it - they definitely weren’t entertaining. The space story was the worst of the bunch. Cliched as any space horror, it’s as obtuse as the opening western story and left me as cold as the vacuum of the cosmos itself.
The opening western story was the only one that didn’t totally suck. It’s about the demon Rick and the man in black hunting him, Caleb. It’s odd in that we’re getting more info on these recurring characters but that it only raises more questions as to who they are and what they’re doing. Still, it was at least original and imaginative with parts of it being compelling.
Martin Morazzo’s art is as consistently high quality as W. Maxwell Prince’s writing is inconsistently all over the shop. There’s not a lot of good stuff in Hopscotch Melange though and the third volume mostly misses far more than it hits.
There’s a cliched Latin soap opera-esque romance story about a couple of star-crossed lovers in 1919 Mexico where the woman is betrothed to a man she doesn’t love (and resembles the Ice Cream Man, Rick). It plays out predictably and doesn’t help that half of it is in untranslated Spanish - good luck if you can’t read it!
Some guy gets trapped in a series of reality shows. I didn’t get the point of it - they definitely weren’t entertaining. The space story was the worst of the bunch. Cliched as any space horror, it’s as obtuse as the opening western story and left me as cold as the vacuum of the cosmos itself.
The opening western story was the only one that didn’t totally suck. It’s about the demon Rick and the man in black hunting him, Caleb. It’s odd in that we’re getting more info on these recurring characters but that it only raises more questions as to who they are and what they’re doing. Still, it was at least original and imaginative with parts of it being compelling.
Martin Morazzo’s art is as consistently high quality as W. Maxwell Prince’s writing is inconsistently all over the shop. There’s not a lot of good stuff in Hopscotch Melange though and the third volume mostly misses far more than it hits.
June 22, 2019
Ice Cream Man, Volume Three, Hopscotch Melange, continues its tutorial into horror genres, this one including a western, a bilingual love story, a televised story within a series of twisted reality show stories, a space opera scratching at the eyes of the metaphysical possibility that everything in the universe may ultimately by meaningless. Yes, friends, we run the gamut from tutti frutti to existential horror:
“This universe is on its last leg. The plants take root and speak to the dirt. The dirt in turn speaks back. And it’s saying: ‘Get Out. Quick.’”
At the bleak scary center of this world you got yr Ice Cream Man (“Honey, I’ll be good to you”—Tom Waits) and his sidekick cowboy Caleb. You also have your writing by W. Maxwell Prince, your illustration by Martin Morazzo, sherbet-colored by Chris O’Halloran. The effect is kind of nauseating, a grinning carnival clown with a knife bathed in Pepto Bismol. We are in 1919 Mexico, then we are on reality tv, and then we are sometime in the future when the Earth is no longer.
You want this little shop of horrors to make sense?! You want your questions answered about the identity of the Ice Cream Man? Well, keep on ‘a askin,’ pardner. The subtitle is Hopscotch Melange, so the narrative coherence you are lookin’ to find just may be jumpin’ around.
But then again, in the bilingual story we have what Prince says is his favorite Octavio Paz poem:
I am a man; I won’t last long
And the night is enormous.
But I look up;
The stars write.
Unknowing, I understand
I too am written,
And at this very moment
Someone spells me out.
There’s a bit of wistfulness there, eh?
And in the end, he leaves us this little crumb:
Thanks for reading. Remember: In “lightning” there is “light.”
Is he smirking here? Is this the equivalent of “it’s only a comic, honey,” just turn on the light? Is this then catharsis after the nightmare? Or just his jerkin’ our chain? Dunno. I guess that’s why you read the comics, man, to see where they go, and where the ball drops, nobody knows.
“This universe is on its last leg. The plants take root and speak to the dirt. The dirt in turn speaks back. And it’s saying: ‘Get Out. Quick.’”
At the bleak scary center of this world you got yr Ice Cream Man (“Honey, I’ll be good to you”—Tom Waits) and his sidekick cowboy Caleb. You also have your writing by W. Maxwell Prince, your illustration by Martin Morazzo, sherbet-colored by Chris O’Halloran. The effect is kind of nauseating, a grinning carnival clown with a knife bathed in Pepto Bismol. We are in 1919 Mexico, then we are on reality tv, and then we are sometime in the future when the Earth is no longer.
You want this little shop of horrors to make sense?! You want your questions answered about the identity of the Ice Cream Man? Well, keep on ‘a askin,’ pardner. The subtitle is Hopscotch Melange, so the narrative coherence you are lookin’ to find just may be jumpin’ around.
But then again, in the bilingual story we have what Prince says is his favorite Octavio Paz poem:
I am a man; I won’t last long
And the night is enormous.
But I look up;
The stars write.
Unknowing, I understand
I too am written,
And at this very moment
Someone spells me out.
There’s a bit of wistfulness there, eh?
And in the end, he leaves us this little crumb:
Thanks for reading. Remember: In “lightning” there is “light.”
Is he smirking here? Is this the equivalent of “it’s only a comic, honey,” just turn on the light? Is this then catharsis after the nightmare? Or just his jerkin’ our chain? Dunno. I guess that’s why you read the comics, man, to see where they go, and where the ball drops, nobody knows.
December 6, 2019
Ahhhhhh damn, after an amazing second volume, I was really excited for this.
This is again 4 different stories that do not connect completely, just a bit. With the first story being of the past and we find out a bit of history between the ice cream man and the cowboy hunting him. Next up are two stories that really are super depressing, including one about a man stuck through a TV program. Last, and probably my favorite story, is a man going into space, landing on a planet, and guess who is there? The motherfucking ice cream man.
The first and last story are the strongest. I think they capture the feel of the ice cream man series and give plenty of great story beats. I love the art too still. The middle issues are decent but nothing very memorable. Overall a good volume but not great like the last. 3 out of 5.
This is again 4 different stories that do not connect completely, just a bit. With the first story being of the past and we find out a bit of history between the ice cream man and the cowboy hunting him. Next up are two stories that really are super depressing, including one about a man stuck through a TV program. Last, and probably my favorite story, is a man going into space, landing on a planet, and guess who is there? The motherfucking ice cream man.
The first and last story are the strongest. I think they capture the feel of the ice cream man series and give plenty of great story beats. I love the art too still. The middle issues are decent but nothing very memorable. Overall a good volume but not great like the last. 3 out of 5.
March 14, 2020
3.0 Stars
As a collection of horror short stories, I have been quite mixed on my feelings towards this graphic novel series. Some of the stories have been amazing… and some have not. In this collection, I only really liked one of the stories and found the other ones to be bland. I absolutely loved one that turned classic reality tv shows (cooking shows, dating shows, etc) into horror stories. I was most frustrated by the second story because it required so much Spanish translation that I could not actually enjoy the story. I appreciate the diversity of it, but it made it impossible to get immersed as an English speaker.
As a collection of horror short stories, I have been quite mixed on my feelings towards this graphic novel series. Some of the stories have been amazing… and some have not. In this collection, I only really liked one of the stories and found the other ones to be bland. I absolutely loved one that turned classic reality tv shows (cooking shows, dating shows, etc) into horror stories. I was most frustrated by the second story because it required so much Spanish translation that I could not actually enjoy the story. I appreciate the diversity of it, but it made it impossible to get immersed as an English speaker.
March 22, 2021
Loved the trippy creepy western and the reality tv stories, the other two were just ok, I was a bit dissapointed by what was revealed in the last issue.
October 7, 2019
I hate reality tv and they get it. Its still disturbingly good. There is nothing else like it.
November 30, 2023
Wacky! Unpredictable! Off the rails! This installment was all over the place. A fun bump ride and it seems like we're just getting started!
December 28, 2024
Another four stories, some background about Ice Cream Man, still to little to be able to see bigger picture and some sense (if there is one). Feels more like random critics of various problems of human kind. Reality show story was great. Hope next volume will finally bring some answers
2024:
After second read I liked it more, Ice cream man is nice exercise, mixing genres, playing with comics medium. Short stories serving as mirror to the society and its problems.
Is Ice cream man real, is he just an idea or metaphor? Sometimes is hard to tell. This is one of the series you want to read as a whole to get the whole concept and idea behind it. Reading it book by book or issue by issue doesn't work that much.
Art is simple, but colorful and crazy as ice cream. Authors are not playing with story telling but also with visual side of the book
2024:
After second read I liked it more, Ice cream man is nice exercise, mixing genres, playing with comics medium. Short stories serving as mirror to the society and its problems.
Is Ice cream man real, is he just an idea or metaphor? Sometimes is hard to tell. This is one of the series you want to read as a whole to get the whole concept and idea behind it. Reading it book by book or issue by issue doesn't work that much.
Art is simple, but colorful and crazy as ice cream. Authors are not playing with story telling but also with visual side of the book
April 1, 2022
Ah man, I wish I loved this more!
After the greatness that was the first two volumes, I am sorely disappointed that I didn't really enjoy this one.
We get some insight the Ice Cream man and his story, and then we get 3 creepy tales after. As always, I loved the artwork and the bright happy colors mixed with gore and death.
There was also a Mexican story that was written almost completely in Spanish that I quite enjoyed. Another story I found interesting was the television one with all the games.
Unfortunately none of the stories had that WOW factor for me and I was craving a little more gore. I also was extremely confused as to what the stories were trying to convey.
Will still be continuing on with the series.
After the greatness that was the first two volumes, I am sorely disappointed that I didn't really enjoy this one.
We get some insight the Ice Cream man and his story, and then we get 3 creepy tales after. As always, I loved the artwork and the bright happy colors mixed with gore and death.
There was also a Mexican story that was written almost completely in Spanish that I quite enjoyed. Another story I found interesting was the television one with all the games.
Unfortunately none of the stories had that WOW factor for me and I was craving a little more gore. I also was extremely confused as to what the stories were trying to convey.
Will still be continuing on with the series.
October 16, 2021
The rating on this volume surprises me. Ice Cream Man is top notch short form comics storytelling imo. These are more than a collection of eerie, unsettling one offs. Prince is building a connected multiverse that allows him to play around as a writer with themes, emotions and genres. He subverts our expectations by injecting a shot of existential horror into the western, social drama, the sitcom and scifi with Rick as the evil, degenerate MC that connects everything. Also: the art and coloring are A+++
October 27, 2022
(Zero spoiler review for the Sundae edition, collecting this volume) 2.5/5
I'm fairly sure Mr. W. Maxwell Prince wasn't hugged enough as a child. I'm also sure this wasn't exactly what I was expecting when I cracked open this rather lovely and well put together OHC. If there is one long suffering genre within the entertainment lexicon, it would have to be horror. Yes, entertainment in general is suffering circa 2022 (and for a few more years yet unfortunately). I'm not sure if there has been an original idea since 1998. Most movies are the most tiresome and tropesome of snoozefests. Either a bland and boring gorefest, with nothing approaching plot, characters or genuine suspense, or a discount retelling of something that had already been done to death anyway. I'm guessing you were expecting me to say Ice Cream Man is a breath of fresh air, pouring fresh blood into a genre on life support these last couple of decades, but I'm not going to. At least not for the most part anyway.
This certainly isn't your straight up horror, which was pretty much what I expected it to be. There's nothing even remotely atypical about this whatsoever, though the originality and ingenuity doesn't instantly equal good. More unsettling than scary, and more depressing than depraved. This is like Trainspotting, but horror, and weird. Sometimes it works, sometimes its doesn't.
There are some genuinely decent ideas here, though some average execution often lets them down at times. The art too, is hit and miss, with its very indie leanings working at times, and looking a bit amateurish at others. One thing you can credit this book for is its originality. I don't think I've ever seen such an original collection of 'horror' stories ever assembled together in one place. But again, originality doesn't always equal good. If some of these more middling issues had been better executed, even with more traditional stories and settings, I would have finished this book enjoying it more than I ultimately did.
It's certainly worth a look, although going in knowing its well different from your traditional horror fare will help you to appreciate and absorb this for what it is. Though its unpleasantness at the cost of more compelling characters and storytelling will probably prevent me ever rereading. 2.5/5
OmniBen.
I'm fairly sure Mr. W. Maxwell Prince wasn't hugged enough as a child. I'm also sure this wasn't exactly what I was expecting when I cracked open this rather lovely and well put together OHC. If there is one long suffering genre within the entertainment lexicon, it would have to be horror. Yes, entertainment in general is suffering circa 2022 (and for a few more years yet unfortunately). I'm not sure if there has been an original idea since 1998. Most movies are the most tiresome and tropesome of snoozefests. Either a bland and boring gorefest, with nothing approaching plot, characters or genuine suspense, or a discount retelling of something that had already been done to death anyway. I'm guessing you were expecting me to say Ice Cream Man is a breath of fresh air, pouring fresh blood into a genre on life support these last couple of decades, but I'm not going to. At least not for the most part anyway.
This certainly isn't your straight up horror, which was pretty much what I expected it to be. There's nothing even remotely atypical about this whatsoever, though the originality and ingenuity doesn't instantly equal good. More unsettling than scary, and more depressing than depraved. This is like Trainspotting, but horror, and weird. Sometimes it works, sometimes its doesn't.
There are some genuinely decent ideas here, though some average execution often lets them down at times. The art too, is hit and miss, with its very indie leanings working at times, and looking a bit amateurish at others. One thing you can credit this book for is its originality. I don't think I've ever seen such an original collection of 'horror' stories ever assembled together in one place. But again, originality doesn't always equal good. If some of these more middling issues had been better executed, even with more traditional stories and settings, I would have finished this book enjoying it more than I ultimately did.
It's certainly worth a look, although going in knowing its well different from your traditional horror fare will help you to appreciate and absorb this for what it is. Though its unpleasantness at the cost of more compelling characters and storytelling will probably prevent me ever rereading. 2.5/5
OmniBen.
December 3, 2023
This anthology of horror and despair continues to read great. You honestly never know what you are going to get in this awesome genre mash up. You want a Stephen King Gunslinger setting, or a border jumping love story written in Spanish. A generational ship in space You just never know. The writing is always snappy and even if not the most accomplished I still love the art style and colour pallette of this series. side note the kaleidoscope insert patterns that are themed for each issue are really fascinating to me and I often spend a minute or two enjoying the design.
August 30, 2024
This edition did not impress me as much as the others did.
September 14, 2019
2.5 stars
The art is still cool for the most part. The stories, however? A big swing and a miss for me.
The art is still cool for the most part. The stories, however? A big swing and a miss for me.
July 2, 2022
The Ice Cream Man returns for a third helping, and it's just as toxic and inedible as the last. That doesn't mean it's a bad read, though.
The first issue here is the first straight up glimpse into the history of the Ice Cream Man and the Cowboy, with this little story set in a previous universe/dimension/something like that. Aside from an entry on DoesTheDogDie.com and a giant spider though, it's not a whole lot on the horror side. It's nice to get some perspective on just how long these two characters have been going at it though.
The next issue annoyed me from the get-go. It's set in Mexico, and about half of it is written in Spanish. There's a translation key/script at the back of the issue, but having to flick back and forth between pages to understand what was a fairly rudimentary story was very, very annoying. Hardly worth the effort. I love reading stories about other cultures, but if I wanted to read an entire issue in Spanish, I'd have bought a Spanish comic, surely.
Issue 11 is a return to form however, a clever commentary on the power of television and the low attention spans that we have these days, as well as parodying plenty of popular TV shows to the point of being uncomfortably close to reality.
And finally we head into space for a fairly wrote Dead Space-type horror story that doesn't really do anything other than suggest that humanity is too far gone to save, which (while probably accurate) is a bit too depressing even for me.
Two excellent issues and two that were either irritating or not as impressive brings this one to a fairly middling two and a half stars. You can't win 'em all I guess.
The first issue here is the first straight up glimpse into the history of the Ice Cream Man and the Cowboy, with this little story set in a previous universe/dimension/something like that. Aside from an entry on DoesTheDogDie.com and a giant spider though, it's not a whole lot on the horror side. It's nice to get some perspective on just how long these two characters have been going at it though.
The next issue annoyed me from the get-go. It's set in Mexico, and about half of it is written in Spanish. There's a translation key/script at the back of the issue, but having to flick back and forth between pages to understand what was a fairly rudimentary story was very, very annoying. Hardly worth the effort. I love reading stories about other cultures, but if I wanted to read an entire issue in Spanish, I'd have bought a Spanish comic, surely.
Issue 11 is a return to form however, a clever commentary on the power of television and the low attention spans that we have these days, as well as parodying plenty of popular TV shows to the point of being uncomfortably close to reality.
And finally we head into space for a fairly wrote Dead Space-type horror story that doesn't really do anything other than suggest that humanity is too far gone to save, which (while probably accurate) is a bit too depressing even for me.
Two excellent issues and two that were either irritating or not as impressive brings this one to a fairly middling two and a half stars. You can't win 'em all I guess.
April 19, 2019
Continues on in it's own weird way, with a few more connections between stories and characters. We get an issue that shows some of the history of "god-men" Caleb and Riccardus and the Old Man, their uncle, who is looking after the two of them. The two show up in various forms in the other stories in this volume, including the final one, a futuristic space-ark (or A.R.C.) story. The artwork continues to be topnotch throughout, with a distinctly European, "Heavy Metal" flavor to it. I just wish this would all resolve a bit and make more sense. It seems like Prince sets out each issue to come up with the weirdest idea he can and they don't always make a whole lot of sense.
December 2, 2020
We get treated to another dose of lovely art work, all rich colours and clever drawing, but there is one major problem in here and that concerns Border Story, and the terrible decision to write it half in Spanish, with the author’s recommendation of using an online translation service or consult the end section, where you have to keep flicking back and forth to get the dialogue etc. Needless to say this moronic gimmick made for awful reading and I have no idea why the creator would think this a smart move?...
“You sit and laugh and call us names, but guess what: You’re still watching. Nineteen seasons and you still can’t look away.”
But then with the very next story we get an almost stroke of genius in TV Story, which was really well done and a marvellous dig at reality TV and smart phones.
“The flesh fades, but their little gizmos whir on, beeping endlessly into the void…”
March 1, 2021
I guess with this anthology series there will be ups and downs. I like the first issue and the last one but the others were a bit weird and meh. Im hoping theres a pay off down the track for this series
January 24, 2021
(4.1/5)
January 31, 2022
Přesně půl na půl, u půlky příběhů jsem cítil, že čtu opět něco skvělého, u druhé poloviny jsem cítil celkem průměr. Pořád to funguje jako skvělá kritika naší společnosti, vizuálně je to naprostá bomba a co si Prince místama dovoluje mi hlava nebere. Doufám, že příští čísla/volumka budou zase o něco silnější.
March 2, 2020
Volume 3 of this disturbing story finally gets a bit more into the backstories of the two opposing forces, and then continues right along with the insanity that makes this comic so good.
Highlights:
- "Western Story" highlights the story of Rick (our creepy Ice Cream Man) and his cousin Caleb (the cowboy we usually see opposing him. They both go to see "Old Man", who tells them they need to move on to a new area, as they are causing too much chaos in the same place. Rick's response? Kill "Old Man" , and do whatever he wants.
- "Border Story" is very odd, in that the majority of the issue is written in Spanish. The translation (for those of us that don't speak it) is at the back of the book, which makes for an odd experience of reading. The story deals with some star-crossed lovers who find out the hard way that you don't stop "The General" (ICM in disguise) from getting what he wants.
- "TV Story" is crazy (and stomach turning at times)! Telling the story of a man who seems to be trapped switching back of forth as he lives through demented reality TV Shows. Examples: Mannequin House, Family Autopsy, Chop'd, America's Got Intestines, Wealthy Family of Zombies, and Missing Parsons (Warning again.... this one is gross.)
- "Space Story" has the battle between Rick and Caleb taking place on a moon that is covered in many dangerous stellar spider beings. When an astronaut lands there, will their battle lead to more death and destruction?
This series is exactly what I've been looking for as far as horror fiction goes recently. I have a feeling that horror novels are very soon going to be read.
Strong recommend on the whole series.
Highlights:
- "Western Story" highlights the story of Rick (our creepy Ice Cream Man) and his cousin Caleb (the cowboy we usually see opposing him. They both go to see "Old Man", who tells them they need to move on to a new area, as they are causing too much chaos in the same place. Rick's response? Kill "Old Man" , and do whatever he wants.
- "Border Story" is very odd, in that the majority of the issue is written in Spanish. The translation (for those of us that don't speak it) is at the back of the book, which makes for an odd experience of reading. The story deals with some star-crossed lovers who find out the hard way that you don't stop "The General" (ICM in disguise) from getting what he wants.
- "TV Story" is crazy (and stomach turning at times)! Telling the story of a man who seems to be trapped switching back of forth as he lives through demented reality TV Shows. Examples: Mannequin House, Family Autopsy, Chop'd, America's Got Intestines, Wealthy Family of Zombies, and Missing Parsons (Warning again.... this one is gross.)
- "Space Story" has the battle between Rick and Caleb taking place on a moon that is covered in many dangerous stellar spider beings. When an astronaut lands there, will their battle lead to more death and destruction?
This series is exactly what I've been looking for as far as horror fiction goes recently. I have a feeling that horror novels are very soon going to be read.
Strong recommend on the whole series.
July 15, 2019
15/7/19
It amazes me how this comic manages to keep the same tone in every issue, yet at the same time give such a unique and refreshing spin to it! I am thoroughly astounded and I love how the relation between Riccardo and Caleb was more pronounced here - I like how these characters serve as the connective tissue between the issues and I can't wait to see how their story will progress in the future :)
11/7/19
I bought this the other day online, since I'm a fan of this comic series!! :D
You can find me on
Youtube | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Website
It amazes me how this comic manages to keep the same tone in every issue, yet at the same time give such a unique and refreshing spin to it! I am thoroughly astounded and I love how the relation between Riccardo and Caleb was more pronounced here - I like how these characters serve as the connective tissue between the issues and I can't wait to see how their story will progress in the future :)
11/7/19
I bought this the other day online, since I'm a fan of this comic series!! :D
You can find me on
Youtube | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Website
June 20, 2020
4.5/5
All in all this has been my favourite in the series so far, i love getting some good background. The art depicting the villain and the Gods were phenomenal, i adore the art in these books.
Western Story:
Loved it, loved the art, loved the background. I can’t wait to see more of Caleb.
Content warning for animal abuse/death
Border Story:
i ADORED how this story was written partially in spanish to keep it realistic to the setting.
TV Story:
I ADORED this “chapter”. the transitions were super cool and it was creepy while staying fun. i feel like this issue perfectly encapsulates what people like about this series honestly.
Space Story:
In my opinion this was the weakest issue, but that could just be because i’m not a big space lover. I still really enjoyed it, however, especially the b0b parts, he’s neat.
All in all this has been my favourite in the series so far, i love getting some good background. The art depicting the villain and the Gods were phenomenal, i adore the art in these books.
Western Story:
Loved it, loved the art, loved the background. I can’t wait to see more of Caleb.
Content warning for animal abuse/death
Border Story:
i ADORED how this story was written partially in spanish to keep it realistic to the setting.
TV Story:
I ADORED this “chapter”. the transitions were super cool and it was creepy while staying fun. i feel like this issue perfectly encapsulates what people like about this series honestly.
Space Story:
In my opinion this was the weakest issue, but that could just be because i’m not a big space lover. I still really enjoyed it, however, especially the b0b parts, he’s neat.
May 23, 2019
What I was really loving about this series is that it seemed to have no real purpose, no real sense of any grander idea than just freaky storylines presented in a cool way.
This volume feels like it's trying too hard to maintain the theme of the demonic Ice Cream Man dude with his brother or something chasing after him. It's clearly still maintaining the whackiness, but it's just not nearly as compelling as the first volume or even the second one, which was a bit weaker. There was even an issue that was pretty much mostly in Spanish, which was cool, but it didn't really do it for me.
Hoping for better in the next one.
This volume feels like it's trying too hard to maintain the theme of the demonic Ice Cream Man dude with his brother or something chasing after him. It's clearly still maintaining the whackiness, but it's just not nearly as compelling as the first volume or even the second one, which was a bit weaker. There was even an issue that was pretty much mostly in Spanish, which was cool, but it didn't really do it for me.
Hoping for better in the next one.
May 12, 2021
It's been a while since I've read an issue of the Ice Cream Man. And well the comic issues contained in this volume were pretty solid.
Issue 9 is my personal favorite within this series so far, I adored the space western issues with the cool Man in Black, which is the cousin of the ice cream man, and well their origin. I like the alien looks of them and well their relationship of always meeting each other in the next universe, wherever that may be. And what happens to the Man In Black's wolf is a well very sad scene within this issue.
Issue 10 Great issue of the aftermath of the previous issue, set in Mexico in the 1900s and well is very much another western story.
Issue 11 It was good, nothing much to say about this issue.
Issue 12 Also another awesome issue, one of my favorites. Centers a man named Noah Smith who is alone on his ship called the Archival Recivilization Capsule (ARC). And his job is to find a planet to repopulate humankind. However, waiting on the planet is the Ice Cream Man. This issue was a lot of fun and very science fiction. The design of the ship was very pleasing.
Issue 9 is my personal favorite within this series so far, I adored the space western issues with the cool Man in Black, which is the cousin of the ice cream man, and well their origin. I like the alien looks of them and well their relationship of always meeting each other in the next universe, wherever that may be. And what happens to the Man In Black's wolf is a well very sad scene within this issue.
Issue 10 Great issue of the aftermath of the previous issue, set in Mexico in the 1900s and well is very much another western story.
Issue 11 It was good, nothing much to say about this issue.
Issue 12 Also another awesome issue, one of my favorites. Centers a man named Noah Smith who is alone on his ship called the Archival Recivilization Capsule (ARC). And his job is to find a planet to repopulate humankind. However, waiting on the planet is the Ice Cream Man. This issue was a lot of fun and very science fiction. The design of the ship was very pleasing.
January 9, 2023
The author just wanted to pack his series with as many stories as possible and the experiment doesn't work because it's too damn much, too damn unorganized.
For the most part, the issues are not really the problem. They're fine as quick reads, however they don't accomplish much. What's the point of teasing a bunch of lore every once in a while, if you switch genres and story dynamics in every chapter? What are you reading about, when you read an Ice Cream Man issue?
First figure out what kind of story you want to tell. Then you can tell me all about space travel and the meaninglessness of life. Sometimes the delivery can also get a little bit pretentious, which doesn't exactly help the case of the author (Spanish? Really?). At such moments I just run out of excuses for him, which is a pity, because I'm sure he has good stories in him, he just needs to leave this amateurish writing behind.
For the most part, the issues are not really the problem. They're fine as quick reads, however they don't accomplish much. What's the point of teasing a bunch of lore every once in a while, if you switch genres and story dynamics in every chapter? What are you reading about, when you read an Ice Cream Man issue?
First figure out what kind of story you want to tell. Then you can tell me all about space travel and the meaninglessness of life. Sometimes the delivery can also get a little bit pretentious, which doesn't exactly help the case of the author (Spanish? Really?). At such moments I just run out of excuses for him, which is a pity, because I'm sure he has good stories in him, he just needs to leave this amateurish writing behind.
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