Red Room: Trigger Warnings

Red Room #5–8

by Ed Piskor

In this second Red Room collection, fan-favorite the Decimator presents... The Rat Queens! And unfortunately for them, they're front and center in the Decimator's most horrific red room broadcast yet! Also, hoodie horror comes to Red Room by way of the two sociopathic, aspiring red roomers who quickly make a name on the scene with their amateur snuff films. Fueled by a mutual passion and talent for murder, the young sweethearts aim to be the most notorious and wanted killers on the dark web... Plus, much more, including the mysterious island of Pitcairn, home to a native civilization that has been sacrificing their people to the gods for generations in hopes for a good crop season — until bitcoin pirates discover the uncharted island and hatch their own plans. The book also includes Piskor's exclusive "Director's Commentary" for virtually every page, tons of process art, sketchbook material, and other surprises exclusive to this collection. Red Room's first "season," The Antisocial Network, was the breakout smash-hit comic book series of 2021, with over a quarter-million copies sold of the series to date. Who are the red room killers? Who are the victims? Who's watching? Who can stop it? Trigger Warnings escalates the stakes, with Piskor pushing his masterpiece of modern horror in new directions and delivering the cyberpunk, outlaw, splatterpunk goods as no one else can.

Genres: Comics, Horror, Graphic Novels, Crime

169 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 20, 2022

About the author

Ed Piskor had been cartooning professionally in print form since 2005, starting off drawing American Splendor comics written by Harvey Pekar. The duo continued working together on 2 graphic novels, Macedonia, and The Beats. Ed began self publishing Wizzywig after developing a huge interest in the history of Hacking and Phone Phreaking. 3 volumes, making up 3/4 of the full story, have been published to date.

Recently Ed had designed the characters for the new Adult Swim series, Mongo Wrestling Alliance.

Reviews

[KillerBunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars, a better story than the first, but less brutal.

[Kazimir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every single written word of dialogue in any book in this series is fucking stupid. The title of this one is less stupid than "Crypto Killaz" but is still comically edgy. Everything about the writing of this series is almost insufferably edgy, so fucked up to the point of being laughable in its immature self-indulgent snuff. Nearly every cliché that pisses me off in other forms of horror fiction was present. That being said, I do not regret buying this in the slightest and I've enjoyed reading it several times now.
Ed Piksor knows he wasn't creating a literary masterpiece, he admits in the introduction to Red Room: The Antisocial Network that his work isn't meant to inspire critical thought as much as it is meant to incite disgust. He is very good at drawing gore. He's also very, very good at drawing very inventive gore. I happen to be someone who adores senselessly violent and edgy art, every sketchbook I've owned since I was thirteen standing as witness. Not only is the artistic direction of Piskor's horror work very impressive, but it better exemplifies everything I hope for from the splatterpunk genre than any novel or novella I've read yet. This series has been a spectacular inspiration when I feel inclined to draw something meaninglessly gory, and when I don't feel like making art, just an all-around fun read. Turn your brain off, ignore the dumbass crypto-talk, and let yourself enjoy just how creative and original Piskor's art can be in its grossness.

[Enron84 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second volume really reads like Piskor has his feet under him in the series. The character work, storytelling, and world building is much more front and center. The splatterpunk shock and awe takes a backseat, which I appreciate as a reader.

The art which seems to emulate the styles of Gilbert Hernandez and Evan Dorkin, is some of the best work Piskor has turned out yet. His duotone cartooning perfectly expresses the dark humor and satirical tone that lies at the book's core.

As always, Fantagraphics' production value of these collections remains at the top, setting it apart from most other books on the racks. I especially enjoyed the matte finish on the cover, as opposed to The Anti-social Network's glossy finish. I'm excited to see this story continue in the next season!

[Hamid · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art here is fantastic, with Piskor really going all out for background detail in every frame. Phenomenal effort. The plots are thin as hell and the shock at anything is undermined by the Hostel-sequels-style gore for gore's sake. Piskor embraces the truly ridiculous at times, which can be fun if you embrace it - one thread here is the idea that Satoshi (of Bitcoin fame) was a spotty nerd who runs off to an island because of his red room viewing habits and creates a red room death cult. The social commentary is mostly absent this time round.

[Erik · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably Piskor's best art but the stories, while ocassionally clever, leave a lot to be desired. We've been so desensitized by movies and TV that none of this is really very shocking. With paper thin plots, gore alone isn't enough to keep me reading.

[Erick Mertz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know, something about this volume rubbed me the wrong way. I think the story concepts aren't as strong as earlier volumes, the layout in a couple are weird and the art isn't strong enough to carry the stories along. Only one of the five stories really worked, and even that was a stretch.

[Sam Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this volume much more than the first. The gore is still there, though it’s more of a sidekick and less of a starring role this time around (fine with me). I liked most of the storylines here and really look forward to the next installment.

[Carina Stopenski · Rating 3 out of 5]

less engaging than the first compiled volume but still bloody good fun. i’m much more invested in the decimator’s story than the other vignettes, so hopefully the next volume shows a bit more of that aftermath.

[Jiro Dreams of Suchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s fun like when you’re playing grand theft auto and just go on a killing spree. The deeper conspiracy stuff is all underwritten but the gore is top tier

[Bob Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely violent. The artwork is excellent and it’s great to have the supplementary notes that explain the thought process behind it. Looking forward to see where the stories go from here.

[Victor · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars. Piskor stretches out a touch more here than in the first volume and it suffers a bit for it. More density obviously fits his storytelling style better.

[Bo Malpas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disgusting, I liked it, someone asked me what I was reading in work, they asked me to stop describing it.

[EgoOrb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gross.

[Julesreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best, but also…RIP

[Sebastien · Rating 4 out of 5]

I preferred this one , because the stories are going deeper. The subject is explored above the gory panel.i enjoy the commentary of most pages at the end.opening the process of creation .

[Albert Pham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Issue 3 was tender and sweet in a red room way

[Emil Vartušek · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Archos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that makes you wonder about the creators of some books in the world and what they do behind closed doors.

[Roo · Rating 5 out of 5]

First story is the weakest, but they're getting more experimental and confident. Fun twists and world building; every one is sick. Read along with ambient Saw music for maximum effect.

[Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every read something that makes you need to take a really hot shower after reading? Yeah that is what Red Rooms did for me. Really messed up stories with Robert Crumb inspired art that will surely make you wince. If you are a fan of Extreme Horror and Splatterpunk, this is a comic book for you.

[Kang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it as much as the first volume. Things are starting to heat up for the main story. The side stories in the volume were better than I expected.

[Jennifer Matchett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the first and last issue the most, but as a whole it was lots of fun!

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book was so much better!! This one had way less brutality. I could of skipped this one all together.

Happy Reading and Splatter On.....