When it comes to outstanding horror stories, Joe Hill is no rookie. Basketful of Heads is another thrilling and chilling story by an outstanding creative team including acclaimed writer Hill as well as illustrator Leomacs and colorist Dave Stewart.
June Branch visits her boyfriend, Liam, on Brody Island for a relaxing last weekend of summer. After an escaped group of criminals breaks into the house that June and Liam are watching, Liam is taken by them. June grabs a strange Viking axe and flees from the intruders. When one of the attackers finds her, she swings the axe and takes off his head, which rolls away and begins to babble in terror. For June to uncover the truth, she’ll need to hear the facts straight from the mouths of her attackers, with…or without their bodies attached.
Joe Hill crafts a spine-tingling and eerie story in Basketful of Heads that is truly one-of-a-kind. We are taken on a suspenseful journey full of tension, terror, and plenty of twists and turns starting with the very first page. Hill continues to prove how outstanding his storytelling abilities are and it shines through on every page of this comic. Basketful of Heads is both captivating and disturbing in just the right ways.
Hill is not the only all-star attached to this extremely amazing story. The artwork from artist Leomacs and colorist Dave Stewart is nothing short of spectacular. The illustrations work perfectly with Hill script with an atmospheric and dark tone. Stewarts colors add depth and feel to each panel, enhancing the over all experience of the comic. When you get a combination of amazing artwork and wonderful plot it makes a comic well worth the journey.
I would be remised if I didn’t mention the perfect amount of graphic violence, blood, and gores that we are treated to in Basketful of Heads. What we see on the pages of this comic will leave even the most seasoned horror fans feeling a bit queasy and uneasy. As it should be in a book called Basketful of Heads, the creative team does not shy away from some brutal beheading scenes that just add to the dread and danger that lies within. This is a visceral reading experience that should be read with the lights on.
Basketful of Heads is not just a gory horror comic however. We get plenty of unexpected twists and turns that throw curveballs into what we thought was going to happen. The element of surprise is not as easy in a horror comic, but Hill does a wonderful job keeping us surprised and on edge all the way to the very last page. I will say it again, his storytelling ability is unmatched.
When originally seeing this comic on solicitation I wondered why this wasn’t a full-blown novel, but after reading it the comic format allows this story to truly shine. The visual medium allows for details, scenes and graphic violence to be brought to life as the creative team intended it. The comic book format lends itself well to the story allowing for a fully immersive reading experience.
Basketful of Heads is one for the ages. It brings a unique story, stellar artwork, plenty of graphic violence, and those unexpected twists that any horror comic reader would enjoy. Joe Hill, Leomacs and Dave Stewart knocked this series out-of-the-park and should be read by anyone looking for something unique in the horror genre.
Basketful of Heads is available at bookstores everywhere as well as you local comic shops from Hill House / DC Comics.
Basketful of Heads Preview
