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# Split Lip Horror Comic

Strange Thoughts Beget Strange Deeds

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## Posts

- [52/52: Dream of the Bat, by Josh Simmons and Patrick Keck](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/10/52-52-dream-of-the-bat-by-josh-simmons-and-patrick-keck/) - Josh Simmons’ samizdat “Shadow of the Bat”—included here as “Mark of the Bat,” along with three other extremely unauthorized Batman stories—is one of the great minicomics of this century. This gross-out version of a truly psychotic and pathetic Batman is compelling, though later stories don’t land as hard as “Shadow”. Book: 34 out of 52
- [52/52: The Liminal Zone, by Junji Ito](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/09/52-52-the-liminal-zone-by-junji-ito/) - Ito’s recent story collections lack the verve of his earlier work, I think I know why. His greatest works—Uzumaki and Tomie, of course, and Gyo to a lesser extent—tell a large, connected story, in which his obsessions reinforce the ultimate effect of the series. These one-off stories are too repetitive. Book: 33 out of 52
- [52/52: Green Tea, by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/09/52-52-green-tea-by-joseph-sheridan-le-fanu/) - An all-time classic ghost story by reputation and impact on later authors, but to me, a bit anodyne in its impact. Not terrible—especially with its early archetype of the occult detective—but just not enough to enrapture me how I expected. Very handsome volume, though, with terrific art by Alisdair Wood. Book: 32 out of 52
- [52/52: Arson Plus, by Dashiell Hammett](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/09/52-52-arson-plus-by-dashiell-hammett/) - This was Hammett’s first published short story featuring his long-running detective, the Contintental Op. It’s not an amazing story—a bit simple, and with a solution that’s frankly a stretch—but this is another truly lovely, handmade edition from Thornwillow Press. It’s the binding and printing that are the stars here anyway. Book: 31 out of 52
- [52/52: With, by Donald Harington](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/09/52-52-with-by-donald-harington/) - I should apologize to @girouzziinsta—she’s asked me to read this for years and I delayed. What a mistake. Harington is maybe the best unknown American novelist of the late 20th and early 21st century. This is another of his charming, funny, sexy, weird, formally experimental novels. Anything by him is recommended. Book: 30 out of
- [52/52: Blood on the Tracks, vol. 9, by Shuzo Oshimi](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/09/52-52-blood-on-the-tracks-vol-9-by-shuzo-oshimi/) - It’s hard to believe there are 4 more books in this series (I’m not complaining; it’s still stellar). A few rays of hope appear for Seiichi here, breaking through the oppressive atmosphere created by his mentally ill, homicidal mother. It seems obvious, though, that things will get worse before they get better. Book: 29 out
- [52/52: The Yellow Wallpaper, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/08/52-52-the-yellow-wallpaper-by-charlotte-perkins-gilman/) - I haven’t read this classic of feminist psychological horror since college. It’s better than I remember, the narrator’s break from reality in its ending more effective. This edition is a really lovely, hand-bound and letterpress-printed volume from Thornwillow Press. The care and craft evident in the edition make it a special treat. Book: 28 out
- [52/52: White Tears, by Hari Kunzru](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/08/52-52-white-tears-by-hari-kunzru/) - A ghost story about record collecting, cultural appropriation, mental illness, trustafarians, and more. A great concept, with some compelling literary effects—especially the collapse of multiple stories, told across different time periods, into a single narrative—but that frayed a bit at the end and felt like it slightly overstayed its welcome. Book: 27 out of 52
- [Scrying Stones and Dolmen and Others, by Lee Brown Coye](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/08/scrying-stones-and-dolmen-and-others-by-lee-brown-coye/) - An appealing collection of short, creepy folk tales and story sketches from mid-20th century upstate New York, some of which ran in a local newspaper there. Of greatest note here is the title story, which formed the basis of Karl Edward Wagner’s short story “Sticks,” which later influenced The Blair Witch Project. Book: 26 out
- [52/52: What Moves the Dead, by T Kingfisher](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/08/52-52-what-moves-the-dead-by-t-kingfisher/) - This is twice I’ve been tricked by a Nightfire book (“Nothing But Blackened Teeth” was the first). I just don’t like the books they publish. There’s fertile material in repurposing “The Fall of the House of Usher” (see Julia Gfrorer and Sean Collins’ erotic comic, for example), but this was deeply superfluous. Book: 25 out
- [52/52: A Collapse of Horses, by Brian Evenson](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/07/52-52-a-collapse-of-horses-by-brian-evenson/) - Evenson’s work is apocalyptic. Not in the large-scale, epic way, but in a way where worlds, individual or global, are about to end or have already ended. The resulting fallout is brutalist. On the other hand, I once stood in line with him at the Chipotle on Thayer St. in Providence, RI. Book: 24 out
- [52/52: Orochi vol. 1, by Kazuo Umezz](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/07/52-52-orochi-vol-1-by-kazuo-umezz/) - Umezz’s work is less known in the US than one those he significantly influenced—Junji Ito—but that may start changing here (a few of his comics, notably Drifting Classroom, have already been released here). This series feels dated—it came out in the late 60s—but its historical value is immense. Book: 23 out of 52
- [52/52: Ocean State, by Stewart O'Nan](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/06/52-52-ocean-state-by-stewart-onan/) - Not a murder mystery novel, per se—you know there’s going to be a murder, and who did it, in the very first sentence—but a nuanced and expansive view of the people and context around a killing. O’Nan seeks so deep into his settings, the characters and world are always rich. Book: 22 out of 52
- [52/52: Sleepwalk, by Dan Chaon](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/06/52-52-sleepwalk-by-dan-chaon/) - Chaon is among my favorite writers—particularly his short stories—and this early apocalypse, close-to-our-world novel about family is compelling. But I’m not sure how many more works of art about our near-future—social and governmental collapse, creeping fascism, and environmental destruction—I can take. It’s getting too real and too depressing. Book: 21 out of 52
- [52/52: The Likeness, by Tana French](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/06/52-52-the-likeness-by-tana-french/) - This is a murder mystery, but with the trappings of a gothic draped over its bones. Shambolic old house, doppelgangers, deep local history, eccentric relatives, moody sad boys, an opening line homaging Rebecca? This has it all. Still, you could easily miss that and just focus on a gripping mystery. Great stuff. Book: 20 out
- [52/52: Pulp Empire, by Paul S. Hirsch](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/06/52-52-pulp-empire-by-paul-s-hirsch/) - I love this subject—the covert US government use of propaganda comics during WW2 and the Cold War, especially in the global south—but did not much like this book. At turns too academic and under-sourced inline in the text, it was more slog than revelation. Some interesting history, but not enough. Book: 19 out of 52
- [52/52: The Town of Pigs, by Hideshi Hino](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/05/52-52-the-town-of-pigs-by-hideshi-hino/) - While I’m not as big a fan of Hideshi Hino as I am, say, Junji Ito, it’s been 20 years since a new Hino book was released in English, so I had to check this out. I waver on his grotesque, oddly childlike work—here, the story felt slight, not really finished. Book: 18 out of
- [52/52: The Look of the Book, by Peter Mendelsund and David J. Alworth](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/05/52-52-the-look-of-the-book-by-peter-mendelsund-and-david-j-alworth/) - An engaging, playful book about the design, and philosophy, of book covers. Lots to consider and a terrific catalog of classic cover designs and design exploration process. Separately: solidarity forever with women and victims of white nationalist terrorism. Fuck you to every Republican and Fox News viewer who enables these daily horrors. Book: 17 out
- [52/52: BPRD: The Devil You Know, by Mike Mignola, Laurence Campbell, etc.](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/05/52-52-bprd-the-devil-you-know-by-mike-mignola-laurence-campbell-etc/) - At the end of BPRD, and including Hellboy, Mignola’s body of work here is one of the staggering achievements in comics history, and—honestly—might be one of the great works of fiction of the last 50 years in any medium. Truly stunning (bar the involvement of serial sexual abuser Scott Allie). Book: 16 out of 52
- [52/52: The Cask of Amontillado, by Edgar Allan Poe](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/05/52-52-the-cask-of-amontillado-by-edgar-allan-poe/) - Another gorgeous, letterpress, handmade edition of Poe from Portland’s No Reply Press. This one comes encased in a clear plastic slipcase, designed to look like wine in a glass. When you come back to Poe as an adult? Man, what a writer. “For the love of God, Montresor”! Separately: Fuck every Republican. Book: 15 out
- [52/52: BPRD: Hell on Earth, vol. 5, by Mike Mignola, John Arcudi, et al.](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/04/52-52-bprd-hell-on-earth-vol-5-by-mike-mignola-john-arcudi-et-al/) - The conclusion of this arc of BPRD, and penultimate chapter overall, sees the heroes, improbably, prevail (thanks to ancient spirits, WW2-era magic armor, giant fallen angels; it’s not an easy victory). Strangely, I didn’t find the long, costly victory all that comforting. We’ll see if the final book holds anything truly soothing. Book: 14 out
- [52/52: Paradoxes from Hell by Thomas Ligotti](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/04/52-52-paradoxes-from-hell-by-thomas-ligotti/) - This turned out to be a collection of three long, almost-prose poems; I thought it was short stories. Ligotti is most famous for his stories, so I feel like it was a reasonable mistake. I’m not much for horror poetry, but the limited edition volume and its cloth binding were really lovely. Book: 13 out
- [52/52: How Fear Departed the Long Gallery, by E.F. Benson](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/04/52-52-how-fear-departed-the-long-gallery-by-e-f-benson/) - A perfectly enjoyable story that ends with a ghost assuaged by love. I find that sort of thing appealing (I’ve written stories that end that way), but these days I prefer The Ring’s approach: Once started on its vengeance, no amount of impotent human emotion can spoil the ghost’s mission of ruination. Book: 12 out
- [52/52: The Toll House, by W.W. Jacobs](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/04/52-52-the-toll-house-by-w-w-jacobs/) - Another installment in the delightful, one-story/one-book series of A Ghost Story for Christmas (despite being off-season), picked up at Kelly Link’s Book Moon in Easthampton, MA. Jacobs is most famous for “The Monkey’s Paw”; this OK, but thin haunted-house tale doesn’t have the same resonance or staying power as that more-famous story. Book: 11 out
- [52/52: BPRD: Hell on Earth, vol. 4, by Mike Mignola, John Arcudi, et al.](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/03/52-52-bprd-hell-on-earth-vol-4-by-mike-mignola-john-arcudi-et-al/) - Quiet moments of humanity separate from the overarching plot bring this series truly alive. Two unnamed BPRD members fly back from action, reflect on how all the terror and death is blending featurelessly together and shrug it off: “what can you do?” People can adjust to any tribulation and BPRD knows it. Book: 10 out
- [52/52: Open Season, by Archer Mayor](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/03/52-52-open-season-by-archer-mayor/) - When you live in a tiny town, and a long-running, respected police procedural series is based in the “big” town closest to you, you feel compelled to check it out. Welp. It was fine, and I enjoyed the glimpse into Brattleboro’s recent past, but I don’t imagine coming back for book two. Book: 9 out
- [52/52: Blood on the Tracks, vol. 8, by Shuzo Oshimi](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/02/52-52-blood-on-the-tracks-vol-8-by-shuzo-oshimi/) - I’ll keep raving about how great Oshimi’s art is and the narrative weight it carries. Two panels of streetlights deliver more visual meaning than the average superhero book and the sketchy degradation of style says everything about the main character’s connection to reality. Book: 8 out of 52
- [52/52: Deserter, by Junji Ito](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/02/52-52-deserter-by-junji-ito/) - I’ve gotten worn out by Ito’s recent work, but this collection of his early stories revitalized my interest in his raw, intense, truly bonkers short comics. Seeing a full shelf of his work at the store recently would have stupefied the 2002 me, when I first found Uzumaki. Book: 7 out of 52
- [52/52: Blood in the Garden, by Chris Herring](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/02/52-52-blood-in-the-garden-by-chris-herring/) - If you were a Jordan Bulls-hating basketball fan in the ‘90s like me, the Knicks teams chronicled here seemed like the only possible hope of preventing Jordan’s dynasty. It didn’t happen, as this terrific book lays out, but the indelible moments are all captured here. Book: 6 out of 52
- [Blood on the Tracks, vols. 5-7, by Shuzo Oshimi](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/02/blood-on-the-tracks-vols-5-7-by-shuzo-oshimi/) - I devoured these volumes over a day and a half, so they get a single entry. Oshimi continues to demonstrate a psychological insight lacking from almost all comics, a truly icky, problematic horniness, and dramatic, jaw-dropping draftsmanship. Don’t know that I would recommend this series to many people, but it’s really excellent. Books: 3-5 out
- [52/52: Devil House, by John Darnielle](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/01/52-52-devil-house-by-john-darnielle/) - A nuanced, twisting, multi-viewpoint novel that meditates on the ethics and impact of true-crime journalism. If true-crime has ever struck you as just a bit … suspect … you’ll find a fellow-traveler here. For me, the most compelling and touching section was the early ‘70s California idyll of a pre-crime-commission school teacher. Book: 2 out
- [52/52: In The Woods, by Tana French](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2022/01/52-52-in-the-woods-by-tana-french/) - One hell of an accomplished first novel, with all of the hallmarks of characterization, plot, and theme that French explored in numerous later novels, all right out of the gate. One of my favorite aspects of French’s work is her subtle nods towards folklore and folk horror, which are pleasingly present here. Book: 1 out
- [52/52: The Apple Tree, by Daphne Du Maurier](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/12/52-52-the-apple-tree-by-daphne-du-maurier/) - I didn’t quite reach my goal of reading 52 books in 52 weeks this year, but I’m happy enough to have neared my goal—for the first time in a few years (I regularly used to blow past 52 books; Oh well)—with this spooky tale of a very bad, oblivious husband. Book: 49 out of 52
- [52/52: The Small People, by Thomas Ligotti](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/12/52-52-the-small-people-by-thomas-ligotti/) - Ligotti’s introduction—written for this appealing, one-story chapbook with a screen-printed dust jacket—offers a good encapsulation of his approach versus other horror writers. His stories aren’t the dawning of a nightmare; in them, the nightmare has long been underway. It can be heavy going sometimes, but here in particular, it’s ensorcelling. Book: 49 out of 52
- [52/52: The Masque of the Red Death, by Edgar Allan Poe](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/12/52-52-the-masque-of-the-red-death-by-edgar-allan-poe/) - Everything about this edition of Poe’s classic chiller is handmade: the text hand-set and then letterpressed into the paper, the binding hand-sewn, and the full book manually produced. A marvel of craftsmanship from No Reply Press. This story—with its “illimitable dominion”—still has one of the strongest final lines I’ve read. Book: 47 out of 52
- [52/52: Mr. Jones, by Edith Wharton](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/12/52-52-mr-jones-by-edith-wharton/) - I’m usually more of a fan of Wharton—especially her short stories—than I’d expect to be, but not this time. Perhaps this ghost story landed more effectively 100 years ago, but reading it in 2021, the ending stinger was obvious from the outset, leaving the conclusion damp. Atmosphere was great, though. Book: 46 out of 52
- [52/52: Blood on the Tracks, Vol. 4, by Shuzo Oshimi](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/12/52-52-blood-on-the-tracks-vol-4-by-shuzo-oshimi/) - I continue to be amazed at the effectiveness of Oshimi’s art in this series. The detailed rendering in the close ups conveys a depth of effect and nuance of emotion that comics almost never allows or supports. The closest analog I can think of is the Karl Stevens’ lived-in slices of life. Book: 45 out
- [52/52: The Autumnal, by Daniel Krause, Chris Shehan, et al.](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/12/52-52-the-autumnal-by-daniel-krause-chris-shehan-et-al/) - A slice of New England folk horror in comics form. I’m not sure the story totally holds together—what actually happened to Kat’s mom? What is the logic for what happens to Sybil?—but it’s working on more levels than your average comic. Anyway, the real attraction here is Chris Shehan’s art. Book: 44 out of 52
- [52/52: John Prine's John Prine, by Erin Osmon](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/12/52-52-john-prines-john-prine-by-erin-osmon/) - While nominally a monograph about John Prine’s classic first album, this is really a short biography of Prine, the 50s/60s Chicago folk scene, and 20th century working-class Chicago. A worthy entry into a great series that those, like me, who like Prine’s work, but know little about the man, will find worthwhile. Book: 43 out
- [52/52: Cover Story, by Alex Wong](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/12/52-52-cover-story-by-alex-wong/) - A good concept—a book tracing the story behind, and cultural importance of, the most iconic magazine covers in basketball history—but poor execution. Maybe the backstories aren’t interesting enough? Certainly the context or analysis is too surface level, and the interviews with magazine editors, art directors, and photographers are mostly bland. Book: 42 out of 52
- [52/52: BPRD: Hell on Earth, vol. 3, by Mike Mignola et al](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/12/52-52-bprd-hell-on-earth-vol-3-by-mike-mignola-et-al/) - There’s an undeniable thrill in seeing Liz Sherman, seemingly more powerful than ever, rejoining the fight and going toe-to-toe with the evolved and ever-more-dangerous Black Flame. I can’t help feeling, though, that that hope is going to prove to be misplaced. This series is too bleak and doom-laden for anything other outcome. Book: 41 out
- [52/52: The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance, by M.R. James](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/11/52-52-the-story-of-a-disappearance-and-an-appearance-by-m-r-james/) - I love M.R. James’ ghost stories for how far ahead of their time they were, for their creepiness, for their foundational importance to modern horror. But James’ stories can sometimes also be unclear in their denouements, thus muting their impact. That’s the case here, but even muted James is a worthy read. Book: 40 out
- [52/52: Blood on the Tracks, vol. 3, by Shuzo Oshimi](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/11/52-52-blood-on-the-tracks-vol-3-by-shuzo-oshimi/) - As Seiichi becomes increasingly disturbed by the goings on in his house, family, and mind, this comic becomes ever-more effective. Manga’s decompressed storytelling perfectly matches the glitches in Seiichi’s mind—his newfound stutter, the moment where he briefly forgets how to walk. That couldn’t be done as effectively in denser Western comics. Book: 39 out of
- [52/52: The Doll's Ghost, by F. Marion Crawford](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/11/52-52-the-dolls-ghost-by-f-marion-crawford/) - Another Christmas ghost story (What a great historical tradition. Is it coming back? It seems like maybe it is) from this Seth-designed series of tiny, single-story volumes. This short, spooky but ultimately sweet, story is more atmospheric and effective than The Morgan Trust, and reads as closer to modern in its style. Book: 38 out
- [52/52: The Morgan Trust, by R. Bridgeman](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/11/52-52-the-morgan-trust-by-r-bridgeman/) - Can this tiny volume, containing just one short story, count as a book for my 52 books/52 weeks project? It’s got a spine and is shelved with books, so I say yes. This hundred-year-old story is a slightly spooky tale of real estate (really) and the afterlife. Seth’s book design is compelling. Book: 37 out
- [52/52: The Silver Coin, Vol. 1, by Michael Walsh et al.](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/11/52-52-the-silver-coin-vol-1-by-michael-walsh-et-al/) - An intriguing inversion of the comics anthology model. Instead of one writer/multiple artists (like Split Lip), it’s one artist with multiple writers. It’s a great idea with a good through-line: each story focuses on those who find a cursed coin. The stories don’t fully land their punches, but I like the concept. Book: 36 out
- [52/52: Blood on the Tracks, vol. 2, by Shuzo Oshimi](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/11/52-52-blood-on-the-tracks-vol-2-by-shuzo-oshimi/) - This is an intensely fucked-up comic, in a way I haven’t seen in comics in quite a while. I read a few volumes of Ohsimi’s Happiness, and found it pretty but uninteresting. This, though? Wow. Does any comic make better and more intense use of extreme close ups? So creepy and tense. Book: 35 out
- [52/52: Sam Cooke's Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963, by Colin Fleming](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/11/52-52-sam-cookes-live-at-the-harlem-square-club-1963-by-colin-fleming/) - I really like this album (thanks, Jenn) and really disliked this book. Honestly, I skimmed it, once I knew it wasn’t for me. What was Fleming writing about? Not quite Cooke’s life or legacy, not exactly this album, not soul music history. A lot of flowery language, not adding up to much. Book: 34 out
- [52/52: Blood on the Tracks, Vol. 1, by Shuzo Oshimi](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/10/52-52-blood-on-the-tracks-vol-1-by-shuzo-oshimi/) - A dark psychological thriller about a tween boy and his mother. It’s subtle, but the early part of this volume contains tremendous queasy tension. When the actual horror comes, it’s powerfully staged, illustrating reality fuzzing out, vision blooming and blurring, during true trauma. I’ve never seen it done so effectively in comics. Book: 32 out
- [52/52: Nothing But Blackened Teeth, by Cassandra Khaw](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/10/52-52-nothing-but-blackened-teeth-by-cassandra-khaw/) - I’m baffled at the effusive praise for this novella from many writers I love. This knock-off of The Haunting of Hill House, is burdened with tremendously overwritten sentences, an uncontrollable deluge of similes, and characters that adopt a discordantly metatextual view of the horror facing them. Surprisingly bad, given its tremendous buzz. Book: 33 out
- [52/52: All of the Marvels, by Douglas Wolk](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/10/52-52-all-of-the-marvels-by-douglas-wolk/) - A fascinating, history-spanning view of Marvel Comics that treats every comic as part of a cohesive, unified story. Better for knowledgeable comics readers than newbies. Treating the repetitions found in Marvel as mythic echoes and archetypes, rather than laziness, breathes life into many tropes. Wolk is particularly insightful in analyzing Spider-Man’s mega-arcs. Book: 31 out
- [52/52: Continent, by Jim Crace](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/10/52-52-continent-by-jim-crace/) - Crace’s award-winning debut “novel” is a collection of linked short stories (they take place on the same unnamed, fictional continent). It didn’t work as well as his later novels—notably Being Dead, The Devil’s Larder, and Genesis—but his sentences are so beautiful, his word choices so luxurious, that it still pleased. Book: 30 out of 52
- [52/52: The Quiet Boy, by Ben Winters](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/09/52-52-the-quiet-boy-by-ben-winters/) - It may be impossible to account for everything that describes this compelling, heartbreaking, mysterious novel in just 52 words. It’s a legal thriller, a cult thriller, very light science fiction, a bit neo-detective, and a multi-generational family saga. It’s a page turner and a meditation that features some of Winter’s best writing. Book: 29 out
- [52/52: In the Pines, by Erik Kriek](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/09/52-52-in-the-pines-by-erik-kriek/) - Having adapted murder ballads to comics myself, I may be a bit picky, but: This is not a good quartet of adaptations. It’s all surface—the plot, the setting. The stories don’t seem to understand anything of the subterranean mystery and power of murder ballads, nor is anything about them evoking music. Book: 28 out of
- [52/52: Sensor, by Junji Ito](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/09/52-52-sensor-by-junji-ito/) - Twisted obsession is the most powerful motivation for virtually every evil character and evil deed in Junji Ito’s horror work. When it works—Uzumaki, Amigara Fault—it really, really works. Otherwise, though, and after dozens of short stories on similar themes, the repetition gets a little dulling; that’s certainly the case here. Book: 27 out of 52
- [52/52: BPRD: Hell on Earth, vol. 2, by Mike Mignola et al.](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/09/52-52-bprd-hell-on-earth-vol-2-by-mike-mignola-et-al/) - “Why are losing?” asks one BPRD member during a firefight with monsters that, by rights, his team should win. It’s the core question for the entire series: the heroes can’t understand why they lose. And—with its depiction of environmental apocalypse—is what makes BPRD a signature story for our current crises. Book: 26 out of 52
- [52/52: The Cap, by Joshua Mendelsohn](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/09/52-52-the-cap-by-joshua-mendelsohn/) - You wouldn’t think of a history of the creation of the NBA salary cap would be interesting (except to labor lawyers), but it is. This book demonstrates how the NBA has always been the most forward-looking sports league, how powerful united labor can be, and how ownership will always represent oppressive capitalism. Book: 25 out
- [52/52: Your House Will Pay, by Steph Cha](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/08/52-52-your-house-will-pay-by-steph-cha/) - A crime/literary fiction novel tackling Black Lives Matter, the 1992 LA riots, and race. Most striking to me is how the moral vacuum created by absent leaders—political, legal, ethical, familial—opens the space for uncontrollable chaos and violence in the novel’s 1992 and its present. A grim theme for our time. Book: 24 of 52
- [52/52: Recursion, by Blake Crouch](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/07/52-52-recursion-by-blake-crouch/) - A twisty SF thriller about time travel and the havoc it wreaks on memory. The same territory is more interesting in William Gibson’s The Peripheral; the only-OK TV show Devs worked a similar corner. Fun and fast, but not very deep and the characters are too thin to really stick with you. Book: 23 of
- [52/52: Trouble Is What I Do, by Walter Mosley](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/07/52-52-trouble-is-what-i-do-by-walter-mosley/) - This short modern noir—my first Mosley—almost reads like an extended treatment for a longer, more interesting, novel. A lot of moving the chess pieces of plot, but not enough actual chess. Some deep, rich themes—wealth, race, history—that would be much more compelling treated in a longer, subtler way. Book: 22 of 52
- [52/52: Wasteland, by W. Scott Poole](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/06/52-52-wasteland-by-w-scott-poole/) - A detailed, thoughtful tracing of the impact of World War I on key creators of horror in movies, literature, and art. These creators—Lovecraft, Lang, Dix, Machen, Whale, and more—had often fought in the war. WWI is a fascinating, and disturbing, topic. Worth reading for fans of horror and cultural history. Book: 21 of 52
- [52/52: BPRD: Hell on Earth, Vol. 1, by Mignola, Arcudi, Davis, and Crook](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/06/bprd-hell-on-earth-vol-1-by-mignola-arcudi-davis-and-crook/) - The next phase of BPRD takes its first major casualty behind the scenes with the exit of artist Guy Davis in this book. We now know that Davis left after falling out with creator Mignola over Mignola’s coddling of sexual abuser/editor Scott Allie. Book is good, but that background knowledge is queasy. Book: 20 of
- [52/52: BPRD: Plague of Frogs vol. 4, by Mignola, Arcudi, Davis, and Stewart](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/05/52-52-bprd-plague-of-frogs-vol-4-by-mignola-arcudi-davis-and-stewart/) - These protagonists are profoundly overmatched by the challenge they face, naïve about their prospects. By the story’s end, multiple cities are destroyed, countries wiped off the map, and the BPRD are excited about a budget increase. They’re losing and don’t even see it. The accumulating doom and cognitive dissonance are so compelling. Book: 19 of
- [52/52: BPRD: Plague of Frogs, vol. 3, by Mignola, Arcudi, Davis & Stewart](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/05/52-52-bprd-plague-of-frogs-vol-3-by-mignola-arcudi-davis-stewart/) - Much of the best horror derives from the inability to suppress traumas of the past, no matter how much characters strain to make it so. That’s the case with BPRD, and especially this volume. That, plus stakes that can irrevocably change any main character at any time, make this a great series. Book: 18 of
- [52/52: Lovesickness, by Junji Ito](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/05/52-52-lovesickness-by-junji-ito/) - The defining feature of Junji Ito’s horror is obsession and mania. Here, he plays the theme as the knife point that starts gushers of blood, for dark humor, and for some tried-and-true body horror. Working so much in the register of mania, though, is getting repetitive; what other modes does he have? Book: 17 of
- [52/52: The Department of Truth, vol. 1: The End of the World, by James Tynion and Martin Simmonds](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/05/52-52-the-department-of-truth-vol-1-the-end-of-the-world-by-james-tynion-and-martin-simmonds/) - Huge, expressive, imagistic, high-impact art here, heavily reminiscent of Bill Sienkiewicz). The high concept is good, too: A secret government agency that undermines conspiracy theories lest the power of collective belief make them real. Not sure I connected to the characters or plot, though, so I don’t know if I’ll continue on. Book: 16 of
- [52/52: The Crossroads at Midnight, by Abby Howard](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/05/52-52-the-crossroads-at-midnight-by-abby-howard/) - A collection of five novella-length horror comics whose complexity, darkness, and gut-punch impact are belied by creator Abby Howard’s relatively bright, cartoony illustrations. I haven’t made any new comics in a few years; This is the first comic I’ve read in a while that made me want to start writing comics again. Book: 15 of
- [52/52: Come Closer, by Sara Gran](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/04/52-52-come-closer-by-sara-gran/) - Is the narrator being possessed by a demon, or is she losing her mind and the demon is simply a symptom? That’s the question at the heart of this creepy, haunting, affecting short novel. I don’t think the text contains an answer, and it’s a more powerful work due to the ambiguity. Book: 14 of
- [52/52: The Killer of Little Shepherds, by Douglas Starr](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/04/52-52-the-killer-of-little-shepherds-by-douglas-starr/) - True crime focused on serial killings in rural 1890s France. It follows the template of pairing the crimes with scientific/historical developments, in this case around forensics and mental health. The narrative threads didn’t quite unite; the killer is less interesting, the key thinker not always present in the plot. Interesting, but unsatisfying. Book: 13 of
- [52/52: Daphne Byrne, by Laura Marks and Kelley Jones](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/03/52-52-daphne-byrne-by-laura-marks-and-kelley-jones/) - A solid supernatural thriller set in late 1800s New York, following the titular character and her possibly devilish family. While only a 6-issue miniseries, it’s a decent start to an ongoing series or TV show (Marks writes for TV). The biggest standout is the book’s physical design and its papery, semi-transparent jacket. Book: 12 of
- [52/52: The Lonesome Go, by Tim Lane](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/03/52-52-the-lonesome-go-by-tim-lane/) - Lane’s exploration of American icons—hoboes, femmes fatale, motorcycles, cars—and his affection for the Beat Generation didn’t work for me as well here as in previous books. But I was reminded of the infinite flexibility of comics by Lane’s mixture of art, blocks of text, one-page gags, sideways composition. Exciting stuff. Book: 11 of 52
- [52/52: Absolute Swamp Thing, Vol. 2, by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette, John Totleben et al.](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/03/52-52-absolute-swamp-thing-vol-2-by-alan-moore-steve-bissette-john-totleben-et-al/) - This volume can’t quite hit the peerless highs of the first—largely due to a more overtly political focus of the stories (note to self on that one)—but it’s still great comics. Moore completely reinvents Swamp Thing in both books. Interesting parallels here between Dr. Manhattan of Watchmen and Swamp Thing. Book: 10 of 52
- [52/52: The First Tip-Off, by Charley Rosen](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/02/52-52-the-first-tip-off-by-charley-rosen/) - A fun history of the late-1940s inaugural season of the Basketball Association of America (BAA), the primary precursor league to the NBA. Packed with great stories, colorful characters, some familiar names, hard fouls and bad shooting, recommended for anyone interested in in delving into basketball history. Book: 9 of 52
- [52/52: Shadowbahn, by Steve Erickson](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/02/52-52-shadowbahn-by-steve-erickson/) - An experimental novel packed thick and deep with big ideas about music, race, history, and America. Also, an extremely Boomer-y take on the existential importance of Elvis as a portal between races. I’ve loved Erickson’s work in the past, but couldn’t connect to his obsessions here, though the formal flourishes were fun. Book: 8 of
- [52/52: The Biologic Show, by Al Columbia](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/02/52-52-the-biologic-show-by-al-columbia/) - A collection of 4 very early stories by one of the all-time great, least-known, and least-prolific horror comics makers. This is only Columbia’s second book in ~30 years. Featuring work so depraved, grotesque, and manic that it burrows further under your skin than almost anything, it’s truly essential reading for horror fans. Book: 7 of
- [52/52: Summerwater, by Sarah Moss](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/02/52-52-summerwater-by-sarah-moss/) - A novella focused on one rainy, boring day at a Scottish holiday park, with each chapter centered in each cabin. Seems so unpleasant, you’d think the Scottish tourism board would suppress the novel. Hoped for more of the folk horror found in Moss’ last, The Ghost Wall, but appreciated the shock ending. Book: 6 of
- [52/52: Folk Horror, by Adam Scovell](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/02/52-52-folk-horror-by-adam-scovell/) - An important book, but not—by my lights—a good book. Important because Scovell defined the Folk Horror Chain theory that underscores most folk horror. Not good because it’s too academic, too hard to follow. There’s a long chapter about Hauntology, for instance, and I still don’t understand what that idea means. Book: 5 of 52
- [52/52: BPRD: Plague of Frogs, Vol. 2, by Mike Mignola et al](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/02/52-52-bprd-plague-of-frogs-vol-2-by-mike-mignola-et-al/) - The second omnibus collection of early BPRD stories really gains speed with the introduction of The Black Flame. The War on Frogs standalones are fine, but the Black Flame stories—and the rampage of Katha-hem—are spellbinding. Particularly chilling is the silence of Roger’s encounter with The Black Flame at the factory. Book: 4 of 52
- [52/52: At the Mountains of Madness, Vol. 2, by Gou Tanabe](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/01/52-52-at-the-mountains-of-madness-vol-2-by-gou-tanabe/) - The second part of Tanabe’s adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s only novel. A propulsive, engaging conclusion that’s enhanced by Tanabe’s detailed, imaginative, lively art. The amount of time and effort he must have invested to create these panels and pages is awe-inspiring. Perhaps the most visually interesting Lovecraft comic I can remember reading. Book: 3 of
- [52/52: Broken Harbor, by Tana French](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/01/52-52-broken-harbor-by-tana-french/) - The best of French’s novels I’ve read, focused on a strange family murder in a failed housing development. Most compelling is the main character who thinks he’s escaped his past trauma, but is so immersed in it that his every metaphor and word choice is drenched in it. A subtle, towering achievement. Book: 2 of
- [52/52: The Man Who Came Uptown, by George Pelecanos](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2021/01/52-52-the-man-who-came-uptown-by-george-pelecanos/) - You read five or six novels by an author, as I now have with Pelecanos, and you start to learn their moves. That’s true here (man, he loves shootouts at country houses in rural Maryland), but his characters, milieu, and—in this case—powerfully hopefully ending will bring me back for more. Book: 1 of 52
- [52/52: The Quiet Americans, by Scott Anderson](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/12/52-52-the-quiet-americans-by-scott-anderson/) - A gripping chronicle of the first 10ish years of the CIA, revealing that the agency has long had much better PR than success in its operations. A particularly grim work for its diminishing of the reputations of John Foster Dulles and Dwight Eisenhower, whose many mistakes lengthened the Cold War by decades. Book: 47 of
- [52/52: BPRD: Plague of Frogs, vol. 1, by Mike Mignola et al.](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/12/52-52-bprd-plague-of-frogs-vol-1-by-mike-mignola-et-al/) - In the first expansion of the Hellboy universe, focusing on the BPRD crew, the sense of impending doom and foreboding is overwhelming. The slow pace of the first chapter of the Plague of Frogs storyline are so creepy and ominous. Mignola’s use of insert shots so jarring and unique. What a joy. Book: 46 of
- [52/52: Remina, by Junji Ito](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/12/52-52-remina-by-junji-ito/) - A sci-fi/horror romp reviving Ito’s over-the-top sense of fun and horror. Includes a riff on Akira’s destruction of Tokyo, now at the hand of an exo-planet that licks the Earth into a new orbit (really). Some themes underdeveloped—misogyny, dawning realizations about the nature of the planet—but packed with memorable images. Book: 45 of 52
- [52/52: King Suckerman, by George Pelecanos](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/12/52-52-king-suckerman-by-george-pelecanos/) - Another of Pelecanos’ typically engaging and lived-in DC crime novels, this one set during the week of the 1976 Bicentennial. I’ve read enough Pelecanos now to start to see the repetition in themes, but his worlds are so good. This takes many basic noir tropes and pushes them into a post-Vietnam context. Book: 44 of
- [52/52: Blood on Black Wax, by Aaron Lupton and Jeff Szpirglas](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/11/52-52-blood-on-black-wax-by-aaron-lupton-and-jeff-szpirglas/) - A book on horror movie soundtracks on vinyl that I read as research for a not-horror writing project I’m planning for 2021. A decent volume, particularly with its focus on album art, marred by copyediting errors. But: Do most people really listen to the soundtracks from the recent re-issue boom? I’m skeptical. Book: 43 of
- [52/52 Sebastian O, by Grant Morrison and Steve Yeowell](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/11/52-52-sebastian-o-by-grant-morrison-and-steve-yeowell/) - An early steampunk comic about an Oscar Wilde-style aesthete and rebel out for revenge. At about 70 pages, far too slight to really convey anything of true interest or substance. Even if it were longer, the ideas are good, but the characters and themes not interesting enough to really sustain my engagement. Book: 42 of
- [52/52: Tanking to the Top, by Yaron Weitzman](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/11/52-52-tanking-to-the-top-by-yaron-weitzman/) - A chronicle of the “Process” era Philadelphia 76ers, who used private equity theories to maximize their chances of getting star players and winning. Most interesting, as usual, are the stories of the individual players and coaches. I’m reminded again of how crucial—and underappreciated—psychology and mental health are to professional sports. Book: 41 of 52
- [52/52: The Searcher, by Tana French](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/11/52-52-the-searcher-by-tana-french/) - A modern day Western disguised as a mystery novel about a missing teenager in rural Ireland. French is so good with setting and character that you just sink in and the mystery itself almost recedes into the background. Not sure if I totally buy the resolution here, but an engaging novel nonetheless. Book: 40 of
- [52/52: Scream with Me: The Enduring Legacy of the Misfits, by Jeremy Dean and Tom Bejgrowicz](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/11/52-52-scream-with-me-the-enduring-legacy-of-the-misfits-by-jeremy-dean-and-tom-bejgrowicz/) - A sure sign of being middle aged: Buying an art book of a band you discovered in high school, focused entirely on their gig posters, t-shirts, and record sleeves. Oh well; I’m old and it’s a good book. Underrated: Glenn Danzig is a pretty good graphic designer and this stuff holds up. Book: 39 of
- [52/52: The Trespasser, by Tana French](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/11/52-52-the-trespasser-by-tana-french/) - A compelling police-centric crime thriller. It’s a simple mystery, turning heavily on psychology and interpersonal understanding, which is a nice variation. I liked French’s The Witch Elm a bit better, and this felt a tad overlong, but still a great time. I’m looking forward to starting her new novel, The Searcher, next. Book: 38 of
- [52/52: Mujirushi: The Sign of Dreams, by Naoki Urasawa](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/10/52-52-mujirushi-the-sign-of-dreams-by-naomi-urasawa/) - A book apparently produced in conjunction with The Louvre. A tale of the power of dreams, a hapless father, romance, obsession with art, forgery and theft (of a Vermeer, from The Louvre), and more. It’s a lot for a single-volume manga. Honestly, a bit light compared to Urasawa’s normal depth and complexity. Book: 36 of
- [52/52: The Low, Low Woods, by Carmen Maria Machado and Dani](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/10/52-52-the-low-low-woods-by-carmen-maria-machado-and-dani/) - It’s exciting to see the excellent Machado working in comics. It’s also intimidating how good she is in just her first series. She already shows mastery of the frictive juxtaposition of dialogue, caption, and image that many comics writers never achieve. I would have loved this story to be twice as long. Book: 37 of
- [52/52: Showtime, by Jeff Pearlman](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/10/52-52-showtime-by-jeff-pearlman/) - A good book about the 1980s Lakers dynasty that suffers due to its reading proximity with the Bob Cousy book. This felt both too long and not deep enough; the Cousy is deep and thoughtful. Plus, Pearlman overcriticizes Kareem. There’s no pro athlete more interesting or with a more fascinating post-sports life. Book: 35 of
- [52/52: The Last Pass, by Gary M. Pomerantz](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/09/52-52-the-last-pass-by-gary-m-pomerantz/) - Nominally a book about ‘50s Celtics leader Bob Cousy—and revelatory on that front, showing him as basketball’s first transformational star—but really focused on aging and race in America. Deeply thoughtful and very sad, but Cousy is a fascinating figure and example of how to strive to live a moral life. Book: 34 of 52
- [52/52: Willie Nelson, a Graphic Biography, by T.J. Kirsch et al.](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/09/52-52-willie-nelson-a-graphic-biography-by-t-j-kirsch-et-al/) - Multi-time Split Lip artist T.J. Kirsch turns his pen to writing (he provides some art, too) with this punchy biography of Willie Nelson. Nelson is one of my favorite singers, songwriters, and performers, T.J. one of my favorite artists. T.J. writes the script and gets a group of artists draw each chapter. Book: 33 of
- [52/52: Akira, Vol. 3, by Katsuhiro Otomo](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/09/52-52-akira-vol-3-by-katsuhiro-otomo/) - Either Akira vol. 3 or Miracleman #15 contains the most viscerally affecting depiction of the destruction of a city. Miracelman delivers more horror and terror. Akira, on the other hand, wields awe and a seering, multi-page epic of destruction. I was literally holding my breath while reading (and this is a re-read!). Book: 32 of
- [52/52: Vision, by Julia Gfrorer](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/09/52-52-vision-by-julia-gfrorer/) - When was the last time body horror in a comic actually made you physically uncomfortable? I can’t remember the last time, but the most recent was Vision’s hundred-year-old treatment for cataracts left me squirming. Gfrorer is reliably a challenging, sensitive chronicler of horror, sex, and bodies, and she delivers here as always. Book: 31 of
- [52/52: X-Men, Vol. 1, by Jonathan Hickman, Leinil Francis Yu, et al.](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/09/52-52-x-men-vol-1-by-jonathan-hickman-leinil-francis-yu-et-al/) - Superhero comics are, in almost all cases, children’s stories and they usually read like it. Every now and then, a creator writes these children’s stories like a fully grown adult. Moore, Morrison, Miller—Hickman. While the dialogue has a few false notes, Hickman writes these standalone stories with a fully mature sophistication. Book: 30 of 52
- [52/52: Hell to Pay, by George Pelecanos](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/09/52-52-hell-to-pay-by-george-pelecanos/) - I think I love everything about Pelecanos’ Derek Strange novels except the endings. Pelecanos’ characters are so deep, his settings so vivid, his interpersonal dramas so gripping, the crescendos of violence, signaling the end of the story, are often a let down. I’d rather stay longer with the people, in the world. Book: 29 of
- [52/52: The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/08/52-52-the-lottery-by-shirley-jackson/) - Not usually a book, this edition of Jackson’s seminal story (and foundational folk-horror text) is Suntup Press’ numbered edition, rendered as a slipcased hardcover. It’s a gorgeous edition of a truly amazing story, which reveals new details every time (Mr. Summers conducts the lottery—summers, a fertility sacrifice for summer crops, etc).  Book: 28 of 52
- [52/52: Venus in the Blind Spot, by Junji Ito](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/08/52-52-venus-in-the-blind-spot-by-junji-ito/) - More Ito is always good, but for the first time, I’m growing a little tired of the lack of agency for his female characters and the endless cycle of obsession, rape, and murder. Obsession is his most powerful (or at least overt) theme, but women as vessels for violence grates when unleavened. Book: 27 of
- [52/52: The Book of V, by Anna Solomon](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/08/52-52-the-book-of-v-by-anna-solomon/) - Solomon’s realist literary fiction isn’t my usual, but her novels are compelling and thoughtful. Here, she does something I haven’t seen: three parallel narratives, but the characters are aware of the echoes between narratives, instead of only the reader seeing it. Smart move to make the characters as aware as the reader. Book: 26 of
- [52/52: House of X/Powers of X, by Jonathan Hickman et al.](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/08/52-52-house-of-x-powers-of-x-by-jonathan-hickman-et-al/) - My first Hickman and the huge reputation is clearly earned. Easily the most interesting X stories since Morrison’s run ended in 2004, and certainly the best superhero comics I’ve read in years. Hickman resuscitates an exhausted, moribund concept, sets it up for years of future stories. Compelling story and thrilling meta work. Book: 25 of
- [52/52: Ode to Billie Joe, by Bobbie Gentry, by Tara Murtha](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/08/52-52-ode-to-billie-joe-by-bobbie-gentry-by-tara-murtha/) - A terrific write-around, in which Murtha covers the career and legacy of Gentry, a singer/songwriter/performer who left public life 40 years ago and hasn’t been seen since. A feminist story about creative vision and business acumen. My favorite tidbit: Gentry was an early co-owner of the Phoenix Suns NBA team. Book: 24 of 52
- [52/52: The Doll-Master and Other Tales of Terror, by Joyce Carol Oates](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/07/52-52-the-doll-master-and-other-tales-of-terror-by-joyce-carol-oates/) - Oates wrote two horror classics: The Jeffrey Dahmer novella Zombie and The Collector of Hearts (I’ve wanted to rip off its story with a title that’s just a black square in comics for years). The Doll-Master is uneven. Its best stories—Mystery Inc., Big Momma—fizzle out rather than ending with bangs. Book: 23 of 52
- [52/52: Jerry and Marge Go Large, by Jason Fagone](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/07/52-52-jerry-and-marge-go-large-by-jason-fagone/) - I love this new series of small, limited-edition hardcovers featuring long-form journalism in finely crafted editions from a small Canadian publisher, Hingston & Olsen (they also did the boxed horror short-story chapbooks series called Ghost Box). This was a fun tale of a man who outsmarted the Michigan and Massachusetts lottery commissions. Book: 22 of
- [52/52: My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, by Emil Ferris](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/07/52-52-my-favorite-thing-is-monsters-by-emil-ferris/) - I don’t generally resonate with coming-of-age stories, especially those told from the kid’s perspective, but Ferris’s multi-layered story and horror-soaked milieu is still engaging. Her mock classic horror comic covers are excellent fun. It’s almost literally unbelievable that a graphic novel this complete, full realized, complex, and refined is her first comic. Book: 21 of
- [52/52: Twisted Visions: The Art of Junji Ito](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/07/52-52-twisted-visions-the-art-of-junji-ito/) - Ito’s unquestionably one of the great horror comics makers. What this book, mostly of his paintings, reveals is that he’s also a terrific, nuanced, effective fine artist. You’ve seen this work on his book covers, but foregrounding his acrylics and watercolors is a joy. If only the process-focused interview was as compelling. Book: 20 of
- [52/52: Golden State, by Ben Winters](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/06/52-52-golden-state-by-ben-winters/) - A Philip K. Dick-inflected novel about a future California where it’s illegal to lie. Follows a Speculator, a lie-law enforcer who can literally see lies. Most powerful is the suggestion that people who haven’t reckoned the truth for themselves, who’ve had it dictated by law, have the weakest grasp on what’s true. Book: 19 of
- [52/52: Akira, Vol. 2, by Katsuhiro Otomo](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/06/52-52-akira-vol-2-by-katsuhiro-otomo/) - How good is Otomo? This installment of Akira—over 300 pages of comics—basically takes place in about one day and involves Tetsuo going on a very long walk and opening a door (and an orbiting satellite firing at Tokyo … details) and there’s not a single slack or boring second. Unbelievable. Book: 18 of 52
- [52/52: Say Nothing, by Patrick Radden Keefe](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/06/52-52-say-nothing-by-patrick-radden-keefe/) - A chronicle of the Troubles in Northern Ireland viewed through the lens of one particular murder. Gripping and educational. I was particularly struck by the toll and ruination of the lives of former IRA paramilitaries who survived. Dying young, alone, lacking purpose, and filled with regret. A bleak picture of extreme commitment. Book: 17 of
- [52/52: This Nightmare Kills Fascists](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/05/52-52-this-nightmare-kills-fascists/) - A political horror anthology nominally responding to the rise of Trump, but more touching on general political themes. Many of the stories have confused or unclear, if not outright silly, politics. Great to see Split Lip collaborators like John Bivens, Kelly Williams, and Claire Connelly with entries. Their comics are all highlights. Book: 16 of
- [52/52: The Mystery Play, by Grant Morrison and John J. Muth](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/05/52-52-the-mystery-play-by-grant-morrison-and-john-j-muth/) - A classic Vertigo graphic novel that would never get released today. Just a story, without a major twist, a high concept, or cross-media potential. Morrison’s allegory is a bit muddled, but Muth’s painting carries the day. There’s more subtlety and variety in one panel of Muth’s work than in entire modern comics. Book: 15 of
- [52/52: The Double, by George Pelecanos](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/05/52-52-the-double-by-george-pelecanos/) - My third Pelecanos and the first I didn’t outright love. Liked it, but it felt slight. Normally, Pelecanos succeeds with a combination of rich, deep setting and the nuanced psychology of his characters. Here, things felt a little too fast, a little too surface. A lot of fun, still, but less compelling. Book: 14 of
- [52/52: Future Home of the Living God, by Louise Erdrich](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/05/52-52-future-home-of-the-living-god-by-louise-erdrich/) - An anxiety-provoking novel for pandemic reading about a slow-rolling apocalypse in which human evolution is unwinding, set against the backdrop of climate catastrophe. Gripping and lyrical and lived in and bleak. Owes a debt to The Handmaid’s Tale, but somehow even grimmer by the end. The last line is a true gutpunch. Book: 13 of
- [Akira, Vol. 1, by Katsuhiro Otomo](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/05/akira-vol-1-by-katsuhiro-otomo/) - Despite the photo, mine is the hardcover from Kodansha’s 35th anniversary box set. Re-reading 20 years after my first time, I’m struck less by the plot (though it’s still propulsive, layered fun). Moreso, I’m taken by Otomo’s dynamic compositions, camera-angle flourishes, mid-page scene changes, organically fluid sound effects: his mastery of comics. Book: 12 of 52
- [52/52: Avengers vs. X-Men, by Bendis, Romita, Jr, et al.](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/04/52-52-avengers-vs-x-men-by-bendis-romita-jr-et-al/) - Quarantine reading, free from Marvel Unlimited. Shockingly muddled and bad. Shocking because every writer and artist involved is at least very good. Often narratively and visually incoherent, perhaps because I skipped the dozens of tie-in comics? All sound and fury. A good reminder to stay away from most modern Big Two titles. Book: 11 of
- [52/52: The Big Goodbye: Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood, by Sam Wasson](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/04/52-52-the-big-goodbye-chinatown-and-the-last-years-of-hollywood-by-sam-wasson/) - A captivating recounting of the people, process, and industry that created Chinatown (and other mid-70s New Hollywood classics). Particular standout elements: Jack Nicholson’s devotion to film and to his friends; Robert Towne’s endless, tortured writing process; the romance and raw humanity of this work; the abysmal treatment of women; Wasson’s dreamy prose. Book: 10 of 52
- [Absolute Swamp Thing, Vol. 1, by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette, John Totleben et al.](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/04/absolute-swamp-thing-vol-1-by-alan-moore-steve-bissette-john-totleben-et-al/) - Why does DC recolor classic books? This previously moody series is too bright, too sharp. Steve Oliff does some great work, but the tone feels wrong. Plus, there are 3 production defects in my copy. For $100, I want better execution and classic presentation. Still an all-time classic horror series, of course. Book: 9 of
- [52/52: No Longer Human, by Junji Ito](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/03/52-52-no-longer-human-by-junji-ito/) - Basically Warren Zevon’s “Mr. Bad Example,” but with horror elements. I like the Zevon better; at least it has a sense of humor. I love Ito, and his contributions to the manga are great, but he’s adapting Osamu Dazai’s existential novel. What’s the point or value of the novel? I can’t say. Book: 8 of
- [52/52: The Willows and Other Nightmares, by Algernon Blackwood and Paul Pope](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/03/52-52-the-willows-and-other-nightmares-by-algernon-blackwood-and-paul-pope/) - Blackwood might be too subtle for me. This was my first exposure to his work. While I appreciated the ideas operating in his work—and their obvious influence on Lovecraft and weird fiction overall—this was a slog at times. Paul Pope’s original illustrations were a treat, especially at such large size. Book: 7 of 52
- [52/52: Agency, by William Gibson](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/02/52-52-agency-by-william-gibson/) - The sequel to Gibson’s chilling, outlook-changing “The Peripheral.” I keep thinking it’s “The Agency,” but it’s “agency,” like the power to act. Ironically the main character has little. Kudos to Gibson for recognizing the inherent 1% worship in some of his character types and undercutting it by the end of this one. Book: 6 of
- [52/52: Merle Haggard’s Okie From Muskogee, by Rachel Lee Rubin](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/02/merle-haggards-okie-from-muskogee-by-rachel-lee-rubin/) - Convinced that Haggard was a hopelessly conservative lout due to this album’s title track? This terrific look at country music will change your mind. It — and the Cocaine and Rhinestones podcast on Haggard — are convincing that “Okie” is satire and that Haggard is much more nuanced, and leftist, than his reputation suggests. Book:
- [52/52: Hellboy the Complete Short Stories, Vol. 2 by Mike Mignola et al.](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/01/52-52-hellboy-the-complete-short-stories-vol-2-by-mike-mignola-et-al/) - The last volume in the recent Hellboy Omnibus reissues, collecting odds-n-ends shorts by Mignola and others. Maybe lacking the highs of the first volume, but any Hellboy is a treat. I was struck by unusual, but effective, word balloon placements and magnificent uses of green and blue tones not common to Hellboy. Book: 4 of
- [52/52: Monster, She Wrote, by Lisa Kroger and Melanie R. Anderson](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/01/52-52-monster-she-wrote-by-lisa-kroger-and-melanie-r-anderson/) - A useful overview of women in genre since the 1600s. A necessary corrective to the idea that women haven't been interested in, or creating, horror/SF until recently. Good direction for further reading, though slight in places, repetitive in others. Some cursory treatments (Oates, Link, Karen Russell) seem odd given other, lesser inclusions. Book 3 of
- [52/52: Knots and Crosses, by Ian Rankin](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/01/52-52-knots-and-crosses-by-ian-rankin/) - One of Rankin's novels about his Inspector Rebus. Perhaps an earlier book in the series. Hardly a police procedural; more a psychological procedural, excavating Rebus' past traumas and present dysfunctions as observed through thick mental haze. Satisfying and quick paced, though weakened by the killer's (necessary) too-close proximity to the cop. Book 2 of 52
- [52/52: The Sweet Forever, by George Pelecanos](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2020/01/52-52-the-sweet-forever-by-george-pelecanos/) - To try to help jumpstart my reading and writing in 2020, I'm going to resurrect a blog series that I did for many years here: 52/52. That is, I'm going to try to read 52 books in 52 weeks. My twist on this challenge that lots of people take on is that I'll write a
- [Hellraiser Masterpieces, vol. 1](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/12/hellraiser-masterpieces-vol-1/) - A collection of the late 80s/early 90s anthology series set in Clive Barker's S&M horror world. It takes the stories out of order, choosing to present "masterpieces.? My recollection is that the series was indeed that. Reading now reveals major clunkers from Larry Wachowski, but true gems from Gaiman/McKean and Mike Mignola. Book: 63/52 52/52:
- [Life With Mr. Dangerous, by Paul Hornschemeier & Mister Wonderful, by Dan Clowes](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/09/life-with-mr-dangerous-by-paul-hornschemeier-mister-wonderful-by-dan-clowes/) - I wouldn't normally pair books, but I read these on consecutive days and was struck by their similarities (not just "Mr.? in the titles). Both are surprisingly sweet stories about unhappy, struggling protagonists who find unexpected love. Both stories seem like they may end up depressing but redeem our faith with happiness. Books: 42-3/52 Buy
- [Horror Movie Freak, by Don Sumner](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/08/horror-movie-freak-by-don-sumner/) - A guide to horror that confused me a bit. It approaches things as a beginner's guide, but also has a beginner's section. Not a lot of content ? just a short summary of each movie and a sentence or two of analysis. I always wish these books would hold movies to higher standards. Book: 36/52
- [Announcing: Labor and Love, A Collection of Folk Song Comics](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/08/announcing-labor-and-love-a-collection-of-folk-song-comics/) - I'm pleased to announce my next comic:?Labor and Love. Labor and Love is a collection of 4 comics adapting classic folk ballads. I wrote all 4 stories and Neal Von Flue, a man who likes a good comic and a good folk song, drew them. The comic contains adaptations of the songs: The Wind and
- [Sneak Peek: Split Lip: Termites In Your Smile Cover](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/04/sneak-peek-split-lip-termites-in-your-smile-cover/) - As with last year's Split Lip: The Harvestmen, this year's edition—Termites In Your Smile—sports an awesome cover ace horror artist Shane Oakley. Split Lip: Termites In Your Smile and other stories features the title story and seven others, as well as commentary by me on every story and behind the scenes material (pencils, script, etc.)
- [Seven Soldiers of Victory, vol. 2, by Grant Morrison et al.](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/04/seven-soldiers-of-victory-vol-2-by-grant-morrison-et-al/) - Good God. This was amazing. Not as emotionally involving as the first volume, but in this Morrison blows you away with the density and complexity of the story. This will repay a half-dozen re-readings, turning up new things each time. Morrison may be able to lay legitimate claim to the title "genius.? Books: 17/52 Buy
- [Demo Vol. 2, by Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/04/demo-vol-2-by-brian-wood-and-becky-cloonan/) - This second collection of short stories about everyday people with unusual powers (who are definitely not superheroes) focuses much more on love and death than I remember the first volume doing. Not that there's anything wrong with that! "Pangs? is a terrific horror romance, while "Sad and Beautiful Life? ends very sweetly. Books: 18/52 Buy
- [Crime Beat, by Michael Connelly](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/12/crime-beat-by-michael-connelly/) - A collection of crime-novelist Connelly's newspaper writing from when he was a crime reporter. A few long features are engrossing, but many others disappoint ? perhaps newspaper writing should be time-sensitive or isn't meant for posterity? The best section is Connelly's lively, engaging memoir-style introduction. I'd love to read a book of that. Buy Crime
- [Criminal, Vol. 4: Bad Night](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/10/criminal-vol-4-bad-night/) - By Ed Brubaker and Sean Philips Based on how they behave, you'd assume that characters many noir stories have serious personality or mental disorders. Brubaker and Philips take that idea, put it at the heart of this story, and visualize it by putting a comic strip character into the "real? world. A nice conceit for
- [The Treasury of XXth Century Murder: The Terrible Axe-Man of New Orleans, by Rick Geary](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/09/the-treasury-of-xxth-century-murder-the-terrible-axe-man-of-new-orleans-by-rick-geary/) - Geary's chronicles of historical murders are normally reliably entertaining, sometimes enthralling. But this one feels oddly rushed, with numerous spelling mistakes and a less-finished tone to the language than is common. It seems like there's been an increase in the rate of these books coming out ? maybe that's diminishing quality a bit? Buy The
- [Sneak Preview: The Voice of Celia Darling - Script](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/09/sneak-preview-the-voice-of-celia-darling-script/) - This story's a long way from seeing any more daylight than this script excerpt (it probably won't debut on the site until mid 2011), but I thought it would be fun to share. It doesn't have an artists attached to it yet, though it is with a potential artists who's drawn for Split Lip before.
- [Sneak Preview: Last Caress - Script](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/08/sneak-preview-last-caress-script/) - I'm not quite sure why, but when I write a script that's influenced by, or attempts to be my version of, an Asian ghost story, I think of Doug Draper. Maybe it's the delicacy of his lines, his soft brushwork, or the sense of time and place his work conveys. Whatever it is, he's always
- [Sneak Preview: If You Get Close to Her, Kiss Her Once for Me - Script](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/08/sneak-preview-if-you-get-close-to-her-kiss-her-once-for-me-script/) - Coming this fall is a tale of romance, tragedy, and horror called "If You Get Close to Her, Kiss Her Once for Me." In writing this, and a few other stories (notably Se Perdre), I've been toying with the notion that horror stories are often also tragedies. I hope this one gets that idea across.
- [Sneak Preview: Cured - Inked Panels #2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/08/sneak-preview-cured-inked-panels-2/) - Because I like you guys so much - and because I'm liking how this story is shaping up so much - I've decided to reveal another couple of panels from our next story, Cured. The art is handled by Erik Rose. And you'll be seeing the entire story this fall, after Straw Gods concludes. This
- [On Writing, by Stephen King](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/08/on-writing-by-stephen-king/) - King's slim, seminal volume on his life as a writer and his advice on how to write well. The section on the mechanics of writing well is solid ? though not as good as Stunk & White, or Zinsser, on the topic ? but King's memoir and thoughts on process and editing are terrific. Buy
- [1983, The Red Riding Quartet, book 4 by David Peace](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/07/1983-the-red-riding-quartet-book-4-by-david-peace/) - The conclusion to Peace's series about serial murder, child killers, police corruption, mental illness, and other pleasant topics. This fills many holes from previous installments and adds new things ? most notably a major revelation that explains the root cause of many events. These books are grueling, but great if it's your cuppa. Buy 1983
- [Sneak Preview: Cured - Script](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/07/sneak-preview-cured-script/) - As part of having this new site, I'm going to be using the blog to give you sneak previews of upcoming Split Lip stories. These will be script excerpts, sketches, and finished panels. Check the site every Thursday for a glimpse into the future of our stories. This week, I've got a script excerpt from
- [Shade the Changing Man, Vol. 2: Edge of Vision](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/06/shade-the-changing-man-vol-2-edge-of-vision/) - By Peter Milligan and Chris Bachalo This series continues doing interesting things ? not a lot of alcoholic characters in mainstream comics who have to deal directly with the addictions, rather than as a component of their larger heroic journeys ? but it's still feeling a bit off. Maybe it just doesn't age as well
- [Heart-Shaped Box, by Joe Hill](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/05/heart-shaped-box-by-joe-hill/) - The debut novel by Stephen King's son. A horror novel, of course, but a bit disappointing for me. Not scary ? though there are some great, creepy scenes ? and just a bit odd. The main character is a major rock star, but I don't know why that's necessary other than it seemed cool. Buy
- [Tokyo Vice, by Jake Adelstein](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/02/tokyo-vice-by-jake-adelstein/) - This book tells an interesting story: an American becomes a truly rare thing ? a reporter for the Yomiuri Shinbun, Japan's leading newspaper. The book reveals Japan's frustratingly chummy media and criminal justice cultures, but its progress bogs down until Adelstein's passion ? fighting human trafficking ? appears in the last hundred or so pages.
- [The Other, by Thomas Tryon](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/02/the-other-by-thomas-tryon/) - A subdued horror novel about identical twins ? one good, one evil. The book's terrific atmosphere asks if the twins' moral divide is so clear. Then it rewrites what you think is happening in a way that must have been shocking then and, though it's been done a bit since, is very effective. Buy The
- [The Unwritten, vol. 1: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/02/the-unwritten-vol-1-tommy-taylor-and-the-bogus-identity/) - By Mike Carey and Peter Gross "Stories are the only things worth dying for,? says a character in this meditation on the power of fiction. The main character, a Harry Potter stand-in, may not be a real boy, but a fictional-creation-made-real by his disappeared father. A large mystery world is established ? and bears following
- [The Winter Men, by Brett Lewis and John Paul Leon](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/12/the-winter-men-by-brett-lewis-and-john-paul-leon/) - I feel bad disliking this book. Its tortured history - seven years in development; length changed from 8 issues to 4 to 5 plus a special ? surely distorted Lewis/Leon's intentions. Though loved by comics' best critics, I disliked this book. I had difficulty understanding what was happening or why I should care. Buy The
- [Songs for the Missing, by Stewart O'Nan](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/11/songs-for-the-missing-by-stewart-onan/) - O'Nan's writing is so natural, so colloquial you can miss his fantastic skill. Though it seems he's relating the facts of an actual event, the book's freighted with symbolism. This novel ? about a teenage girl's kidnapping ? will makes you cry more than once, but you won't be able to put it down. Buy
- [Hitman, by Bret Hart](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/11/hitman-by-bret-hart/) - Generally speaking, no one will confuse Bret Hart with a great writer. He's competent, certainly, but no master. Still, this book was more disturbing and captivating ? and kept me up late more nights ? than most things I've read recently. Excellent, required stuff for anyone with even a passing interest in pro wrestling. Buy
- [Pluto Vol. 5, by Naoki Urasawa](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/10/pluto-vol-5-by-naoki-urasawa/) - The rap on this series is that Urasawa loses some of his focus ? and, as a consequence, story momentum ? about two-thirds of the way through. I'm nearing that mark and am starting to see evidence of this. Still a good installment, but a little compelling, and a less progress, than previous volumes. Buy
- [The Goon, Vol. 8: Those That Is Damned, by Eric Powell](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/10/the-goon-vol-8-those-that-is-damned-by-eric-powell/) - The Goon gets darker. It still has comedy, but like the previous volume, the tone is more grim, the violence less funny. I feel clich?d for liking it so much, but Powell builds suspense and turns plot expertly. The less-enjoyable backup stories proved The Goon only truly sings in its creator's hands.. Buy The Goon
- [The Best American Crime Reporting 2009, ed. by Otto Penzler and Thomas H. Cook](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/10/the-best-american-crime-reporting-2009-ed-by-otto-penzler-and-thomas-h-cook/) - This annual volume is always a pleasure. This year, more than any other I recall, the stories accumulate around Philadelphia (3-4 of the 15 stories are set, or have scenes, there). Philly crime is horrifying ? so many murders and senseless slaughter ? but this book makes it seem like a crime writer's paradise. Books:
- [20th Century Boys, Vol. 4, by Naoki Urasawa](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/09/20th-century-boys-vol-4-by-naoki-urasawa/) - This volume demonstrates one of the things manga ? with its long stories (this is 20 volumes) and weighty pagecounts ? has over American comics. Nearly all of this installment are devoted to establishing and deepening a singe character. This kind of important diversion isn't possible in series that by economic necessity are shorter. Buy
- [Pluto, Vol. 4, by Naoki Urasawa](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/08/pluto-vol-4-by-naoki-urasawa/) - Given how much I want to read all of Pluto in one sitting (it's been released one book every couple of months), I can only imagine the agony the original Japanese readers must have felt between installments (which were shorter than these books). Sadly, the series is half over ? only four left. Buy Pluto
- [Night Voices, Night Journeys: Lair of the Hidden Gods Vol. 1, ed. Asamatsu Ken](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/08/night-voices-night-journeys-lair-of-the-hidden-gods-vol-1-ed-asamatsu-ken/) - The concept is great: a collection of Lovecraft mythos stories written by modern Japanese authors. The execution? It varies. Some translations are clearly weak, some stories terrible (including the editor's 120-page "short?), some pretty solid. Had been enthusiastic about the series, but now not sure I'll pick up the other three volumes. Buy Night Voices,
- [20th Century Boys Vols. 1-3, by Naoki Urawasa](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/08/20th-century-boys-vols-1-2-by-naoki-urawasa/) - Another mystery by Urasawa, this one about friends confronting a mysterious cult that may be led by a childhood pal. Strong overtones of King's IT here ? flashbacks to childhood, a group of friends with one girl, forgotten past deeds having relevance now. In this and Pluto, Urasawa is nothing less than spectacular. Buy 20th
- [100 Bullets, Vol. 13: Wilt, by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/08/100-bullets-vol-13-wilt-by-brian-azzarello-and-eduardo-risso/) - This fat volume caps off the 100-issue-long epic crime saga. Strangely, I was disappointed by the conclusion. Perhaps it was long waits between books, or nearly uniformly unlikeable characters, or no clear purpose to the villains. I ended this book ? and nearly 10 years or reading the series ? without any great feeling. Buy
- [Treasury of XXth Century Murder: Famous Players](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/07/treasury-of-xxth-century-murder-famous-players/) - Geary's non-fiction recreations of historical murders are always charming, but I'm a bit concerned now that he's producing them much more frequently. The best true crime contains some tension or drama and these latest tales feel too "this happened, then that happened? to have any tension. Fingers crossed for the next installment. Buy Treasury of
- [Spook, by Mary Roach](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/07/spook-by-mary-roach/) - Roach's non-fiction explorations ? this time, of the supernatural and the afterlife ? are always fascinating and funny and full of terrific trivia. I liked this book less than Stiff, primarily because there's a little less inherent in the subject here (there's just not that much scientific proof), but it was still good fun. Buy
- [The Pesthouse, by Jim Crace](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/07/the-pesthouse-by-jim-crace/) - I can't think of a living writer who crafts more meticulous, beautiful prose than Crace. Everything is alive in his most recent books ? characters, and landscape, sentences and chapters. It's marvelous. This book, a literary fiction about the future, is both love story and meditation on the meaning and purpose of America. Buy The
- [I Shot a Man in Reno, by Graeme Thompson](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/07/i-shot-a-man-in-reno-by-graeme-thompson/) - This meditation on popular music's treatment of death through the decades has some solid moments ? especially the chapters on rap and murder ballads ?but somewhow didn't quite cohere for me. I think I was looking for more on music and less on death. Interesting notes about atavistic themes and murder ballads, though. Buy I
- [Class Trip, by Emmanuel Carrere](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/04/class-trip-by-emmanuel-carrere/) - It's hard to imagine any truly good stories about serial killers targeting children; it's just too exploitative. Carrere solves the problem here, though, by giving killer barely any space, instead focusing on his son, enlivened with excellent, humane detail. Though there's no real mystery, there's much empathy ? which seems a greater virtue. Buy Class
- [Scott Pilgrim Vs. The Universe, by Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/03/scott-pilgrim-vs-the-universe-by-bryan-lee-omalley/) - One of my favorite things about this charming, funny series has been its interactivity: when the characters play in a band, you get the notes; a potluck dinner included a (really good ? I tried it) recipe for vegan shepherd's pie. No such touches in this penultimate volume, but it's still great comics. Buy Scott
- [In the Flesh, by Koren Shadmi](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/03/in-the-flesh-by-koren-shadmi/) - This collection of horror-tinged short comics frustrates. Some of the concepts are great - a man courts a decapitated woman; a girl's creepy, sedentary grandfather has a camera for a head; a car accident unleashes a woman's terrifying hunger ? but the execution falters. I'd like meatier stories, but the work is promising. Buy In
- [Altmann's Tongue, by Brian Evenson](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/03/altmanns-tongue-by-brian-evenson/) - An uninterrupted Evenson book can be a hard slog. Short stories interspersed with others' writing is ideal. His best stories are compulsive, bizarre, surprisingly funny (see "Eye? in this volume), gruesome. Others, though, are too thick with the sluggish mental processes of his detail- and formality-obsessed characters. Which makes for tough reading. Buy Altmann's Tongue
- [DMZ Vol. 6: Blood in the Game](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/03/dmz-vol-6-blood-in-the-game/) - By Brian Wood and Riccardo Burchielli Brian Wood writes flawed protagonists whose arcs often involve becoming less selfish, more adult. Laudable and interesting themes, I think, and not assayed often enough. Matty Roth, the protagonist of DMZ, has been kind of na?ve, kind of a jerk for this whole series. He doesn't seem to be
- [Absolute Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/03/absolute-watchmen-by-alan-moore-and-dave-gibbons/) - My third reading of this masterwork, inspired by, and completed before, my viewing of the film. This edition ?oversized, recolored, deluxe, hardcover ? is a joy, and heavy enough to attack someone with. This reading teased out some new layers for me, and also revealed some weaknesses. Still, one of the all-time greats. Buy Absolute
- [Invisible People, by Will Eisner](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/02/invisible-people-by-will-eisner/) - Another collection of short character studies, each story focuses on a person living in New York who has allowed themselves to fade into life's hustle/bustle and have become invisible. Eisner's sense of how to build a comics story is great ? and his inventive page compositions, often removing panel borders entirely, are lovely. Buy Invisible
- [The Building, by Will Eisner](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/12/the-building-by-will-eisner/) - Eisner has a claim on the title "the father of the graphic novel? thanks to books like this, which examines the history of a New York building and four people whose lives entwined with it. This thoughtfully rendered book debuted in 1987, 15 years before the current boom in non-genre graphic novels. Buy The Building
- [Fishtown, by Kevin Colden](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/12/fishtown-by-kevin-colden/) - Based on the true story about teenagers who murdered a friend in working-class Philadelphia in 2003. A remarkable debut ? tautly written, drawn with technical excellence and depth, and showing a deep grasp of illustrating character through small strokes of language and art. It achieves something truly unusual in comics: being truly disturbing. Buy Fishtown
- [Civilwarland in Bad Decline, by George Saunders](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/12/civilwarland-in-bad-decline-by-george-saunders/) - A terrific short story collection about how we use work to mask our pain, but also the ways in which work creates that pain. Saunders' characters ? many work at some very strange historical theme parks ? have both a mordant humor and feel lost in their own lives, making them interesting, but pathetic. Buy
- [Cat-Eyed Boy, Vol. 1, by Kazuo Umezu](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/12/cat-eyed-boy-vol-1-by-kazuo-umezu/) - Umezu is a treasure ? he's been making comics for 40 years, created some of the greatest horror comics (he's called the Stephen King of Japan), and is hilariously weird on the page and in life. This 500-page collection from the late 1960s has moments, but pales in comparison to his other works. Buy Cat-Eyed
- [Cerebus, Vol. 14: Form and Void](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/11/cerebus-vol-14-form-and-void/) - by Dave Sim & Gerhard Heading towards the end of the 6,000-page graphic novel. Another triumph of draftsmanship, character, and pacing out action. The nearly 100 pages of text at the end about Ernest Hemingway ? who, along with wife Mary, is a main character ? is a little ? intense ... but, as usual,
- [The Drifting Classroom, Vols. 10-12, by Kazuo Umezu](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/10/the-drifting-classroom-vols-10-12-by-kazuo-umezu/) - The conclusion to Umezu's 1970s kids apocalypse story in which a full schoolhouse is sent into the future after a disaster. Every volume has some "oh my god,? Lord of the Files-style moment, making each installment awfully, disturbingly pleasurable. The series ends on a downbeat note, which was both surprising and appealing. Buy The Drifting
- [Abandoned Cars, by Tim Lane](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/10/abandoned-cars-by-tim-lane/) - A collection of short comics about Lane's "Great American Mythological Drama? ? think diners and Elvis, hoboes and criminals, dive bars and fast cars. A really solid debut collection. Lane shows pleasing Charles Burns and Dan Clowes influences, but is clearly his own artist as well. I look forward to his next book. Buy Abandoned
- [The Raw Shark Texts, by Steven Hall](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/09/the-raw-shark-texts-by-steven-hall/) - An experimental novel a la House of Leaves, which I loved. This, less so. The experimental stuff seemed unnecessary; the story dragged in places. The bare minimum of text in the last 50 or so pages was a gift ? I might not have finished the book otherwise. Just no momentum for it. Buy The
- [The Dreaming, Vol. 3, by Queenie Chan](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/09/the-dreaming-vol-3-by-queenie-chan/) - The conclusion to the Australian horror/thriller comic whose first volume I loved. This was OK ? heavy on exposition, as horror sometimes is. It makes me wonder if there's a way to do a good horror story that has less exposition and more atmosphere/scares. Something to try in my own work, I think. Buy The
- [Tales of Ordinary Madness, by Charles Bukowski](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/08/tales-of-ordinary-madness-by-charles-bukowski/) - Funny, profane, repetitive, shocking, heartbreaking. All of what I remembered this collection to be. While it bogs down under repetition of themes and purposeless stories about drinking or being cranky, "Animal Crackers in my Soup? is one of my favorite short stories, a great horror tale, and a strong shot of sadness. Buy Tales of
- [Faker, by Mike Carey and Jock](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/08/faker-by-mike-carey-and-jock/) - A terrific high-concept ? five friends wake up after a night of hard partying to find a sixth friend who they all remember, but was never there before ? undermined by a weird plot about secret government weapons and a heroine who is entirely unlikeable and unredeemed. Too bad; I wanted to love it. Buy
- [Good-Bye, by Yoshihiro Tatsumi](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/08/good-bye-by-yoshihiro-tatsumi/) - The third volume of these brutal slice-of-life comics from Japan circa 1969-72. Nothing like the popular image of manga, and full of frank and shocking sex and violence. Very few other comics creators approach short comics this way ? like literary fiction. This is the last planned collection; I hope we get more. Buy Good-Bye
- [Alias, by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/03/alias-by-brian-michael-bendis-and-michael-gaydos/) - A hardcover collection of the first nine issues of this "Private Eye in the Marvel Universe? series. Not quite as good as I'd hoped — Bendis' trademark stilted, repetitive dialogue has lost its charm, it seems. The main character, ex-superhero Jessica Jones, didn't exactly engender my sympathy, either. A good concept, blah execution. Buy Alias
- [The Talented Mr. Ripley, by Patricia Highsmith](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/02/the-talented-mr-ripley-by-patricia-highsmith/) - Nothing scares me like sociopaths, archetypal Others who can't connect to human emotions — or humans — like the rest of us, but look like us. Tom Ripley is a great sociopath, perhaps one of the earliest drawn on the novel's page. A risqu? book in the ?50s, in '08 it's a lot of fun.
- [Taking Things Seriously, by Joshua Glenn and Carol Hayes](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/02/taking-things-seriously-by-joshua-glenn-and-carol-hayes/) - A holiday gift from Josh. A fun little volume of short essays and photos about treasured objects from a host of writers, designers, artists, and cartoonists. A well timed book as it dovetails with my growing interest in ordinary stories told by ordinary people. This is full of insight in that area. Buy Taking Things
- [Ex Machina, Vol. 6: Power Down](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/01/ex-machina-vol-6-power-down/) - By Brian K. Vaughn and Tony Harris The sixth volume of the saga of superhero-turned-NYC-mayor Mitchell Hundred. The best stories in the series examine the balance between the political and the heroic. This one focuses too heavily towards the superheroism for my taste ? and sets up more of it to come. Worthwhile for the
- [Not Just for Evil Dead Anymore](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2006/02/not-just-for-evil-dead-anymore/) - Remember Evil Dead and its sequels? Remember that one of the key factors in all hell breaking loose and trees coming to horny life was a human-skin-bound book called, alternatively, the Necronomicon and the Book of the Dead? Well, binding books in human skin isn't, it turns out, just for Hollywood. It's for Harvard, too.
- [Sympathetic Monsters, an interview with Eric Powell, part 1](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2006/02/sympathetic-monsters-an-interview-with-eric-powell-part-1/) - Eric Powell, by his own measure, is a quiet guy. But you wouldn't know it reading his comics, especially his horror/comedy series The Goon. The Goon is a monster comic in which a muscled thug ? the Goon ? and his absurdly violent sidekick, Franky, tackle crime, monsters, zombies, and generally try to keep their
- [Scary Music: "I Have a Devil In Me," by The Meat Purveyors](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/12/scary-music-i-have-a-devil-in-me-by-the-meat-purveyors/) - (This series was originally started during All Hallow's Month. I didn't get too far with it, though, so I decided to revive it and run the pieces that I had planned to during October over the next few months. Here's the first.) I find country music to be the scariest kind of music. And that's
- [The First Contest: Horror Manga](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/10/the-first-contest-horror-manga/) - Here's your first of three - yes that's right, three ? chances to win something from DBS during this All Hallow's Month. The prize for winning this contest is a starter pack of some of the best horror comics out there ? modern horror manga (manga, for those who don't know, being Japanese comics). The
- [Horror Television: The Twilight Zone](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/10/horror-television-the-twilight-zone/) - The list kind of list would be an object of mockery without it. I'd have no credibility without it. Laughing, pointing, and a hotfoot would all be justified if I wrote about great horror/dark fiction TV without including the foundation of the genre, The Twilight Zone. This is where horror TV started. If there were
- [Comic Review: Fragile](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/04/comic-review-fragile/) - Writer | Artist: Stefano Raffaele Publisher: DC/Humanoids I have been sold a bill of goods. You see, two or three months ago I pre-ordered one of the European horror comics originally published by Humanoids, but being marketed to the U.S. by D.C.: Fragile. I bought it because I was promised a zombie love story. Or
- [Your God Doesn't Scare Me](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/06/your-god-doesnt-scare-me/) - A few weeks ago I made a terrible mistake: I went to see Constantine at the local $2 movie theater. I left the theater wanting desperately to punch myself in the face. It would have been even worse if I hadn't had free passes. Aside from a poor script, bad acting, and various stupid Hollywood
- [Horror Television: Millennium](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/10/horror-television-millennium/) - Millennium is the most frustrating show in my list of great horror TV. It had great promise and it was a great failure. A terrific set up, good writers, very good actors and it just fell apart under creative changes, low ratings, and some bad writing. The show, for those that don't remember it, was
- [Comic Review: Arm of Kannon, Vol. 1](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/03/comic-review-arm-of-kannon-vol-1/) - Writer/Artist: Masakazu Yamaguchi Publisher: TokyoPop Arm of Kannon is a strange mixture of fascinating elements, tiresome didacticism, compelling layouts, and annoyingly distorted art. The first volume, which only hints at what's likely to be a much more in-depth and complex story, arrays a school-age brother and sister, mystical warriors, secret government agencies, and hideous monsters
- [Book Review: The Night Country](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/02/book-review-the-night-country/) - By Stewart O'Nan Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux Publisher's Page Stewart O'Nan's The Night Country may be the saddest horror novel ever written. This could be because of the subject matter - dead kids and the wreckage their unexpected deaths causes in the lives of those they loved, those who loved them, and those who hardly
- [Wishlist 2005: More Manga for Adults](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/01/wishlist-2005-more-manga-for-adults/) - or my most uses of "but? ever Don't get me wrong: I'm thrilled about the explosion of manga across the North American comics scene in the past few years. I mean, other than the most-dyed-in-the-moldy-wool superhero partisan, who isn't? Manga has brought a diversity of genres, an influx of readers, a variety of styles, and
- [Comic Review: The Walking Dead Vol. 2 - Miles Behind Us](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/12/comic-review-the-walking-dead-vol-2-miles-behind-us/) - Writer: Robert Kirkman Artist: Charlie Adlard Publisher: Image Comics I tried. I swear, I really did. I mean, I did not like the first volume of Robert Kirkman's zombie-survival horror hit The Walking Dead. I thought the first collections; dialogue was hackneyed, its characters cliched, and the story weak. But I seem to be the
- [Movie Review: Gozu](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/12/movie-review-gozu/) - 2003/Japan Director: Takashi Miike Starring: Hiedki Sone, Sho Aikawa, Kimika Yoshino, Keiko Tomita, Harumi Sone IMDB As I noted when I reviewed the much-anticipated (by me) and long-delayed The Hole a month or so back, anticipation can sometimes be better than getting what you've been waiting for. Though I wasn't entirely sorry to say it
- [Proving Grounds and Diamonds in the Rough](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/12/proving-grounds-and-diamonds-in-the-rough/) - Comics writers Joe Casey and Matt Fraction have a good column at Comic Book Resources this week about comics anthologies, their importance, and what's going on with them. It's fortuitous timing, as I'd been thinking about the same thing this week, work just prevented me from getting a post up on the topic before Casey
- [Comic Review: Flesh for the Beast](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/12/comic-review-flesh-for-the-beast/) - Writers: Rick Spears, The Brothers Goldman, Terry M. West, Tim Smith, Nick Mamatas, Studio Zombie Artists: Rob G, Kevin Colden, Dan Goldman, Adriano Eduardo, Studio Zombie Publisher: Shriek Show/Media Blasters Flesh for the Beast is the first release in a line of upcoming manga titles from Shriek Show Press, the book publishing division of cult/Asian
- [Movie Review: The Hole](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/11/movie-review-the-hole/) - 2001/U.K. Director: Nick Hamm Starring: Thora Birch, Keira Knightley, Desmond Harrington, Daniel Brocklebank, Laurence Fox IMDB | Article Anticipation often makes an event better. The waiting for it, the imagination of how things will unfold, how they'll feel, can often be as pleasurable as experiencing the thing we're waiting for. Unfortunately, sometimes the anticipation is
- [RIIFF Movie Review: There's Something Out There](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/11/riiff-movie-review-theres-something-out-there/) - Writer | Director: Brian Pulido Official Site So, this is another one that I don't get, but apparently a lot of people out there are afraid of this little red-headed doll. You know, the one that was the knock-off of My Buddy? Uh, Chucky, yeah. Chucky. The star of the Child's Play movies and the
- [Further Thoughts on The Machinist](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/11/further-thoughts-on-the-machinist/) - Note: There are major spoilers for The Machinist in this piece. If you want to maintain the surprises of the movie, don't read this before you see it. ------ Trevor Reznik says he hasn't slept in a year. But this can't be true. Setting aside the issue of whether such a feat (or a torture,
- [Comic Review: Love Eats Brains](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/11/comic-review-love-eats-brains/) - Writer | Artist: Dash Shaw Self-Published A skinless zombie girl, tightly embraced in a living boy's arms, looks up into his eyes and says, "kiss me.? Is there a more promising possible start to a comic subtitled, "A Zombie Romance,? as Love Eats Brains is? While watching a rented video, Will and his girlfriend Julie
- [RIIFF Movie Review - Shelf Life](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/11/riiff-movie-review-shelf-life/) - 2004/Canada Starring: William MacDonald, Bryce McLaughlin, Courtney Kramer, Earl Pastko Director: Mark Tuit IMDB There's this brilliant bit of dialogue at the end of Todd Solondz's bruising film Happiness. One sister - older, richer, prettier - after breaking out laughing in malice at something her younger, less endowed sister has said, tries to placate her
- [60s Horror - Homicidal](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/10/60s-horror-homicidal/) - 1961/US Director: William Castle Starring: Jean Arless, Patricia Breslin, Glenn Corbett, and Eugenie Leontovich IMDB Homicidal is a knockoff of Psycho that famed horror showman William Castle released the year after Alfred Hitchcock chilled the world with his tale of madness, murder, and crossdressing. Castle, known for his crowd-drawing and -pleasing gimmicks (among the greatest
- [Comic Review: Hino Horror Vol. 3-4: Oninbo and the Bugs From Hell](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/10/comic-review-hino-horror-vol-3-4-oninbo-and-the-bugs-from-hell/) - Writer | Artist: Hideshi Hino Publisher: DH Books/Cocoro Publishing Humanity's worst fears and traits take physical form, living inside those they afflict as giant, hideous bugs. Into the lives of the people suffering from the bugs comes a small, strange boy named Oninbo whose magical powers let him remove and eat the bugs. That, in
- [Horror Comics - No Such Thing?](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/09/horror-comics-no-such-thing/) - There's a fascinating essay posted over at Steven Grant's weekly Permanent Damage column today. In it, Grant argues that the comic medium isn't well-suited to horror and that there are hardly any horror comics at all. Don't dismiss this. It's an interesting argument and Grant (as usual) has well-thought-out arguments to back his position. Grant's
- [60s Horror: Kwaidan](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/09/60s-horror-kwaidan/) - 1964/Japan Director: Masaki Kobayashi IMDB Kwaidan is, if I understand thing correctly, considered to be something of a masterpiece of world cinema. It's out on a really nice (but aren't they all?) Criterion Collection DVD, it won tons of awards at the Cannes Film Festival in 1965, and it seems to have been hugely influential.
- [Comic Review: Dead @ 17](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/09/comic-review-dead-17/) - Writer | Artist: Josh Howard Publisher: Viper Comics Buffy Summers casts a long shadow. The main character of TV's sadly defunct Buffy the Vampire Slayer shows up in a lot of comics and TV shows these days, repackaged and diluted, bearing different names and faces. She's at least a little in every wisecracking, cute-looking, spunky
- [60s Horror - Die! Die! My Darling!](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/09/60s-horror-die-die-my-darling/) - 1965/UK Director: Silvio Narizzano Starring: Tallulah Bankhead, Stefanie Powers, Peter Vaughn, Donald Sutherland IMDB Mention Die! Die! My Darling! to pretty much anyone under 35 and they'll probably think first of the Misfits song. But before the Misfits, there was this little thriller meditating on religion, small-town English life, and terror. In the film, Bankhead
- [Book Review: Geek Love](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/07/book-review-geek-love/) - By Katherine Dunn Publisher: Vintage Contemporaries Publisher's Page for the Book Horror fiction is the hardest of all the horror media for me to keep up with. There's so much of it, and even more than comics or movies, so much of it is bad. I know the big names in the field right now,
- [What is Horror?](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/06/what-is-horror/) - There's a good question posed here, one that I've been thinking about for a few days now: How do you define horror? I think, as Supreme Court justices do with pornography, we all probably know horror when we see it. Or we do most of the time, at least. But knowing something on site isn't
- [Comic Review: The Walking Dead Vol. 1: Days Gone Bye](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/06/comic-review-the-walking-dead-vol-1-days-gone-bye/) - Writer: Robert Kirkman | Artist: Tony Moore Publisher: Image I don't get why people are so into zombies recently. I guess I like the idea of shambling things that only want to eat your brains as much as anyone, but really, I just don't get this sudden surge of enthusiasm. Zombies are just slow things
- [Comic Review: Uzumaki](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/06/comic-review-uzumaki/) - Writer/Artist: Junji Ito Publisher: Viz (this article originally appeared in Rue Morgue #35, Sept./Oct. 2003) There is no manga quite like Junji Ito's Uzumaki (three volumes, from Japan) available in English and possibly in any language. Some critics have gone so far as to proclaim Uzumaki the greatest horror comic ever. Surveying the roster of
- [Movie Review: Visitor Q](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/06/movie-review-visitor-q/) - 2001/Japan Director: Takashi Miike (this article originally appeared in Rue Morgue #33, May/June 2003) "Some things are truly strange,? states the main character of Visitor Q, just before he has sex with the dead body of his murdered lover. Visitor Q gleefully shatters boundaries and taboos. Incest? Check. On-camera lactation? Got it. Necrophilia? Yup. Prostitution,
- [Horror and the Unknown](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/06/horror-and-the-unknown/) - (or the Blair Witch Problem) The Blair Witch Project is the best example of a horror movie or comic that causes major problems for the working definition of horror that I've sketched out below. I've tried to come up with other examples, but am drawing a blank for the time being, suggesting perhaps that Blair
- [Movie Review: The Happiness of the Katakuris](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/06/movie-review-the-happiness-of-the-katakuris/) - 2001/Japan Director: Takashi Miike (this article originally appeared in Rue Morgue #33, May/June 2003) This is the story of the Katakuris, a family that moves to the country to start an inn after the head of the family, Masao, is laid off from his job. But business is not off to a good start; their
- [Comic Review: Island](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/06/comic-review-island/) - Writer: In-Wan Youn | Artist: Kyung-Il Yang Publisher: TokyoPop (this article originally appeared in Rue Morgue #35, Sept./Oct. 2003) Island (7 volumes, from Korea) tells the story of an island called Cheju that is overrun with demons, though most people don't know it, and those who find out almost never live to tell about it.
- [New Split Lip Comic Debuts June 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2019/05/new-split-lip-comic-debuts-june-3/) - I'm very excited to announce that the next Split Lip comic will begin serialization on the site on Monday, June 3, 2019.The story is "The Exterminator," written by me and drawn by the superlative Kelly Williams. It's a 22-page tale about family secrets, shitty bosses, and how a single, prejudiced choice dooms many people to
- [Media Diet 2019: Books and Comics](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2019/05/media-diet-2019-books-and-comics/) - This post will track every book and comic I read in 2018 and which of them I thought were particularly noteworthy. They won't have real reviews, but it will at least allow me to look back over my thoughts about books and comics and, maybe, help you discover some great new works. I'll be doing
- [Media Diet 2019: Movies](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2019/05/media-diet-2019-movies/) - As noted in the companion post about books, I'll be keeping track of every movie I watch this year, with particular attention to the ones that move me in some serious way, positive or negative. Hopefully I can turn you onto some things you might not have otherwise found. I'll update this periodically. Media Diet
- [Media Diet 2018: Books and Comics](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2019/01/media-diet-2018-books-and-comics/) - This post will track every book and comic I read in 2018 and which of them I thought were particularly noteworthy. They won't have real reviews, but it will at least allow me to look back over my thoughts about books and comics and, maybe, help you discover some great new works. I'll be doing
- [Media Diet 2018: Movies](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2019/01/media-diet-2018-movies/) - As noted in the companion post about books, I'll be keeping track of every movie I watch this year, with particular attention to the ones that move me in some serious way, positive or negative. Hopefully I can turn you onto some things you might not have otherwise found. I'll update this periodically. Media Diet
- [New Patreon Benefit: Behind-the-Scenes Pencils and Inks (More Pages Added!)](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2018/12/new-patreon-benefit-behind-the-scenes-pencils-and-inks/) - I'm super-excited to announce a new feature that's launching today for Patreon backers at $2 and up: behind the scenes pencils and inks. (Dec. 26, 2018: 40 new pages have been added to the stories All the Pretty Corpses, Doux Didou, and Hey, Come Here.) In addition to posting the finished (inked and lettered) comics
- [Split Lip Goes FREE for Halloween - and Read the Latest Story Now!](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2018/10/split-lip-goes-free-for-halloween-and-read-the-latest-story-now/) - To celebrate Halloween, the entire Split Lip archive will be free for everyone for the entire month of October. To read the 41 horror comics in the archive, you normally need to support Split Lip on Patreon. Not this month. All 41 stories—over 400 pages of award-winning horror comics—are free this month to help you
- [Split Lip Patreon: All The Exclusive Benefits from Q2 2018](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2018/07/split-lip-patreon-all-the-exclusive-benefits-from-q2-2018/) - Split Lip's Patreon backer's provide crucial support to us as we create comics. To thank them for their support, they get a raft of exclusive content and rewards. To give you an idea of what sort of stuff you unlock by supporting us on Patreon, here’s what backers have gotten during April, May, and June 2018
- [Read the Next Split Lip story, "Hey, Come Here," Today](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2018/06/read-the-next-split-lip-story-hey-come-here-today/) - The next Split Lip story, "Hey, Come Here," will debut on the site on July 9. It's a 12-page story featuring art by Claire Connelly. You can read it today by supporting the Split Lip Patreon. Patreon backers at the $5 level just got the full story, while everyone else will have to wait almost 3
- [Read the Next Split Lip Story—Before It Hits the Site](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2018/05/read-the-next-split-lip-story-before-it-hits-the-site/) - The next Split Lip comic coming to the website is "All the Pretty Corpses," a body-horror story set in the world of high fashion models. It's got amazing art by Italian artist Chiara Colasanti. The first page from the story will debut on the site on Monday, June 4, with new pages going up every
- [The Next Two Split Lip Stories: Information and Schedule](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2018/05/the-next-two-split-lip-stories-information-and-schedule/) - I'm excited to get to share with you the details on the next two stories that are coming to the site and will keep you busy with horror comics throughout a decent chunk of the summer. All the Pretty Corpses starts serialization: June 4 The next story to hit the site, All the Pretty Corpses,
- [Horror TV: Be Still My Heart, ER, Season 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/10/horror-tv-be-still-my-heart-er-season-6/) - Not the show you'd expect to see on a list of great horror TV, I know. And yes, this cheats a bit because it's a single episode, not a series. But if you've seen this episode, I think you'll agree with me that it's worth bending the rules for. This is the single most frightening
- [Split Lip Patreon: All The Exclusive Benefits from Q1 2018](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2018/04/split-lip-patreon-all-the-exclusive-benefits-from-q1-2018/) - The first quarter of 2018 has been another good, action-packed one at the Split Lip Patreon. The Patreon is where supporters not only get special-edition PDFs and PDFs of all the Split Lip books, Â they also get advance sneak peeks at upcoming stories and read those stories before they're serialized on this website. To give
- [New Stories Coming—Read One Right Now](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2018/03/new-stories-coming-read-one-right-now/) - The first new Split Lip story of 2018 will debut on the site on Monday, March 26. It's called "Where Have I Been All My Life?" and is an existential tale of bad decisions, multiple personalities, and Hellraiser references. It's got fantastic art by Benjamin AE Filby. It's the first of three stories that will
- [Media Diet 2017: Movies](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2018/01/media-diet-2017-movies/) - As noted in the companion post about books, I'll be keeping track of every movie I watch this year, with particular attention to the ones that move me in some serious way, positive or negative. Hopefully I can turn you onto some things you might not have otherwise found. I'll update this periodically. Media Diet
- [Media Diet 2017: Books and Comics](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2018/01/media-diet-2017-books-and-comics/) - Years ago, I used to review every book I read on the Split Lip blog. It was fun, but I just don't have the time to do it anymore. You get into a relationship, buy a house, go from a freelancer with a totally flexible schedule to a full-time job plus freelance, and your free
- [Split Lip Patreon: What's Been Happening](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2017/12/split-lip-patreon-whats-been-happening/) - Over the past few months, I've really stepped up the amount of work I'm sharing on the Split Lip Patreon. I post very little news about Split Lip and our upcoming stories here on the site or on social media. The only place to find out about what's coming next before it gets published here
- [Full Transparency Con Report: CT Horrorfest 2017](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2017/09/full-transparency-con-report-ct-horrorfest-2017/) - This is my second bare-it-all con report, after debuting the idea with my Boston Comic Con 2017 piece. That got pretty good feedback, so I'm going to stick with this idea for a while and see how it goes. As it stands, this was my last con for 2017, so I likely won't have another
- [Split Lip Comics in Color on Patreon](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2017/09/split-lip-comics-in-color-on-patreon/) - For the entirety of its 11-year run (so far), Split Lip comics have been black and white. (There have been splashes of spot color, but those are few and far between.) That's been intentional, but as time goes on, I'm warming to the idea of adding more color to Split Lip stories and I'm beginning an
- [Where to Find the Latest Split Lip News](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2017/08/where-to-find-the-latest-split-lip-news/) - For a site that's not updated on a regular schedule (I know; I don't like that either and I'm working on changing it), it can be hard to know what's happening with Split Lip and what's coming next. I'm changing that by sharing that information on the Split Lip Patreon every month. At least once
- [Full Transparency Con Report: Boston Comic Con 2017](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2017/08/full-transparency-con-report-boston-comic-con-2017/) - Or, Why This Was My Last Boston Comic Con I’m trying something here. I’ve done something similar before, but not quite in this way. For those of us who make comics, conventions are the major ways we meet our fans and our collaborators (often for the first time), discover new work to love, and—crucially—sell our
- [Split Lip 10th Anniversary Kickstarter](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2016/06/split-lip-10th-anniversary-kickstarter/) - 2016 is the 10th anniversary of Split Lip, the horror comics anthology called “the best horror anthology on the Internet” by Comics Should Be Good. Over those 10 years, we’ve published 45 stories, 6 books, 8 comics, and over 550 pages. To celebrate the anniversary, I’m releasing a deluxe, limited edition hardcover via Kickstarter. The
- [A Short-ish Winter's Nap: Split Lip to Return Next Year](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/12/a-short-ish-winters-nap-split-lip-to-return-next-year/) - You wouldn't be able to tell it from the temperatures, which don't make sense for this part of December here in New England, but the sun is gone most days by 4:30 or thereabouts, so it must be winter. Those of us in the normally snowy parts of the country hunker down in winter and grit
- [Next Story Debuts Nov. 9: Safe As Houses](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/11/next-story-debuts-nov-9-safe-as-houses/) - The next Split Lip story debuts on the site on Nov. 9. It's called Safe As Houses and is drawn by Felipe Cunha. Safe As Houses is about appearances and what lurks beneath the surface. Normally I'm interested in that theme from the standpoint of what's hidden in the people around us. In this case,
- [Atomised, by Michel Houellebecq](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/03/atomised-by-michel-houellebecq/) - Thoughts on Michel Houellebecq's novel Atomised, aka Elementary Particles. Part of the 52 books/52 weeks project.
- [Short Takes on Things I’ve Been Reading/Watching](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/10/short-takes-on-things-ive-been-readingwatching/) - There are a decent number of things I’ve read and seen recently that I haven’t had time or deep enough thoughts about to devote full blog posts to, but I did want to call them out. The Silence of the Lambs, by Yvonne Tasker - A slim volume from the BFI Film Classics series, this
- [What I've Been Watching: The Knick, Season 1](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/10/what-ive-been-watching-the-knick-season-1/) - I’d been interested in this Steven Soderbergh/Clive Owen period doctor/hospital drama when it came out, but not enough to subscribe to Cinemax, where it originally aired, or to buy it from iTunes. So, when it popped up briefly on HBO Go, I was glad to devour it. And man, is it up my alley. I
- [What I've Been Watching: Hannibal, Season 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/10/what-ive-been-watching-hannibal-season-3/) - I watched the conclusion—for now, I hope; for good, I fear—of the Bryan Fuller’s miraculous Hannibal adaptation with a mixture of awe, joy, and sadness. Awe that this even got on network television, maybe any television at all. It’s so weird, so obtuse, so arty, so so so violent, so explicitly sexual in a way
- [What I've Been Reading: All Involved, by Ryan Gattis](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/10/what-ive-been-reading-all-involved-by-ryan-gattis/) - I haven’t read a novel as immediately engrossing as this in a couple of years. Here’s how engrossing it was: I took it with me on vacation. No big deal. But when the end was in sight, I planned to stay up late reading. My girlfriend objected to the light being on (she wanted to
- [What I've Been Reading: Tom Sutton’s Creepy Things](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/10/what-ive-been-reading-tom-suttons-creepy-things/) - I know basically nothing about Charlton comics. I have a few vague memories of the Charlton logo on the cover of tattered comics scattered around the barbershops of my 1980s youth, but if you’d asked me a month ago if I’d ever read a Charlton comic, I’d probably have said no. And too bad for
- [Next Story Debuts Sept. 21: See No Evil](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/09/next-story-debuts-sept-21-see-no-evil/) - The next Split Lip story will begin serialization on the site on Sept. 21. It's called See No Evil and it features some killer artwork by Trevor Denham. When the two closest friends of demon hunter Niall Robertson are found dead in a hotel room, he feels no grief—only rage and a desire for vengeance. In order
- [What I've Been Watching: The Grudge](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/09/what-ive-been-watching-the-grudge/) - Seeing The Grudge (this being the Sarah Michelle Gellar version, not the original) in the theater is one of my fondest horror movie memories. It was just such a terrifically fun experience. So tense, so scary, so fun. This was the first time I’d seen the film in 10 years, since I saw it in
- [What I've Been Reading: Master Keaton, Vol. 3, by Naoki Urasawa et al.](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/09/what-ive-been-reading-master-keaton-vol-3-by-naoki-urasawa-et-al/) - Naoki Urasawa’s long-running series about insurance investigator Taichi Hiraga-Keaton continues to surprise me with its heart and nuance. Coming to this, I best knew Urasawa from Monster (a serial killer story about moral responsibility), Pluto (an alternate Iraq war retelling of Astro Boy in which history is a neatly unbearable burden for the characters), and
- [What I've Been Watching: Los Angeles Plays Itself](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/08/what-ive-been-watching-los-angeles-plays-itself/) - This isn’t the gay porn movie from which the film takes its title, but rather the recent documentary about filmic portrayals of Los Angeles. Fans of Mike Davis will love this, as will those interested in cultural studies and Los Angeles/Hollywood history. The overall argument was fairly solidly constructed, if a little arch (is it
- [What I've Been Watching: Creep](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/08/what-ive-been-watching-creep/) - Everyone is over found footage except me. The conventional wisdom seems to be that it’s a gimmick whose time has come and is now long gone. Groans attend every new found footage release. But I don’t buy it. It’s just another technique and, when used in the service of a good movie, can make the
- [What I've Been Watching: It Follows](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/08/what-ive-been-watching-it-follows/) - When I saw It Follows in its theatrical run earlier in the year, my reaction to it was mild. With all the hype around it promising one of the scariest movies in years, I was disappointed to find that the scares were relatively mild for this mostly atmospheric movie. I found a lot of interesting
- [A New Story--and the End of Split Lip](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2012/04/a-new-story-and-the-end-of-split-lip/) - After a too-long hiatus, I'm proud to announce that the new Split Lip story, Last Caress, with art by Douglas Draper Jr., will begin serialization starting tomorrow. As with previous updates, new pages will post on Tuesday and Thursday mornings--the story will serialize on this site through July (though it's available now in Split Lip:
- [Sneak Peek: Last Caress - Main Character Designs](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/04/sneak-peek-last-caress-main-character-designs/) - We're still on spring break, but thanks to the magic of technology, I'm sending you this vision of what's coming later in the year. You may remember a script excerpt for a story called Last Caress, set in the world of modeling and high fashion. Doug Draper, who drew Termites in your Smile, is tackling
- [Sneak Peek: Last Caress - Supporting Character Designs](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/05/sneak-peek-last-caress-supporting-character-designs/) - After showing you Doug Draper's designs for the main characters in the upcoming story Last Caress, I've got his designs for two supporting characters: Cassandra, Sybil's business partner, and Sybil's therapist. After the jump, the characters will be revealed. Cassandra Sybil's Therapist
- [SPX, Where We Debut the Straw Gods Mini](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/09/spx-where-we-debut-the-straw-gods-mini/) - The annual Small Press Expo (SPX) is this weekend, Saturday and Sunday. SPX was great fun last year and I'll be there again this year, at table H9B. Also at the show will be T.J. Kirsch, artist of the recently concluded Straw Gods. He'll be sharing a table with Jonathan Baylis, of So Buttons fame.
- [What I’ve Been Reading: You Don’t Say, by Nate Powell](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/08/what-ive-been-reading-you-dont-say-by-nate-powell/) - A career-spanning collection of short comics by Nate Powell, an artist whose work I’ve been enjoying since his early-2000s self-published anthology Walkie Talkie. It’s been terrific to see Powell develop as an artist over the ensuing decade and a half; this book lets us trace a good chunk of that development by drawing stories from
- [Next Story Debuts Aug. 17: Quants](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/08/next-story-debuts-aug-17-quants/) - With Doll's House having wrapped up yesterday, it's time to prepare for our next story. That story is entitled Quants and it will begin it serialization on the site on Aug. 17. Quants is a conversation between two men for whom everything can be reduced to a number. It's got some terrific, naturalistic art from David
- [What I’ve Been Reading: At The Mouth Of The River Of Bees, by Kij Johnson](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/08/what-ive-been-reading-at-the-mouth-of-the-river-of-bees-by-kij-johnson/) - Johnson is skilled in the art of the weird tale, as she demonstrates in this collection of stories spanning just a few pages and 50-plus pages. Even the least-engaging stories here are still examples of sterling writing and fine imagining. But the most effective stories? Good god. When Johnson writes about animals, especially pets, she wields an
- [What I’ve Been Watching: Spring](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/08/what-ive-been-watching-spring/) - This second film from Justin Benson and Aaron Morehead, after their brilliant meta-horror debut Resolution, is very much along the lines of what I want from horror/fantastic literature. It has its moments of horror and dread, its moments of beauty and lyricism and naturalism, and it uses its fantastic elements to illuminate its human, emotional story
- [New Split Lip Book Debuts: Victims](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/07/new-split-lip-book-debuts-victims/) - The latest Split Lip book, Victims, is debuting at Boston Comic Con 2015, on July 31-Aug. 2. It's our first full-length book since the series relaunched in October 2014 and the sixth overall. Victims contains all of the stories that have been published on the site since the relaunch, as well as one that hasn't hit
- [What I’ve Been Reading: Fragments of Horror, by Junji Ito](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/07/what-ive-been-reading-fragments-of-horror-by-junji-ito/) - Reactions to and thoughts about Fragments of Horror, Junji Ito's first English-language collection in many years.
- [What I’ve Been Watching: Wet Hot American Summer](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/07/what-ive-been-watching-wet-hot-american-summer/) - Thoughts on the movie version of Wet Hot American Summer ahead of the release of the Netflix revival.
- [What I’ve Been Reading: Wytches, vol. 1, by Scott Snyder and Jock](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/07/what-ive-been-reading-wytches-vol-1-by-scott-snyder-and-jock/) - Comments on the new Image Comics horror series Wytches, by Scott Snyder and Jock.
- [What I’ve Been Watching: I Am a Ghost](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/07/what-ive-been-watching-i-am-a-ghost/) - Some thoughts on the indie haunted house movie I Am a Ghost.
- [What I’ve Been Reading: Koji Kondo’s Super Mario Bros. Soundtrack, by Andrew Schartmann](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/07/what-ive-been-reading-koji-kondos-super-mario-bros-soundtrack-by-andrew-schartmann/) - Even the 33 1/3 books I haven’t liked I’ve at least understood. Not so much with this one. This installment takes the approach that I think was perhaps somewhat more expected when Bloomsbury took over publishing the series of single books on important albums—a more academic, learned approach than the popular volumes that had marked
- [What I’ve Been Reading: Dead Kennedy’s Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, by Michael Stewart Foley](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/07/what-ive-been-reading-dead-kennedys-fresh-fruit-for-rotting-vegetables-by-michael-stewart-foley/) - The Dead Kennedys make a huge amount more sense to me after reading this installment of the always-fascinating 33 1/3 series of monographs on important or interesting albums. Here, Foley takes a historical approach to the band’s debut album, detailing the politics of the country, California, and San Francisco in the late '70s that gave rise
- [What I’ve Been Reading: Black River, by Josh Simmons](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/07/what-ive-been-reading-black-river-by-josh-simmons/) - Every new Josh Simmons book is a cause for immediate celebration, purchase, and queasiness. I know of no other horror comics maker whose work I find so viscerally upsetting and exciting. Even with all of the great horror artists working in comics today, people who I count among my most favorite artists—Emily Carroll, Junji Ito—Simmons
- [What I’ve Been Reading: Days of Rage, by Bryan Burrough](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/07/what-ive-been-reading-days-of-rage-by-bryan-burrough/) - What a revelation this was. This non-fiction book details leftist revolutionary terrorism in the U.S. in the 1970s and 1980s (1980s, you may be asking. There was leftist revolutionary activity that long after the 60s? Exactly. That’s what makes this book so fascinating). It focuses on names that are well-known like Weatherman and the Black
- [What I’ve Been Watching: We Are Still Here](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/06/what-ive-been-watching-we-are-still-here/) - Thoughts on the indie haunted house movie We Are Still Here and iTunes as a distribution channel for indie horror.
- [What I’ve Been Reading: Going Clear, by Lawrence Wright](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/06/what-ive-been-reading-gone-clear-by-lawrence-wright/) - Brief thoughts on Lawrence Wright's exposure and takedown of the Church of Scientology in his book Going Clear.
- [What I’ve Been Watching: Here Comes the Devil](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/06/what-ive-been-watching-here-comes-the-devil/) - Thoughts on the Mexican horror movie, Here Comes the Devil.
- [Next Story Debuts June 22: Doll's House](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/06/next-story-debuts-june-22-dolls-house/) - Keep your eyes out and your heads up, people: The next Split Lip story debuts on June 22. That story is Doll's House, written by yours truly and with art by Savannah Horrocks. I'm not going to give too much away but, in short, it's a story about a girl at the edge of puberty, a difference of
- [Upcoming Split Lip Stories, May 2015](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/05/upcoming-split-lip-stories-may-2015/) - A quick glimpse at the new comics coming to Split Lip in the summer and fall of 2015.
- [Weeee're Baaa-aaack!](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2015/05/weeeere-baaa-aaack/) - It's good to be back and to be back in this new skin we've got. As some long-time readers may know, Split Lip originally ran online from 2006 to 2012, with a bunch of books and mini comics coming out in those years and into 2013. When I announced the end of the series, I
- [Eeek, Vol. 1, by Jason Paulos](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/12/eeek-vol-1-by-jason-paulos/) - This one-man anthology of classic-style horror demonstrates an impressive range of art styles. While the book has the classic flavor, it's missing some ingredients. Paulson's a good artist, but his writing isn't equal. I see what he's getting at, but his stories too often miss the mark, the endings coming from nowhere. Book: 64/52 52/52:
- [20th Century Boys, vols. 14-15, by Naoki Urasawa](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/12/20th-century-boys-vols-14-15-by-naoki-urasawa/) - Moving towards the conclusion of this epic manga. I'm always struck by the texture and depth of manga art. The backgrounds, buildings, characters—all drawn by assistants and specialists—create greater realism than many Western comics. I know Western comics economics don't allow it, but I'd love to see that approach here. Books: 61-2/52 52/52: An ongoing
- [Criminal, Vol. 5: The Sinners](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/12/criminal-vol-5-the-sinners/) - by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips Another in this excellent series of standalone noir comics. It engages with a classic noir theme—the effects of war on soldiers once they've returned to the homefront. Though the protagonist here has his issues, it's another ex-soldier's bigger adjustment problems that drive the action. A characteristically great comic from
- [A Clash of Kinds, by George R. R. Martin](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/12/a-clash-of-kinds-by-george-r-r-martin/) - Martin is merciless. He has no compunction about spending a book, or more, building a character only to kill them in one paragraph, sometimes off-screen. And he doesn't mind bowing off what a major plot point just as easily. It's a fascinating, exciting approach for an epic novel series; I love it. Buy A Clash
- [Two Horror Stories: Green River Killer & The Wolf](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/12/two-horror-stories-green-river-killer-the-wolf/) - Green River Killer by Jeff Jensen and Jonathan Case; The Wolf by Tom Neely My review of Neely's excellent The Wolf is at iFanboy. Green River Killer, by the son of the detective who caught that serial killer, is a solid detective story. It has some missing elements—especially why Jensen was so driven on this
- [Bonk, by Mary Roach](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/12/bonk-by-mary-roach/) - Mary Roach is one of our funniest serious writers. And there can't be many who take more evident pleasure in their work. All of which makes her great to read. Like Spook, though, this one doesn't seem to be driving at (pun intended) an overall point, which makes it a little unsatisfying. Buy Bonk at
- [R.I.P., by Thomas Ott](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/12/r-i-p-by-thomas-ott/) - I echo Sean Collins on this one: if Ott spent a fraction of the time and care on his writing that he does on his beautiful, insanely detailed scratchboard art, these stories would be masterworks. As it is, they're pat and trite, though amazing to behold. His lighting effects are particularly appealing. Buy R.I.P. at
- [Black Blizzard, by Yoshihiro Tatsumi](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/11/black-blizzard-by-yoshihiro-tatsumi/) - A relatively early work (though, according to the interview with Tatsumi at the back of the book, roughly his 15th full-length manga) about a wrongly accused man handcuffed to a murder who escapes from a train crash. It's pretty raw, far from the skill Tatsumi would later show in his shorts stories. Buy Black Blizzard
- [3 Indie Horror Comics for Halloween](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/11/3-indie-horror-comics-for-halloween/) - Death Trap, by Lane Milburn; Curio Cabinet, by John Brodowski; Deadworld: Slaughterhouse, by Gary Reed and Sami Makkonen. I read these indie horror comics in October to prep for Halloween. My thoughts on Milburn's Death Trap, a grimy 80s horror movie on paper, are here. Curio Cabinent is mostly wordless, but manages to drive home
- [A Game of Thrones, by George R. R. Martin](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/11/a-game-of-thrones-by-george-r-r-martin/) - I'm not much for fantasy—as one friend said when I mentioned this: you mean trolls and shit? That's basically my take on the genre—but this was riveting. The fantasy quotient here was low (but will rise later); the political intrigue and complex characters were too good to stay away from. Book: 50/52 Buy A Game
- [The Sigh, by Marjane Satrapi](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/11/the-sigh-by-marjane-satrapi/) - A modern fairy tale by the author of Persepolis that inverts a number of genre tropes. From rewarding the knowledge-seeking woman to giving her agency to save the prince rather than vice versa, this is a pleasantly updated, charming story. It's worth noting that this is an illustrated storybook, not a comic. Book: 49/52 Buy
- [Hellhound on His Trail, by Hampton Sides](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/10/hellhound-on-his-trail-by-hampton-sides/) - A gripping biography of James Earl Ray, the assassin of Martin Luther King. The book examines the weeks leading up to and following King's assassination in minute and colorful detail, painting Ray as a cunning, mentally ill, bizarre man. I'd never encountered so much detail on Ray before, making this compelling reading. Book: 48/52 Buy
- [We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/10/we-have-always-lived-in-the-castle-by-shirley-jackson/) - Another of Jackson's excellent, subdued supernatural New England novels (following The Haunting of Hill House). This one focuses on two (or is it one?) odd sisters who are old money outcasts in their village and the mystical and social barriers they erect to maintain their position and privacy. Well worth a read. Book: 47/52 Buy
- [Essex County, Vols. 1-2, by Jeff Lemire](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/10/essex-county-vols-1-2-by-jeff-lemire/) - These are the first books—Tales from the Farm and Ghost Stories—from the Essex County trilogy of stories about Canada. I wanted to love them, but found them hard to connect with. Lemire's art is appealing craggy, but his stories so dry, so cavernous that it's hard to engage with them. Books: 45-6/52Buy The Complete Essex
- [The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, by Philip K. Dick](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/10/the-three-stigmata-of-palmer-eldritch-by-philip-k-dick/) - Another hallucinatory SF story by Dick. In this one, the heads of two companies compete to dominate the illegal drug trade on Earth and its colonies. The competition results in reality becoming unstable, an alien (or maybe God) infiltrating and threatening humanity, and Mars colonists sinking into despair. Needless to say: awesome. Books: 44/52 Buy
- [Jessica Farm, Vol. 1, by Josh Simmons](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/09/jessica-farm-vol-1-by-josh-simmons/) - The first installment of a lifelong project from one of the leading horror comics creators working today. Simmons creates 1 page per month; it'll take 40 years to complete. It's a bit harrowing, with the sweet, surreal moments apparently a fantasy life conjured as a means of survival by the abused Jessica. Book: 41/52 Buy
- [American Recordings, by Tony Tost](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/09/american-recordings-by-tony-tost/) - Another in the generally excellent 33 1/3 series of books on classic records. Poet/American mythos scholar Tony Tost surveys the deep resonances and spiritual/political/moral dimensions of Cash's comeback quest through America, American Recordings. As with the best works of criticism, Tost's insights elevate the album to heights it might not achieve alone. Book: 40/52 Buy
- [The Impossible, by Cole Louison](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/09/the-impossible-by-cole-louison/) - Disclosure: the author has been my friend since college, a decade-plus ago. Still: this is a terrific book. I'm not really interested in skateboarding, but I found this compelling and couldn't wait to get back to it every night. It's an engaging combination of history, biography, cultural analysis and PR-lady-labia. Read it. Book: 39/52 Buy
- [I Am Legion, by Fabien Nury and John Cassaday](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/08/i-am-legion-by-fabien-nury-and-john-cassaday/) - A complicated comic, with its combination of sibling rivalry between Dracula and his brother and World War 2-era intrigue, but somehow it doesn't feel crowded. Cassaday's art, with Laura Martin on colors, is beautiful and compelling as always. Something about the book didn't quite hook me. It's not bad, but not amazing. Book: 35/52 52/52:
- [The Man in the High Castle, by Philip K Dick](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/08/the-man-in-the-high-castle-by-philip-k-dick/) - A terrific work of alternate history, taking place in a 1962 where the Axis won World War 2 and partitioned and transformed the world. Almost not science—more speculative—fiction, which seems a departure for Dick. The scenes of characters briefly entering our world to the end of the story are bracing. Book: 38/52 Buy The Man
- [Miss Lonelyhearts/The Day of the Locust, by Nathanael West](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/08/miss-lonelyheartsday-of-the-locust-by-nathanael-west/) - A pair of dark 1930s novels, one focused on New York seemingly abandoned by God, the other on Los Angeles teetering on the brink of apocalypse. The despair of Miss Lonelyhearts made it heavy sledding, but something about the ever-impending threat, the imminent violence of Day of the Locust made it compelling. Book: 37/52 Buy
- [New Story Coming July 26: A Mother's Love](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/07/new-story-coming-july-26-a-mothers-love/) - Our spring break is over! Split Lip returns on July 26th with a new story: A Mother's Love, with art by David Hitchcock. I've previewed the story here: Page 1 finished art Script sneak peek The story is creature feature taking place in 1820s Massachusetts and Dave is killing it artwise with this one. I
- [Split Lip Spring Break 2011](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/04/split-lip-spring-break-2011/) - It's spring break time again and we eager co-eds here at Split Lip are heading out to more tropical climes for a little while. While we're gone, we won't be updating the site, but when we get back to campus, we'll not only have strings and strings of beads around our necks and luscious tans,
- [The Unwritten, vol. 3: Dead Man's Knock](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/08/the-unwritten-vol-3-dead-man’s-knock/) - by Mike Carey and Peter Gross This series about the power of stories comes to an interesting crescendo point in this volume. The crowning achievement of the book is a choose-your-own-adventure comic that lets readers explore the non-linear fragmented psyche of Lizzie/Jane. Truly a magisterial formal accomplishment. I can't imagine how hard it must have
- [The Grave Tattoo, by Val McDermid](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/07/the-grave-tattoo-by-val-mcdermid/) - I enjoyed the BBC series Wire in the Blood, based on McDermid's Tony Hill novels. This book, following an investigation into the fallout from the Mutiny on the Bounty and William Wordsworth, is overlong. The murder subplot seems added simply because McDermind writes crime novels. Initially appealing, but ultimately not worth it. Book: 33/52 Buy
- [Lychee Light Club, by Usamaru Furuya](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/07/lychee-light-club-by-usamaru-furuya/) - A disturbing manga about a group of teenage boys whose underdeveloped maturity and sexuality, and overdeveloped sense of curiosity, leads them into the slaughter of girls and each other as they try to fulfill their desires. A pretty graphic book, but with charms for fans of Suehiro Maruo and other extreme manga. Book: 32/52 Buy
- [+Horror Library+ Volume 1](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/07/horror-library-volume-1/) - This anthology offers more good stories than most first volumes of anthology series. Highlights include Eric Stark's Little Black Box about a world overcome by reproducing cubes, Cordelia Snow's story about a girl living in the walls of a family's house Under the Floorboards, and Kevin Filan's shapechanger tale The Remembering Country. Book: 31/52 Buy
- [Sneak Peek: Colored Version of The Wind and The Rain](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/07/sneak-peek-colored-version-of-the-wind-and-the-rain/) - Back in 2007, artist Neal Von Flue and I did a really fun, sad, creepy adaptation of the old folk ballad The Wind and The Rain for Split Lip. As we did that, Neal and I discovered our shared love of old folk music (Neal's even in a band that plays it!). As we talked
- [20th Century Boys, vols. 10-13, by Naoki Urasawa](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/07/20th-century-boys-vols-10-13-by-naoki-urasawa/) - It takes to the last page of vol. 12—2,500 pages into the story—for the face of the villain to be revealed. Urasawa's skill makes that almost never felt drawn-out or frustrating. With so many false reveals, though, it's hard to trust. Vol. 13's events seems to indicate that it is. Book: 27-30/52 Buy 20th Century
- [The Ghost Map, by Steven Johnson](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/06/the-ghost-map-by-steven-johnson/) - Not quite the gripping page-turner it's touted as, this chronicle of a cholera outbreak in 1850s London is still fascinating. Though nominally it's about the change from thinking cholera was caused by miasma to thinking it's water-borne, it's more about the history of ideas and how false orthodoxies are overthrown. Fascinating stuff. Book: 26/52 Buy
- [Interview with Sam at GammaSquad](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/06/interview-with-sam-at-gammasquad/) - There's a new interview with me up at GammaSquad that I want to point you guys to, if you're interested. It's conducted by Lauren Davis, of Storming the Tower and Comic Book Guide to the Mission fame, and it's one of my favorite interviews I've done. I think in this one I did my best
- [Dark Delicacies, edited by Jeff Gelb and Del Howison](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/06/dark-delicacies-edited-by-jeff-gelb-and-del-howison/) - An anthology by major genre names, co-originated by the owner of the world's only horror-only bookstore, LA's Dark Delicacies. A handful of the stories didn't move me, but a few of them hit hard, especially Clive Barker's "Haeckel's Tale,” a story of a woman who can only be satisfied by the dead. Book: 24/52 Buy
- [Bat-Manga, compiled by Chip Kidd, Geoff Spear, Saul Ferris](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/06/bat-manga-compiled-by-chip-kidd-geoff-spear-saul-ferris/) - An intriguingly odd collection of original Batman comics from 1960s Japan, when the campy show aired there. Some odd decisions, though: why not credit Jiro Kuwata, who drew the comics, and why not include all chapters of each story? Still, a villain who can die and resurrect on command is pretty fun. Book: 25/52 Buy
- [They Live, by Jonathan Lethem](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/06/they-live-by-jonathan-lethem/) - The first in a series of books that looks to do for movies, especially cult movies, what 33 1/3 has done for albums. Here, Lethem examines John Carpenter's whacked-out yuppies-as-aliens classwar science fiction flicks starring Rowdy Roddy Piper. Needless to say, super fun movie, well elevated by Lethem's perceptive watching of it. Books: 23/52 Buy
- [Sneak Peek: A Mother's Love - Page 1 Finished](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/06/sneak-peek-a-mothers-love-page-1-finished/) - Last fall, I gave you a sneak peek of the script to A Mother's Love, a story that was then still very embryonic. It had been written and was in the hands of artist Dave Hitchcock (Whitechapel Freak, Springheel Jack), but wasn't yet being drawn. I'm glad to be able to tell you that's that
- [Let Us Build Us a City, by Donald Harington](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/06/let-us-build-us-a-city-by-donald-harington/) - A tour of the history, present, and curiosities of 11 ghost-, or soon to be ghost-, towns in Arkansas. A fascinating text; it's based on research and interviews, but mixes in things that must clearly be fiction, without delineation. Powerfully well written; it's shameful Harington isn't considered one of America's best writers. Books: 22/52 Buy
- [Stumptown Vol. 1, by Greg Rucka and Matthew Southworth](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/05/stumptown-vol-1-by-greg-rucka-and-matthew-southworth/) - Rucka is a crime writing—both of comics and novels—of long standing. Stumptown is a more lighthearted take on the private investigator genre, following a PI who can't catch a break, but gets the job done. The characters here just didn't resonate for me. Not sure this series is for me. Books: 21/52 Buy Stumptown Vol.
- [Split Lip: Termites In Your Smile and Other Stories Now Available](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/04/split-lip-termites-in-your-smile-and-other-stories-now-available/) - I'm happy to announce that our new book, Split Lip: Termites In Your Smile and Other Stories, is now available. The book is 176 pages and collects 8 Split Lip stories: In Another Room, art by Lee O'Connor Beyond the Campfire Light, art by Jason Ho If You Get Close to Her, art by Christine Larsen PrettyBoy,
- [His Father's Son, by Bentley Little](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/05/his-father’s-son-by-bentley-little/) - An ordinary man's dying father reveals himself to be a serial killer. Great set up, but drab execution. Little's evocation of what makes the main character a monster is skillful and subtle, though perhaps too subtle unless you know what to look for. The plot doesn't quite justify the book's 400 pages. Books: 20/52 Buy
- [To The Lighthouse, by Virginia Woolf](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/04/to-the-lighthouse-by-virginia-woolf/) - Strange experience for me, this book. In terms of plot, perhaps the most boring book I've ever read (120 pages to get through one afternoon and evening?). In terms of style and nuanced psychological insight, though, absolutely compelling and revelatory. Woolf's sketching of characters' hopes and fears through negative space is fantastic. Books: 19/52 Buy
- [Split Lip 2011 Convention Appearances](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/04/split-lip-2011-convention-appearances/) - After a couple of years of hitting the convention scene pretty hard (two drives from Rhode Island to Maryland in the space of three weeks last fall was pretty intense, to say nothing of trips to NYC and Philly, too), in 2011 I'm going to be dialing back Split Lip's convention presence a bit. As
- [The Falls, by Ian Rankin](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/04/the-falls-by-ian-rankin/) - My first exposure to Rankin's John Rebus novels focusing on the Edinburgh, Scotland police. It's very compelling, and makes the interesting choice to barely focus on the victim. Distracting to have a book where a suspect has your dad's full name. I can guarantee the David Costello I know didn't do it. Books: 16/52 Buy
- [The Alienist, by Caleb Carr](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/03/the-alienist-by-caleb-carr/) - A fun historical novel about a serial killer stalking the seedier side of 1890s New York. The book, while a bit overlong, does a good job showing the early development of profiling and forensics. Characters include Theodore Roosevelt and Jacob Riis; featuring real people in fiction somtimes rubs me the wrong way. Books: 15/52 But
- [The Killer of Little Shepherds, by Douglas Starr](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/03/the-killer-of-little-shepherds-by-douglas-starr/) - A terrific historical take on the appalling acts of a French serial killer of the 1890s and the development of modern forensic sciences. The sections about the murderer are interesting, but the book soars in the scientific history and the uncovering of small details that make 1890s France seem like another planet. Books: 14/52 But
- [Doom Patrol, vols. 1-4, by Grant Morrison, Richard Case, et al.](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/03/doom-patrol-vols-1-4-by-grant-morrison-richard-case-et-al/) - I have a weird relationship with Morrison's work. About half strikes me as brilliant the first time (The Invisibles, Animal Man), the other requires re-reads (this, Seven Soldiers of Victory). But on this re-read I get it. Morrison's heavily dada/Burroughs-inspired superheroes are lots of fun, even if they still don't connect emotionally. Books: 10-13/52 52/52:
- [Eerie Archives. Vol. 1, by various](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/03/eerie-archives-vol-1-by-various/) - I feel for Archie Goodwin. He had to write five, 8-page stories for each issue of this series, to be drawn by a cast of different artists. As someone in that same boat, I know how challenging that can be. And I only have to write one story ever month or two. Book: 9/52 Buy
- [20th Century Boys, vol. 6-9, by Naoki Urasawa](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/03/20th-century-boys-vol-6-9-by-naoki-urasawa/) - These volumes dive into the 14-years-later jump from vol. 5, revealing some of what happened in between. The most interesting decision was spending 1.5 books on Bloody New Year's Eve, which the first four volumes built to and then skipped to head to 2014. Only in manga—and that's a good thing. Books: 5-8/52 Buy 20th
- [The Big Payback, by Dan Charnas](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/02/the-big-payback-by-dan-charnas/) - A masterful work for anyone who likes hip hop (especially those who also like history). Reveals Rick Rubin as brilliant jerk, Russell Simmons as visionary doofus, and that hip hop was multicultural from day 1. Would have liked more on impact of the Internet, but at 600+ pages, something needs leaving out. Book: 4/52 Buy
- [Man in the Dark, by Paul Auster](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/02/man-in-the-dark-by-paul-auster/) - Auster's been interested in writing about writing recently. That made Travels in the Scriptorium boring and insular. Man in the Dark is about creating stories and the needs they serve in us. It's much more engaging and emotionally resonant. Part modern civil war fantasy, part Iraq war meditation, it's a solid book. Book: 3/52 Buy
- [The Lodger, by Karl Stevens](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/02/the-lodger-by-karl-stevens/) - Stevens' art continues to break my heart and blow my mind with its incredible detail and photo-realism, as well as its ability to convey deep emotion and the best sense of place I've ever seen in comics. This book feels more like collection than coherent narrative, though; the plot never pays off. Book: 2/52 52/52:
- [It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, by Christopher Weingarten](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/01/it-takes-a-nation-of-millions-to-hold-us-back-by-christopher-weingarten/) - Another of the terrific 33 1/3 series of tiny books on major albums, though this disappointed. It contextualizes the history of some samples, and elucidates the Bomb Squad's technique, but didn't help me understand Public Enemy as much as I'd have liked. Better than some 33 1/3 books, but not the best. Book: 1/52 Buy
- [What I Read in 2010](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2011/01/what-i-read-in-2010/) - For the third straight year, in 2010 I dedicated myself to the goal of reading 52 books in 52 weeks. Just like the last two years, I beat the goal. Also just like the last two years, my total number of books read went down compared to last year (from 83 to 71 to this
- [See You Next Year!](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/12/see-you-next-year/) - Hey everyone - hope you're enjoying the Christmas/New Year's intersession we've got going on right now. I sure am. Enough, in fact, that Christine Larsen and I are taking this week off from updating If You Get Close To Her, Kiss Her Once For Me. Regularly scheduled updates will resume in 2011, at which point
- [The Extremist, by Peter Milligan and Ted McKeever](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/12/the-extremist-by-peter-milligan-and-ted-mckeever/) - They don't publish comics like this in the mainstream anymore—maybe not anywhere. It's a shame. A complex, nuanced tale about the importance of communication, the price of getting what you want, and the dangers of being bored. It's also about S&M, murder, and has a hint of the supernatural. Fantastic stuff. Book: 54/52 52/52: An
- [Audition, by Ryu Murakami](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/12/audition-by-ryu-murakami/) - The novel that forms the basis of one of my favorite movies. While largely following the same story, the novel's neither as scary, nor as much of a wrong-foot surprise, as the movie. Too much foreshadowing, and less of the hallucinatory horror of the movie, make the book a bit less compelling. Buy Audition at
- [The Unwritten, Vol. 2: Inside Man](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/12/the-unwritten-vol-2-inside-man/) - By Mike Carey and Peter Gross I was on the fence about continuing with this, but this sold me on coming back. This installment of the meditation on the nature and power of stories (as told through the lens of a Harry Potter-esque character) reminded me a lot of the best psychedelic parts of Shade
- [Everything's Eventual, by Stephen King](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/12/everything’s-eventual-by-stephen-king/) - This collection of short (and not so short) stories by King is an interesting mix. There are a few stories explicitly designed to scare, but the majority seem to be King stretching a writing muscle or trying something new. None of the stories are bad, but I was hoping for more chills. Buy Everything's Eventual
- [Sneak Peek: The Voice of Celia Darling - Finished Art](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/12/sneak-peek-the-voice-of-celia-darling-finished-art-2/) - I've shown you page one of the story already. This is the last you'll see here before it debuts in full next year. The opening bits of this story -- set in 1920s Hollywood -- are designed to evoke credit/title sequences and movie lobby cards. This page, page 2 of the story, illustrates that well.
- [Sneak Peek: The Voice of Celia Darling - Finished Art](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/11/sneak-peek-the-voice-of-celia-darling-finished-art/) - When I last posted about this story, I didn't have an artist attached to it. Now, I'm happy to reveal, John Bivens, who previously drew Fitcher's Bird and Se Perdre at Split Lip, is on board and cranking out terrific art. John's sending me new pages a couple times a week already, so I'm pretty
- [Next Comic Debuts Nov. 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/11/next-comic-debuts-nov-16/) - We're taking today off from our regular posting schedule (we deserve a break after a story as grisly and intense as Cured, right?). However, come back on Tuesday, when we'll resume our scares with "If You Get Close To Her, Kiss Her Once For Me," a ghost/haunted house story with an emotional twist and awesome
- [Top 100 Horror Movies, by Gary Gerani](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/11/top-100-horror-movies-by-gary-gerani/) - Fascinating because of how deeply I disagree. The majority of these movies are pre-1960 (largely pre-1950), he overrates Hammer (his all-time best is from Hammer!), and he seems to have missed almost every important international movie since 1990. An odd book from a conservative critic who regularly apologizes for and devalues horror. Buy Top 100
- [The Best American Crime Reporting 2010, ed. Otto Penzler and Thomas Cook](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/11/the-best-american-crime-reporting-2010-ed-otto-penzler-and-thomas-cook/) - The annual installment of top crime journalism published in American magazines. The reporting and writing is always top-notch, though the parade of human misery—and the sameness of the crimes and victims—can be difficult sometimes. A highlight is Charles Bowden's "The Sicario,” a chilling profile of a Juarez drug cartel assassin. Buy The Best American Crime
- [Welcome New Readers!](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/10/welcome-new-readers/) - A hearty Halloween hello to readers coming to the site for the first time this weekend thanks to coverage at io9, the Providence Phoenix, Robot 6, iFanboy, and elsewhere. Glad to see you - I hope Split Lip provides the Halloween-comics scares you're looking for. A few notes: Our archive of 31 free stories is
- [We Will Bury You, by Brea Grant, Zane Austin Grant, and Kyle Strahm](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/10/we-will-bury-you-by-brea-grant-zane-austin-grant-and-kyle-strahm/) - This is some major profile—published by IDW, full color, variant covers—for Split Lip collaborator Kyle Strahm. The major attraction here for me is Kyle's art. Not only does he render appealingly, amusingly gruesome zombies, but his infestation scenes look wonderfully and gloriously filthy—just the way a zombie world should. Buy We Will Bury You at
- [Sneak Preview: If You Get Close to Her, Finished Art](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/10/sneak-preview-if-you-get-close-to-her-art/) - You may remember the sneak preview I ran a month or so ago of an upcoming story called "If You Get Close to Her, Kiss Her Once For Me." Well, Christine Larsen's art is starting to come in—and it is awesome. I've got a sneak peak of the first few panels of the story after
- [Just Ballin', by Mike Wise and Frank Isola](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/10/just-ballin’-by-mike-wise-and-frank-isola/) - A quickie take on the improbable 1999 NBA finalist NY Knicks. It came out a few months after that season and it shows: the writing is rough and the styles don't always mesh. Not quite the inside take I'd hoped, but good for some classic one-liners unrepeatable on a family horror comic. Buy Just Ballin'
- [The King in Yellow, by Robert W. Chambers](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/10/the-king-in-yellow-by-robert-w-chambers/) - A fascinating book, since it gives lie to the notion that Lovecraft emerged sui generis. You'll find cursed books, arcane knowledge, strange animals, oddball academics, and much more here. Only a couple of these stories are good, but the title tale is excellent. A key document for the history of American horror. Buy The King
- [Revolver, by Matt Kindt](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/09/revolver-by-matt-kindt/) - A great concept: a man wakes up one day in a post-apocalyptic world, the next in his hum-drum, depressing life. In this case, the graphic novel form feels limiting. Rather than 160-ish pages, I'd have preferred to see it develop, deepen, and unfurl over the course of 10, 12, or 20 comics. Buy Revolver at
- [Criminal, Vol. 3: The Dead and The Dying](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/09/criminal-vol-3-the-dead-and-the-dying/) - by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips A trio of linked stories set in Brubaker and Phillips' noir world, showing three sides of the same set of crimes. The sense of constant, pervasive doom these characters face can be a bit wearing and overwhelming sometimes, but Brubaker's writing and Phillips expressive, nuanced art always makes these
- [Cahokia, by Timothy Pauketat](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/09/cahokia-by-timothy-pauketat/) - From the years 1050 to about 1300, Cahokia was the largest city in North America outside Mexico, even larger than London. A major world city in southern Illinois, which most American have never heard of. Though this slim volume doesn't have every answer, it's got fascinating insight into Cahokia's origins and disintegration. Buy Cahokia at
- [Index to Comixtalk Guest Blogging](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/09/index-to-comixtalk-guest-blogging/) - A week or two ago, I had the pleasure of a week's guest blogging at Comixtalk in which I asked 5 Questions of webcomics readers and fans. If you'd like to check out all the posts, here are the quick links to them: Introductions Who Is Your Core Audience? How Do You Read Webcomics? Do
- [A Note on Scheduling](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/09/a-note-on-scheduling/) - Just a quick note to let you know that the next Split Lip story, Cured (which has been previewed on this site a few times already), will begin its serialization on Tuesday, Sept. 14. Starting with Cured (which has awesome art by Erik Rose, BTW), Split Lip will update on Tuesday and Thursday from now
- [The Hollywood Economist, by Edward Jay Epstein](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/08/the-hollywood-economist-by-edward-jay-epstein/) - A wealth of delights if you're interested in the business behind the movies and how Hollywood changed over the past 35 years. An anthologized series of columns and articles, so it doesn't always have a strong though-line. Too bad Epstein's so opposed to comics, though. That's a weird bugaboo that recurs throughout. Buy Hollywood Economist
- [Seven Soldiers of Victory, Vol. 1, by Grant Morrison and various artists](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/07/seven-soldiers-of-victory-vol-1-by-grant-morrison-and-various-artists/) - My second attempt at Morrison's interlocking collection of seven miniseries about obscure DC characters. This time, I enjoyed it much more. The varying tones, art styles, and themes across the stories show Morrison as impressively versatile, but also deftly weaving a single, greater narrative. I can't wait to read the concluding volume. Books: 34/52 52/52:
- [Dream Spectres: Extreme Ukiyo-e, by Jack Hunter](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/08/dream-spectres-extreme-ukiyo-e-by-jack-hunter/) - Fascinating art book on a handfu of topics in ukiyo-e, Japanese woodblock prints that dominated there for hundreds of years. This isn't for the weak stomached — it's all extreme sex, violence, and ghosts here. I'd have liked more full-page images, though the accompanying text and restored images provide great insight and context. Buy Dream
- [Market Day, by James Sturm](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/08/market-day-by-james-sturm/) - Another historical graphic novel by Sturm. I prefer his earlier works set amidst specific time periods and trends (the Great Awakening, the Gold Rush, and barnstorming baseball teams), but this tale of a European Jewish rug-maker wrestling with an existential crisis in the face of a changing economy is well-observed and appealing. Buy Market Day
- [Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour, by Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/08/scott-pilgrim’s-finest-hour-by-bryan-lee-o’malley/) - The concluding volume of the action/romance about a guy who must defeat his love's seven evil exes to win her. I was surprised to find I didn't care too much about the love story; it was the fights and video game bits that were my favorites. Ah well, still a fun series. Buy Scott Pilgrim's
- [Sneak Preview: A Mother's Love - Script](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/09/sneak-preview-a-mothers-love-script/) - I can't tell you how thrilled I am to tell you that an upcoming Split Lip story will be drawn by David Hitchcock, the brilliant UK horror artist best known for Whitechapel Freak and Springheeled Jack. Given's David's historical interests, I had to give him a story set in the past - that's what "A
- [Index to iFanboy Indie Comics Columns](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/08/index-to-ifanboy-indie-comics-columns/) - I recently wrote a four-column for iFanboy called "On My Own in Independent Comics" about my experiences in making self-funded indie comics (i.e. the comics on this site). The columns ranged from how I got started making comics to how I work at conventions to the finances it takes to make Split Lip run. If you're
- [A Busy Weekend for Comics](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/10/a-busy-weekend-for-comics/) - If you're me, this weekend is - as the West Coats kids say - hella busy with comics. Here's how it breaks down: On Saturday, I'll be selling and signing Split Lip at That's Entertainment at 244 Park Ave., Worcester, Ma., from 12-4. A few other local talents will be on hand, too, so swing
- [Sneak Preview: Cured – Inked Panels](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/08/sneak-preview-cured-–-inked-panels/) - You'll remember "Cured," the next Split Lip story, which I've been previewing here over the last few weeks. Erik Rose, the artist on the story, has been sending me finished, inked pages - and they're so awesome I want to show a little bit of them to you. You'll find a couple of great panels
- [Sneak Preview: Cured - Layouts](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/07/sneak-preview-cured-layouts/) - Following last week's script excerpt from "Cured" - which is likely to be the next story published here - here's a quick preview of some of Erik Rose's breakdowns for the first two pages of the story. These are rough (Erik's process includes rough thumbnails followed by pencilling, inking, and finishing the pages all in
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-07-18](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/07/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-07-18/) - Awesome 1st pages from Marvel 70s comics. Incredible how engaging & fun these are as intros to the story. https://bit.ly/d9ygi4 # The 1st of 4 columns by me on making self-funded indie comics is up at @ifanboy today. https://bit.ly/c1EhLL Hope you dig it!Please RT # The old Hollywood Split Lip story I've been writing? First
- [Greetings iFanboy Readers!](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/07/greetings-ifanboy-readers/) - A hearty hello to those of you meeting Split Lip for the first time thanks to my column at iFanboy. I hope you find some things that you enjoy and stay awhile. To start you off, can I direct you to a few of our recent comics? Make Westing, by me and Anthony Peruzzo The
- [Welcome to the New Split Lip](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/07/welcome-to-the-new-split-lip/) - I'm pleased to welcome you to the new Split Lip website. This is our first new site in nearly 4 years and it's a big upgrade! The improvements in this version of the site include: Bigger images - On the old site, comic pages were just 575 pixels wide. Now they're 750 pixels wide, giving
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-07-11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/07/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-07-11/) - Last Friday it was answering emails all evening. This Friday, preparing quarterly tax deductions. Who's jealous of my glamorous life? # "Make Westing" is up @ Split Lip. @peruzzo & I adapted the Jack London story of man vs. elements & high seas murder: https://bit.ly/9STmIp # Powered by Twitter Tools
- [Comic Review: Dark Water](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/10/comic-review-dark-water/) - Adapted by | Artist: MeimuFrom the book by: Koji SuzukiPublisher: ADV Manga Most of us have felt the stark, icy terror of not knowing what lurks in the ocean below us as we swim, what awaits us in the darkened, unfamiliar room as in we walk. What we're afraid of is the possibility that something's
- [Comic Review: The Awakening](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/01/comic-review-the-awakening/) - Writer: Neal ShafferArtist: Luca GenovesePublisher: Oni Press It's pretty simple, I think, for readers out there to figure out whether they're going to like Oni Press' new horror graphic novel, The Awakening: if you like giallo, especially Dario Agento's Suspiria, you'll like The Awakening. But that may be the only way you'll like it. Giallo
- [The Dreaming and Why TokyoPop May Have Trouble with OEL](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/12/the-dreaming-and-why-tokyopop-may-have-trouble-with-oel/) - The Dreaming was very good indeed and much better than I'd expected. I was a little hesitant to pre-order it since it seemed to be targeted at teens and I prefer more adult-leaning manga. Still, I thought I'd give it a shot. And I'm glad I did. It's atmospheric, tense (a comic! a comic that's
- ["An Excuse to Draw a Naked Girl with a Tail" - Charles Burns Talks Black Hole](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2006/02/an-excuse-to-draw-a-naked-girl-with-a-tail-charles-burns-talks-black-hole/) - It's a great, sprawling, sexy, sad, layered work, truly befitting the term "graphic novel."For those that have read it, or want to get excited for it, there's an excellent, in-depth interview with Burns that's just been posted. An excerpt:That woman at the signing thought it was a romance story and if you regard it as
- ["The Copernicus of the Horror Story"](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/02/the-copernicus-of-the-horror-story/) - Or so, it seems, in a delightfully bon mot, Fritz Leiber once called Lovecraft. The quote comes up in a nice little piece in yesterday's Boston Globe about Lovecraft and the impending Library of America edition of his work. The piece isn't too deep, but it draws some interesting connections - tying Lovecraft to Raymond
- [Octavia Butler Dead at 58](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2006/02/octavia-butler-dead-at-58/) - Butler was known not only for her work but also for being a female and African-American voice in a genre - science fiction - dominated largely by the white and the male. She was also the first ever science fiction writer to be awarded a MacArthur "Genius" grant, which is pioneering in an entirely different
- [Artistic Interpretations of Literary Figures](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/12/artistic-interpretations-of-literary-figures/) - The gallery, which is all part of a personal collection acccumulated by Steven Gettis, is terrific and makes me wish pretty hard that some of these drawings were available for purchase. I'd buy 'em.Lots of sci fi, horror, and fantasy authors and characters are depicted, including Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, John Carter of Mars, Paul Atreides,
- [This Horrifying Life](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/05/this-horrifying-life/) - Two affectless and frightening examples of real-world horror came my way this weekend from the public radio show This American Life.This first show, Animals, is the more recent of the two and was broadcast this weekend (Listen in Real Audio). The show's first, long story concentrates on the work of photographer Catherine Chalmers (her work
- [A Postcard from the Land of the Dead](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/04/a-postcard-from-the-land-of-the-dead/) - It's Zombie Friday at Dark, But Shining!Yahoo Movies has a new, long trailer for George Romero's new movie, Land of the Dead.Land of the Dead is being billed as Romero's final say on his classic series of zombie films - Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, and Day of the Dead.The trailer,
- [Split Lip at SPX: The Day After](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/09/split-lip-at-spx-the-day-after/) - I made good time driving back from Bethesda last night. The trip down - thick with traffic jams and accidents - took about 8 hours. Leaving Bethesda at 6:30, right after SPX wound down, I arrived back in Providence by 1:15. Exhausted, but man was it worth it. SPX was my first two-day convention selling
- [One Day Only: Free E.A. Poe Audiobook MP3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2006/02/one-day-only-free-e-a-poe-audiobook-mp3/) - If you know horror lit. - or really American lit. - at all, then you know the story and know that it's totally, totally awesome. And when you combine an awesome story with a free audiobook, there's no way you can lose. Unless you wait. Remember, it's only free today. You want it tomorrow? Cough
- [Peter Benchley dead at 65](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2006/02/peter-benchley-dead-at-65/) - Benchley, of course, is well-known to horror fans and every kid in the last 30 years who was every afraid of what was below them while they swam in the ocean as the author of Jaws. I haven't read the book, but the first film is terrific and certainly made me pretty nervous whenever something
- [Starting to Repeat Myself about Marvel Zombies](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/12/starting-to-repeat-myself-about-marvel-zombies/) - I want to stop, I really do, but I can't! How good is this cover? I mean, really. This is hilarious.A zombified riff on X-Men #1. How funny? The Beast's arms coming off, Cyclops holding his head to shoot his optic beams. Darn funny.MARVEL ZOMBIES #4 (of 5) Written by ROBERT KIRKMAN Penciled by SEAN
- [Horror Television: Angel](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/10/horror-television-angel/) - I love Netflix. Beyond the convenience, the savings, and all those illy things, Netflix has helped me really appreciate television as an artform. Thanks to being able to get shows on DVD at a much lower cost than it would take to buy them (which, in turn, leads to me getting them a lot more
- [Marvel Zombies Redux](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/11/marvel-zombies-redux/) - This, of course, is a nod to the famous Todd McFarlane cover to The Incredible Hulk (#347? Could I remember that right, even all these years later?)I love Wolverine's eye and the Hulk's teeth in this one. Here are the details:MARVEL ZOMBIES #3 (of 5)Written by ROBERT KIRKMANPenciled by SEAN PHILLIPSCover by ARTHUR SUYDAMThe star
- [Movie Review: Fausto 5.0](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/02/movie-review-fausto-5-0/) - 2001/SpainStarring: Eduard Fernandez, Miguel Angel Sola, Najwa NimriDirector: Alex Olle, Isidro Ortiz, Carlos PadrisaOfficial Site | IMDB There's something sort of funny about doing favors for people. It's even funnier when they're favors the other person didn't ask for. Doing someone a favor often puts that person who got the favor in the mind that
- [Comics Can Scare, They Just Don't Try](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/01/comics-can-scare-they-just-dont-try/) - There's a good little discussion kicking across a few sites and blogs right now about whether comics actually have the capacity, as a medium, to scare people. The things was kicked off by an article by Nate Southard and picked up on by Kevin at Thought Balloons and Dorian at Postmodern Barney. I figure this
- [Book Review: The Monster Show](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/07/book-review-the-monster-show/) - By David J. SkalPublisher: Faber and Faber All stories are woven out of well-known and easily identifiable archetypes, according to the story theorists out there. They tell us, in fact, that there are really only perhaps seven plots and maybe 30 or so characters and every tale told is just a variation upon these building
- [Lion's Gate Cashes In](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/01/lions-gate-cashes-in/) - We're in a little horror boom right now, as you've probably noticed if you've been to the comic shop or the theater in the last year or two. And good thing. But whenever there's a boom in any market, horror or otherwise, previously uninvolved companies will move in to try to capitalize. It's only smart
- [Wishlist 2005: New Indie Horror Talent](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/01/wishlist-2005-new-indie-horror-talent/) - My favorite horror comics of the past few years have been the works of Japanese creator Junji Ito and the American indie horror creators Tom Manning, Eric Powell and Dash Shaw. From Uzumaki to Manning's Runoff to Powell's The Goon to Shaw's Love Eats Brains, their works have never been less than deeply interesting must-reads,
- [Wishlist 2005: More Junji Ito, and then some](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/01/wishlist-2005-more-junji-ito-and-then-some/) - Horror comics fans had at least one reason to be sad in 2004 - we had to go the whole 12 months without new work in English by world horror master Junji Ito. Ito, who is responsible for what I hold to be the greatest horror comic ever in English, Uzumaki, last released new English
- [Movie Review: Saw](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/11/movie-review-saw/) - 2004/U.S.Director: James WanStarring: Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover, Ken Leung, Michael EmersonIMDB | Official Site Two men, strangers to each other, wake up to find themselves trapped in a filthy, abandoned bathroom, both chained by the leg to pipes and with the dead body, a man who has seemingly shot himself in the head,
- [RIIFF Movie Review: Freak Out](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/10/riiff-movie-review-freak-out/) - UK/2004Director: Christian JamesStarring: James Heathcote, Dan Palmer, Nicola Connell, Yazz FettoIMDB | Official Site 2004 is a good year for horror/comedy films from the U.K. First, megahit Shaun of the Dead took both the UK and the US by storm. Now, with a smaller budget and smaller release, comes Freak Out, a movie featuring perhaps
- [Comic Review: The Ballad of Sleeping Beauty #1](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/08/comic-review-the-ballad-of-sleeping-beauty-1/) - Writer: Gabriel Benson | Artist: Mike Hawthorne and Mike AtiyehPublisher: Beckett Comics Reading comics on the web is not always ideal. As many an e-book proponent has found, the experience of reading a printed product translated to the screen is not always a pleasant one, and rarely equals the experience of having the physical thing
- [Coffin](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2006/02/coffin/) - Comics writer Neil Kleid is serializing his new novel, Coffin, on his LiveJournal. The novel looks to be a survival horror piece, telling the story of a group of people trapped underground in a New York City subway car after a terrorist bombing of the train.The set up is similar to TokyoPop's recently released series
- [Sleepless in Seattle as a horror movie](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2006/01/sleepless-in-seattle-as-a-horror-movie/) - Very funny, even to someone like me who hasn't seen the original, and very well done. It's amazing what a little taking-out-of-context will do for you!Enjoy!I saw this link first on Boing Boing.
- [Self-Promotion to Start the New Year](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2006/01/self-promotion-to-start-the-new-year/) - So, I'll start here: My short comic, "Dark Matter", appears in Variants #2, the new issue of the Variance Anthology from Variance Press. It's the first comic I haven't self-published and would be awesome just because of that, but the art by Jeff Palmer is pretty slick, too. You'll get two other comics in the
- [Variants #2: “Dark Matter”](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2006/06/variants-2-dark-matter/) - My first comic published by someone other than me. Title: Dark Matter Artist: Jeff Palmer Publication: Variants #2 Publisher: Variance Press Published: December 2005 Format: 8-page story Story synopsis: On a lonely road in the dark Kansas night, a man stops to pick up a woman walking along the side of the road. He wants
- [Horror Television: The Outer Limits](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/10/horror-television-the-outer-limits/) - This is the big hole in these articles. I know The Outer Limits was a great show. I remember watching it for a while and loving it, thinking it was as good or better than The Twilight Zone.The problem? I don't remember the show at all. Sure, there are snatches of scenes in my head,
- [Scary Music: "Good Clean Fun," by Cat Power](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/10/scary-music-good-clean-fun-by-cat-power/) - Music intended to be scary, using the trappings of horror, rarely is. The Misfits are perhaps more associated with horror music than any other, and yet for all of their excellent music, none of it is very scary. The same is true for legions of other punk and metal bands, trying so hard to be
- [Best Comics News in Months](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/10/best-comics-news-in-months/) - Well, Dark Horse Comics is going to be getting a lot of my money in the coming months and years as they've stepped up to the plate.Dark Horse (here's what they have to say about the news), according to ICV2's article linked above, has acquired licenses to Junji Ito's Museum of Terror, which seems likely
- [Contest Review: Priest](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/10/contest-review-priest/) - Here's another we're giving away. Fail to enter at the peril of your entertainment!-----writer/artist: Min-Woo Hyungpublished by TokyoPop(this article originally appeared in Rue Morgue #35, Sept./Oct. 2003)In Priest (15 volumes; TokyoPop; originally published in Korea), gun packing priests kill zombie armies. Like Harvey Keitel's character in From Dusk ‘Til Dawn, Ivan Isaacs - the comic's
- [Contest Review: Uzumaki](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/10/contest-review-uzumaki/) - Uzumaki is one of the books we're giving away in the Asian horror comics contest. Read this and then decide if you can afford not to enter!------Writer/Artist: Junji ItoPublisher: Viz(this article originally appeared in Rue Morgue #35, Sept./Oct. 2003)There is no manga quite like Junji Ito's Uzumaki (three volumes, from Japan) available in English and
- ["Would You Like To See My Mask?"](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/06/would-you-like-to-see-my-mask/) - So, the weekend is almost over and with it ends the first weekend of release for what is sure to be one of the summer's bigger movies, and certainly one of the biggest salvos in the ongoing superhero-movie wars: Batman Begins.Overall, I'd guess that the results are a mixed bag for Warner Bros., Batman fans,
- [Wishlist 2005: Smart Scares](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/01/wishlist-2005-smart-scares/) - As Dorian pointed out a few months back, there seems to be a mini-trend going on in horror movies right now: movies that are more concerned with story, character, tone and actually scaring the audience, rather than just grossing them out or making them shut their brains off. I really, really want to see more
- [Wishlist 2005: Less Zombies, Less Vampires](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/01/wishlist-2005-less-zombies-less-vampires/) - Comics in 2003 and 2004 were surprised by the rise, both in success and buzz, of horror comics. Mostly, we can thank a one-man horror factory for it: Steve Niles. Niles, whose 30 Days of Night brought horror comics back in a big way in 2001, cranked out dozens, seemingly hundreds, of horror comics in
- [Comic Review: Runoff](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/11/comic-review-runoff/) - Writer | Artist: Tom ManningSelf-Published There is nothing else so similar to writer/artist Tom Manning's Runoff as David Lynch's television opus Twin Peaks. But, even the Twin Peaks comparisons fall short of the weird and thrilling mix of pirates, monkeys, monsters and supernatural geography found in Runoff. Something strange is happening to the town of
- [RIIFF Movie Review - Un-Real](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/11/riiff-movie-review-un-real/) - 2004/U.S.Starring: Sean KingDirector: Paul NataleIMDB | Official Site Remember my recent complaints about horror movies about horror movies? Well, this is one of the movies that set me off. Un-Real is the story of a amateur horror filmmaker whose terrible, crappy movies keep getting rejected by festivals. After one festival director tells him that the
- [Moratorium: Horror About Horror](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/10/moratorium-horror-about-horror/) - This is the first in an irregular series of thoughts on what I think we see too much of and need to see less of in horror, things that need to be stopped, given a break for a while. In short, thing on which we need a moratorium. ----- Can we please please please quit
- [The Pleasures of a Talkative Audience](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/10/the-pleasures-of-a-talkative-audience/) - Just got back from seeing The Grudge. On a Friday night, close to Halloween, at the big mall here in Providence (what can I say? I'm a sucker for digital sound and stadium-style seating.), the place was, of course, packed with teenagers. We all know what teenagers do during movies - talk, laugh, make too
- [Staking the Cliches](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/10/staking-the-cliches/) - Dorian at Postmodern Barney has an excellent - and hilarious - post today on why he hates vampires. It boils down to sexual violence, Anne Rice, homophobia, and goth wankery. It's a dead on article and funny, too. He couldn't be more right about why the vampire is such a worn-out archetype at this point
- [T-Minus 9 and counting...](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/10/t-minus-9-and-counting/) - (or the Month of Horror Blogging is winding down) Rick's excellent Eat More People is continuing its month-long horror blogstravaganza. Go check it out. He and his guest bloggers have covered werewolf movies, some Peter Jackson, zombies, haunted houses, and how Kramer vs. Kramer is a horror movie. Only 9 more days. Eat More People
- [Don't Save the Children](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/12/dont-save-the-children/) - Interesting post today from the always-interesting David Fiore. His argument is about media generally, but it applies specifically to horror (and other outcasts) - one of the genres that is most often targeted by those seeking to "protect" us, children and adult alike, from some nebulous, "harmful" content. An excerpt to get you to click:
- [30 Days of Horror Blogging](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/10/30-days-of-horror-blogging/) - Rick, over at the deliciously titled Eat More People, is spending the month leading up to Halloween blogging about his favorite horror movies. He's just getting started and he's already got some good stuff up (especially the current post about Jaws). Rick's blog is new to me. He's clearly a smart guy and he's putting
- ["Ghost stories in which the ghost never appears"](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/08/ghost-stories-in-which-the-ghost-never-appears/) - The always-excellent The Believer has a good interview with one of my favorite short story writers, Dan Chaon. Check it out. In it, Chaon says that he thinks of his stories as "ghost stories in which the ghost never appears" (a line he apparently borrowed from horror writer Peter Straub). It's a great description of
- [Comic Review - Tiempos Finales, Vol. 1](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/07/comic-review-tiempos-finales-vol-1/) - writer | artist: Sam Hitipublished by: La Luz comics It used to be that the major small press/indie comics show on the East Coast each year was the Small Press Expo, or SPX, held each year in Maryland. The East Coast indie landscape has started to shift in recent years, though, with the newly christened
- [Movie Review: The Strangler's Wife](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/07/movie-review-the-stranglers-wife/) - 2002/USDirector: Michael AllossoIMDB | Official Website If there's any genre and archetype that has been done, pardon the pun, to death in the last 10 or 15 years of cinema and fiction, it's the serial killer. Starting with psychos and slashers, moving through cannibals and their copycats, the serial killer has so dominated the landscape
- [Comic Review: Hino Horror Vol. 2: The Bug Boy](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/06/comic-review-hino-horror-vol-2-the-bug-boy/) - Writer/Artist: Hideshi HinoPublisher: Cocoro Books/DH Publishing One of the major side effects of the manga boom (manga being Japanese comics), along with bringing new readers to comics and revitalizing the medium for thousands of teenagers who would have otherwise abandoned it and left the comics industry barren and hollow in another decade, has been the
- [Movie Review - The Machinist](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/11/movie-review-the-machinist/) - 2004/U.S.Director: Brad AndersonStarring: Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sanchez-Gijon, John Sharian, Michael IronsideIMDB | Official Site There's a scene part way through the first A Nightmare on Elm St. in which a sleep doctor tells the movie's hero, Nancy, that if someone doesn't dream, they'll go insane. If this is true, Trevor Reznik, the
- [RIIFF Movie Review - Thanatos Road](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/11/riiff-movie-review-thanatos-road/) - 2004/U.S.Starring: Frank Noel, Jennie Epstein, Kenette Hayes, Lauren JasinskiWriter | Director: Edward KishelIMDB | Official Site Thanatos Road was one of the true gems of the Rhode Island International Horror Film Festival. What presents like a bog-standard serial killer movie, and is saddled early on by stupid decisions by the main character, eventually twists itself
- [Born to Run](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/12/born-to-run/) - For those of you who have been around for my anti-zombie essays, I've got a concession to make. I saw the Dawn of the Dead remake over the weekend and as much as I've not liked zombies in the past, this was a good, scary movie. Sure, the movie has perhaps an overlarge cast and
- [Tidings of Madness and Woe](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/12/tidings-of-madness-and-woe/) - I don't usually go in for Christmas carols, to say nothing of "funny" knock-off Christmas carols (though I tell you what: Bright Eyes' version of Johnny Cash's "Blue Christmas" is just wonderful), but this is too good to pass up. A Very Scary Solstice - Christmas carols about Lovecraft's Old Gods. Good, funny stuff. It
- [Keep It Short](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/12/keep-it-short/) - I've been watching the first disc of the newly released DVD of Night Gallery, Rod Serling's follow-up series to The Twilight Zone. Night Gallery premiered in 1970 and ran for three or four years, giving audiences horror, dark fantasy, and science fiction stories. If that sounds like The Twilight Zone, well, as far as I
- [Movie Review: Stacy](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/12/movie-review-stacy/) - 2001/JapanDirector: Naoyuki TomomatsuStarring: Tomoka Hayashi, Natsuki KatoIMDB Traditionally we haven't seen a lot of zombie movies coming out of Japan. That's changed a bit in recent years with movies like Junk and Stacy. Stacy is the story of a plague that affects Japanese schoolgirls, first causing them to become morbidly, disturbingly happy and cheerful (the
- [Horror This Week - Jan. 3, 2005](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/01/horror-this-week-jan-3-2005/) - Horror This Week is a quick summary of the new and/or interesting independent, international, or notable horror DVDs and comics that are being released this week. The comics listed here are those that are distributed by Diamond Comics Distributors. DVDs listed are those available at major retailers like Amazon and others. Small-scaled DVDs with no
- [Wishlist 2005: More Danielewski](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/01/wishlist-2005-more-danielewski/) - Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves was a big hit among followers of horror literature in 2000. It was the only horror novel that has actually scared me as an adult. The second night I was reading it, I actually had to turn on extra lights and check to make sure the walls of my
- [J Horror Flattens Out](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/01/j-horror-flattens-out/) - In the late 1990s and early years of this century, horror, especially horror films, was given a much needed injection of energy and freshness from Japan and other parts of Asia, revitalizing the genre. Dubbed J-Horror (for Japanese Horror, taking its naming convention from the term for Japanese pop, J-Pop), the wave of blood and
- [At the Risk of Being Called a Big Girl](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/02/at-the-risk-of-being-called-a-big-girl/) - I give you Hello Cthulhu. Is it weird that I like Hello Kitty? Whatever, it seemed appropriate after yesterday's post.
- [Further Moratoria](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/02/further-moratoria/) - Warren, over at Warrenzone, has a good, funny post today suggesting some other horror moratoriums, after I called for no more horror about horror a while back. Warren and I disagree about the horror-about-horror thing, but I agree with a lot of what he has to say about the tired-ass cliches of mainstream horror films
- [Schedule Set ... Kinda](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/02/schedule-set-kinda/) - Just a little housekeeping note: For those who remember, a few weeks back I asked what people would think if I were to set a regular schedule for posts and kind of posts (that is, every Tuesday is a comic review, etc). The response was pretty much in favor of it. I've been thinking about
- [Can I Say](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/03/can-i-say/) - OK, so I know that neither of these movies really quite fits my remit here at LT, but March is here and can I say how excited I am to see The Ring Two and The Jacket?Wow. I'm really, genuinely thrilled for both and hope they don't disappoint.Ring Two looks visually shocking and just deeply
- [Can't Stay Away, or More Hino Reviews](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/03/cant-stay-away-or-more-hino-reviews/) - See? I told you all I'd be back. I just didn't think it would be so soon. But I got an email today telling me that something that had been cooking for a little while was ready, so I thought I'd hip you all to it.And here it is: I've got a new review of
- [Disappointment, Part 1](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/03/disappointment-part-1/) - So, I saw The Ring Two last night.What a bummer. It was turgid, ill-conceived, repetitive, and - worst of all - just not scary. I had sort of feared this, but was hoping to get something else. The sequel is directed by Hideo Nakata, the director of the original Japanese version of the story, Ringu.
- [That's Really Scary](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/03/thats-really-scary/) - Things just come together sometimes, you know? You're talking about something, or wondering about it, on Monday and the answer falls out of the sky to you on Tuesday. Or the more you think about something, the more you start to see it in the world.It happened to me in the last week or so
- [Shifting Forms](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/04/shifting-forms/) - There's something really interesting, and a good bit dislocating and scary, going on over at Sean Collins' new blog.Go check it out.You might want to start from the beginning to really get the full idea. But I'd wager you can just start at the front, too.This is a fascinating thing. I'd say more, but I
- [Two Great Tastes That Taste Great Together](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/04/two-great-tastes-that-taste-great-together/) - There aren't many things that are hotter over the past few years than zombies and the iPod. Finally those of you who have been longing to unite this mismatched pair can do so with a trio of zombie novels written specifically to be read on the iPod!These novels, Monster Nation, Monster Island, and Monster Planet,
- [Dracu-blog](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/05/dracu-blog/) - Blogs have been around for a few years now (depending on your exact definitions), but things are starting to get really interesting recently as folks are pushing the boundaries and overturning our expectations of what blogs are. One way that's being done is by using a blog as a forum for long-format fiction.This kind of
- [A Different Kind of Naked Lunch](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/05/a-different-kind-of-naked-lunch/) - Take a gander at these safe sex ads put together by a French advertising agency. (There's a second if you click through the link.)Kind of horrifying, huh? These ads take a couple of everyday thing, bugs and sex, and meld them in a truly disturbing and surreal way. Just like the best horror.They remind me
- [And For Our More Timid Audience Members...](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/05/and-for-our-more-timid-audience-members/) - ...here's a puppy.
- [A Primer Primer](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/05/a-primer-primer/) - There are few things I find as satisfying as the micro-budget, independently produced work of great entertainment, talent, or genius. The small work, often self-financed, that announces the arrival of a new talent and shows us a vision of story, of the world, of human experience that is unencumbered by the absurd, commercialist dictates of
- [He Vants to Suck Your Bandwidth](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/05/he-vants-to-suck-your-bandwidth/) - Man, I love this Internet thing. There's always something cool and new - and often free - on it. One of the best places to find these sorts of things is the Internet Archive. Along with offering the Wayback Machine that lets you view old versions of websites and Creative Commons-licensed music (I recommend Brendan
- [24 Horrors a Day](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/07/24-horrors-a-day/) - A Friday article in the New York Daily News about Lions Gate Films' purchase of a large film library has an interesting little aside in it: Lions Gate may be planning a 24-hour horror-movie channel.This is particularly interesting in light of two things:1. Lions Gate's current commitment to horror (they're the studio behind Saw, High
- [On Second Thought, Forget the 5th of November](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/07/on-second-thought-forget-the-5th-of-november/) - Now, let me get it out of the way before I say the rest of this: I'm not one of those people who requires a "faithful" comic-to-movie adaptation and I don't worship Alan Moore's V for Vendetta. I read it maybe five years ago, remember thinking it was very good, but haven't opened it since.So,
- [Carnival of Awesome!](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/07/carnival-of-awesome/) - My love affair with The Internet Archive continues madly. We're getting married soon. You'll all get invitations, of course.Why are things going so well, you ask?Well, because they've just made available - for free download, remember! - one of my all-time favorite horror movies: Carnival of Souls.Carnival is not only a great movie, but a
- [MMORgue](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/08/mmorgue/) - And people are doing some really interesting things with them - using the frameworks of the games to create new kinds of entertainment, like talkshows (thanks to John Pavlus for pointing this one out to me), and building offline economies from in-game play.But screw all that theoretical, I-wanna-write-for-Wired-circa-1994 stuff (but I do! Wired editors, if
- [Vampires at Walden Pond?](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/08/vampires-at-walden-pond/) - A fascinating piece from two weeks ago by a writer named Caleb Crain posits that Ralph Waldo Emerson could have believed that his wife was a vampire and thus decapitated her after her death to prevent rising from the grave.The always-excellent Paul Collins, author of (among other fine books) Banvard's Folly, was the source of
- [The Successorcism of Emily Rose](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/09/the-successorcism-of-emily-rose/) - You know, I was all set to write an post tonight called the SUXorcism of Emily Rose. But then I saw the movie. It's not really a good movie, mind you - more of a mixed bag - but the good parts of the movie are too good to write off entirely.And the box office
- [Marvel Zombies Indeed](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/09/marvel-zombies-indeed/) - Marvel Comics' solicitations for titles coming out in December have gone online and offer one, lone horror nugget: Marvel ZombiesHere's the deal:Written by Robert Kirkman, penciled by Sean Phillips, cover by Arthur Suydam.Torn from the pages of Ultimate Fantastic Four! On an Earth shockingly similar to the Marvel Universe's, an alien virus has mutated all
- [Doesn't Anyone Want to Win Comics?](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/10/doesnt-anyone-want-to-win-comics/) - So, no one seems to have entered my contest for the horror manga. What's with that? It's free comics, people!OK, so there's a new contest coming up really soon (and it. is. awesome.) and we need to get a winner for this one. As such, I'm changing the rules:Forget the "visual representation of our name"
- [We Have Some Winners!](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/10/we-have-some-winners/) - OK, we've got some winners in my Asian horror comics contest. Thankfully, too, because my slacking on announcing this is delaying you all from experiencing the awesomeness of Kevin's contest, coming any minute now. If you're bummed that you didn't get a chance to enter that one soon enough when you see it, blame me.
- [Hail to the King](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/10/hail-to-the-king/) - So, Stephen King is going to be writing comics for Marvel. With Jae Lee illustrating. It's a prequel to the Dark Tower series.That's pretty big news, really. Major, actually. King is pretty much the biggest name in the world in literature (though, of course, Rowling's giving him a run for his amazingly large piles of
- [Halloween producer Akkad killed in Jordanian terrorism](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/11/halloween-producer-akkad-killed-in-jordanian-terrorism/) - I don't know much about the guy, but I love those first two Halloween movies and thought it bore mentioning.Akkad is seen here in a family photo, made available through the AP, with his daughter, Rima, who was also killed in the attacks.
- [Back from the Future: NYC2123](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/12/back-from-the-future-nyc2123/) - I'm sure you've all noticed our absences here recently. Rick and Kevin have both noted them. What's up, though? Well, you could look at it as a really long, really bad hangover from one really intense month (we posted about 70 articles in October).Or you could accept this, my preferred, explanation: We've been in the
- [Another Excuse to Get a Video iPod](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2005/12/another-excuse-to-get-a-video-ipod/) - Well, in case you do, or need to justify it to yourself or Santa, here it is:There are a bunch of public-domain horror movies available for it.Some good folk, or folks (it's not clear from that site), are encoding public domain horror movies for the video iPod and posting BitTorrents of them for you to
- [Cthulegos](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2006/02/cthulegos/) - And it seems I never get tired of pointing them out to you.Here's a cute little tableau of the Old Gods rising from the deep blue sea to menace a seaside town made entirely of Legos. Not that scary, really, but cute and cool and funny, and that gets you somewhere with me.Oh, and there
- [Coming Soon: Interview with Eric Powell](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2006/02/coming-soon-interview-with-eric-powell/) - About 18 months ago, I had the opportunity to interview the very talented and very funny Eric Powell, the creator of the hilarious Dark Horse series The Goon. I did the interview for a horror comics zine and, for whatever reason, the issue that was supposed to have the interview in it never came out.
- [Sympathetic Monsters, an interview with Eric Powell, part 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2006/02/sympathetic-monsters-an-interview-with-eric-powell-part-2/) - Are you interested in doing further work for the big two? Do you have favorite characters you'd like to tell stories about?I don't have any objection to it. I just don't see myself having enough time any time soon. I tried to get DC to let me do a Demon miniseries a while back but
- [Things That Scare Me](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2006/02/things-that-scare-me/) - Queenie Chan, writer/artist of the very, very good The Dreaming (mentioned here at DBS in December), is running an interesting discussion of what people find frightening at her blog.Some of the greatest fears mentioned by those who have contributed include serial killers, being abandoned, annihilation of the self, and being buried alive.It's interesting to me
- [More Free Poe Audiobooks](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2006/03/more-free-poe-audiobooks/) - If the free audiobook of Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart from the other day whetted your appetite for more audio Poe, you're in luck. The Poe Podcast Project, which is part of the Sci-Fi Podcast Network, a site that provides, well, a bunch of podcasts on science fiction, is offering free downloadable podcasts of Poe stories.
- [Nightwatch, or Not to be negative, but](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2006/03/nightwatch-or-not-to-be-negative-but/) - Saw it last night, spurred on against myself by all the hype and good reviews. Well, bad decision:It made no sense.It was pretty, but empty.The characters were hardly defined at all.The world they lived in made next to no sense.It was a mishmash of a bunch of other things, and not well-synthesized.It was surprisingly slow
- [RIIFF Movie Review - The Crypt Club](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/10/riiff-movie-review-the-crypt-club/) - 2004/CanadaDirector: Miguel GallegoStarring: Allison Pill, Jessica Greco, Kerry SegalIMDB | Official Site There's an old Monty Python bit about how a king stands out like a shaft of gold when all around is dark. It's an insult because they mean the king is like a stream of piss, but it doesn't have to be rude.
- [Founding Mythologies](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/10/founding-mythologies/) - The Believer, the very excellent monthly magazine about books and culture that spun out of Dave Eggers' McSweeney's about 18 months ago, features an interesting book excerpt in its October issue (the one with John Kerry on the cover). The excerpt is from a book (to be published this spring by Believer Books) called H.P.
- [A Little Something to Kill To](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/10/a-little-something-to-kill-to/) - What is it with serial killers and music in movies? Has anyone else noticed this? Serial killers always always always listen to one of two kinds of music: classical or heavy metal. What is this about? There's the refined version of the serail killer, the ultra-intelligent, Ted Bundy/Hannibal Lecter who creates his blood opuses to
- [Comic Review: Strange Embrace](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/10/comic-review-strange-embrace/) - Writer | Artist: David HinePublisher: Active ImagesPublisher's Page for Title Strange Embrace is a terrifically twisted gothic tale of love and lust, betrayal and madness, diseases of the body and the mind. In grand gothic style, it's replete with sexual and artistic obsessions, mad, sequestered relatives, false deaths, and more. This description makes it sound
- [Horror This Week - Nov. 1, 2004](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/11/horror-this-week-nov-1-2004/) - Horror This Week is a quick summary of the new and/or interesting independent, international, or notable horror DVDs and comics that are being released this week. The comics listed here are those that are distributed by Diamond Comics Distributors. DVDs listed are those available at major retailers like Amazon and others. Small-scaled DVDs with no
- [A Lust for Vengeance](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/11/a-lust-for-vengeance/) - or, the God of the Old Testament is Making Movies I don't think you'll find a lot of evangelical Christians at the new horror hit Saw, but they'd love the film's morality. The moral message of the movie is that through suffering, vengeance, torture, and murder, society's wayward and immoral can be redeemed and once
- [The Mute Trailer Rule](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/11/the-mute-trailer-rule/) - So I have this rule that I use to assess the potential of movies that I see advertised in the trailers before features. It hasn't failed me yet, and it's pretty simple: any movie which has no talking - be it dialogue or voiceover - in the trailer is going to suck. It's a simple
- [60s Horror: Spider Baby](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/08/60s-horror-spider-baby/) - 1964/U.S.Director and Writer: Jack HillStarring: Lon Chaney Jr., Carol Omhart, Quinn Redeker, Beverly Washburn, Jill Banner, Sid Haig IMDB My understanding is that Spider Baby was shown primarily as the more risque, but perhaps also lower quality, part of a drive-in double bill during its initial cinematic run. After watching the movie, it's not hard
- [60s Horror - Horror of Dracula](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/09/60s-horror-horror-of-dracula/) - 1958/EnglandDirected by: Terence FisherStarring: Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing IMDB | Hammer Films Britain's Hammer Films is a legendary producer of horror films starring classic horror actors such as Christopher Lee. To the best of my recollection, Horror of Dracula is the first Hammer Film I've seen (with the possible exception of some edited, Saturday-afternoon TV
- [Comic Review - Ill Conceived](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/09/comic-review-ill-conceived/) - Writer: T.J. May | Artist: Shelton BryantPublisher: Summ Publications It takes a lot of guts to publish a comic with a name that could so easily backfire on the creators as Ill Conceived. I mean, if the comic is terrible, you're screwed, because the jokes just write themselves. So it's lucky for creators T.J. May
- [Horror This Week - Oct. 3, 2004](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/10/horror-this-week-oct-3-2004/) - Horror This Week is a quick summary of the new and/or interesting independent, international, or notable horror DVDs and comics that are being released this week. The comics listed here are those that are distributed by Diamond Comics Distributors. DVDs listed are those available at major retailers like Amazon and others. Small-scaled DVDs with no
- [Movie Review: Ginger Snaps Back](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/10/movie-review-ginger-snaps-back/) - 2004/CanadaDirected by: Grant HarveyStarring: Katherine Isabelle, Emily Perkins, Nathaniel Arcand, JR Bourne, Hugh Dillon, Tom McCamus IMDB Has there ever been a really good prequel? Does such a creature exist? Anybody? Beuller? I can't think of one. Of recent vintage, we've had The Exorcist: The Beginning, Red Dragon, and the most recent Star Wars trilogy.
- [RI Horror Film Festival](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/10/ri-horror-film-festival/) - For any of you USers in the Central/Eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Eastern Connecticut region: The Rhode Island International Horror Film Festival starts tonight, Thursday the 14th of October. I've never been before, but the schedule looks great, with a ton of short films (so hard to find short horror!), a night of Asian horror, German
- [Comic Review: Priest](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/06/comic-review-priest/) - writer/artist: Min-Woo Hyungpublished by TokyoPop (this article originally appeared in Rue Morgue #35, Sept./Oct. 2003) In Priest (15 volumes; TokyoPop; originally published in Korea), gun packing priests kill zombie armies. Like Harvey Keitel's character in From Dusk ‘Til Dawn, Ivan Isaacs - the comic's titular man of the cloth - is "a mean motherfuckin' servant
- [Movie Review: Ginger Snaps: Unleashed](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/06/movie-review-ginger-snaps-unleashed/) - 2004/CanadaDirector: Brett Sullivan IMDB | Official Site It's a rare sequel that surpasses the original. Aliens, the excellent sequel to the already-very-good 1979 science fiction hit Alien, is the classic example of the child overtaking the parent. Ginger Snaps Unleashed, the second film in the Canadian girl-werewolf trilogy, doesn't quite make the cut for that
- [The Horror Place](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/06/the-horror-place/) - My friend Lauren works at Starbucks. And because she's worked for years now, and we talk about the job, I've learned some things about Starbucks' corporate philosophies and the ideas which guide the company. Some of these ideas are, of course, a little laughable (e.g. their commitment to "legendary” service), but others do make a
- [Comic Review: Whitechapel Freak](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/06/comic-review-whitechapel-freak/) - Writer/Artist: David HitchcockPublisher: Black Boar Press Publishing a work on a topic that an acknowledged masterpiece of your chosen medium has recently tackled is an unwise decision commercially, even more unwise when you're working in the small press. Doing so is likely to get you overlooked or lost in the critical wake spreading out behind
- [Movie Review: Ichi the Killer](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/06/movie-review-ichi-the-killer/) - 2001/JapanDirector: Takashi MiikeIMDB (this article originally appeared in Rue Morgue #33, May/June 2003) While not strictly a horror movie, gore hounds will die for Ichi the Killer. Entrails abound, faces not attached to heads slide down bloody walls, and skin is eaten off fingers. Ichi, adapted from the Japanese comic of the same name, is
- [Addendum to Strangler's Wife Review](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/07/addendum-to-stranglers-wife-review/) - A few things I want to elaborate on, but not directly within the context of my review. 1. I've no doubt that some people, those who don't know me most likely, will read this review as being somehow prudish or overly sexually conservative. You'll have to trust me that it's not. I don't mind nudity
- [Comic Review: The Goon Vol. 1: Nothin' But Misery](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/08/comic-review-the-goon-vol-1-nothin’-but-misery/) - Writer | Artist: Eric PowellPublisher: Dark Horse ComicsOfficial Site There's something about a little psychopath punching out a fortune-telling seal that just makes me laugh. And I'm not afraid to admit it. If that (and it gets better - the seal tells fortunes by doing nothing but barking out "Ark!") strikes you as funny, then
- [Why Are We Here?](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/06/why-are-we-here/) - I always feel at the outset of these kinds of enterprises (whether they're blogs, zines, magazines, whatever) the need to articulate the point of the thing's existence. And though I think the subhead above encapsulates the goal of the blog pretty well, I feel a bit of a need to explain myself some more. I
- [Comic Review: The Malay Mysteries](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/06/comic-review-the-malay-mysteries/) - writer: Jai Senartist: Rizky Wasisto Edipublished by Shoto Press (this article originally appeared in Rue Morgue #35, Sept./Oct. 2003) A light, but no less accomplished for it, strain of horror is offered in The Malay Mysteries, a pair of uniquely designed and printed comics dramatizing Indonesian folks tales. The series kicks off with its darkest
- [Movie Review: Audition](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/06/movie-review-audition/) - 1999/JapanDirector: Takashi Miike (this article originally appeared in Rue Morgue #33, May/June 2003) Following the death of his wife, Aoyama's friend suggests they hold an audition for a bride, telling the girls they are casting for a new film. They find the perfect girl in Asami: She's young, pretty, quiet, and respectful, but her resume
- [A Little More Zombies](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2004/06/a-little-more-zombies/) - Thinking a bit more about my Walking Dead review. I want to say two things about zombies: 1. I don't dislike zombies. I just don't see them used in too many interesting ways. But I do very much like the following zombie works: Movies: Night of the Living Dead, The Serpent and the Rainbow Books:
- [Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together (Vol. 4)](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/01/scott-pilgrim-gets-it-together-vol-4/) - by Bryan Lee O'Malley Scott Pilgrim finds love. A surprisingly sweet and tender bit of character work in the middle of a series usually heavy on laughs, video games, and interactivity (the vegan shepard's pie from Vol. 2 was really tasty). Some cute video game bits; not as funny as previously, but still lots of
- [The Apocalypse Reader, Edited by Justin Taylor](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/01/the-apocalypse-reader-edited-by-justin-taylor/) - I liked the idea of starting the year with this anthology about apocalypses. Seemed like a good next step after finishing last year with The Road and Our Ecstatic Days, but comics intervened. That and none of these stories really connecting with me — even those by favorites like Oates, Evenson, Poe. Buy The Apocalypse
- [Queen & Country, Vol. 8: Operation: Red Panda](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/01/queen-country-vol-8-operation-red-panda/) - By Greg Rucka and Chris Samnee The last (for now) installment the English spy thriller is odd for me. After Vol. 7, Rucka continued the story in a novel — that I didn't read. I felt out of the loop. Good story here, but missing the immediate past, and learning there's no immediate future, made
- [Clockers, by Richard Price](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/01/clockers-by-richard-price/) - Power's epic tale of drug dealing and policing in late 80s/early 90s New Jersey is hilarious, heart-rending, frightening, and revelatory. A subtle, affecting psychological take on the toll poverty takes on people. The things Powers learned here are echoed — sometimes down to the word — in his writing for The Wire. Buy Clockers at
- [Zag, by Marty Neumeier](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/02/zag-by-marty-neumeier/) - A great primer on branding, marketing, and company development lent to me by my pal/colleague Josh. I don't usually buy business books — or even read many — but this one is getting bought this week so I can have my own copy on hand. I suspect it's going to be useful for years. Buy
- [Zombie, by Joyce Carol Oates](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/02/zombie-by-joyce-carol-oates/) - One of my favorite horror novels, though less chilling now than on first reading a few years ago. Oates' horror stories are not always hugely original within the genre (though some, like the one titled with a black square, are stupendous), but her craft so surpasses most genre writers it hardly matters. Buy Zombie at
- [Cerebus Vol. 13: Going Home](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/02/cerebus-vol-13-going-home/) - By Dave Sim and Gerhard Some readers can't set aside the beliefs that Sim espouses and look at this work. Admittedly, it's difficult. Cerebus is the only comic I've read that cultivates a true sense of foreboding and one of the few with a truly complex, novelistic execution. Despite the unpleasant politics, it's a stunning
- [Dragon Head Vol. 6, by Minetaro Mochizuki](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/01/dragon-head-vol-6-by-minetaro-mochizuki/) - In the sixth volume of this post-apocalyptic manga, Mochizuki's reach exceeds his grasp. He tries some interesting formal things — merging scenes from multiple locations, POVs, and flashbacks onto one page — but they don't quite work. The book feels ragged and unsatisfying; unsure I want to continue, but I own the next four. Buy
- [Dragon Head Vol. 7, by Minetaro Mochizuki](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/02/dragon-head-vol-7-by-minetaro-mochizuki/) - After about 1200 pages, we get hints of the apocalypse's cause. It's not what I'd guessed, which is nice. Still, it moves too slowly and dwells on boring segments. I know manga is decompressed, but I suspect a good editor could cut this in half and still retain all the good stuff. Buy Dragon Head
- [Dragon Head Vol. 8, by Minetaro Mochizuki](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/02/dragon-head-vol-8-by-minetaro-mochizuki/) - I'm approaching the series' end (just two books to go) and there's no reason to care about the characters or plot. There are only so many scenes of destruction to draw. I've got book 9; it will determine whether I buy 10. Either way, I'll be selling this series to someone else. Book: 10/52 52/52:
- [Dragon Head Vol. 9, by Minetaro Mochizuki](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/03/dragon-head-vol-9-by-minetaro-mochizuki/) - OK, I'm done. I'm so sick of this series that I'm not even going to buy the last volume to find out how it ends. This volume was padded with pointless pages and introduced a whole new major character (in the second-to-last-installment!), and a ridiculous extrapolation on the fear theme. Just bad. Buy Dragon Head
- [Chronicles, Vol. 1, by Bob Dylan](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/03/chronicles-vol-1-by-bob-dylan/) - Fascinating and frustrating. Frustrating: he rarely talks about his music, and when he does, doesn't always do so by name. Fascinating for its style (weird vocabulary married to interesting verb tenses) and trips through Dylan's intelligence and worldview. One worry: Since Dylan is known for fabricating his past, what here is true? Buy Chronicles, Vol.
- [MPD Psycho Vol. 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/04/mpd-psycho-vol-3/) - by Eiji Otsuka and Sho-u Tajima I'm glad not to be reading this series beyond this installment. The violence in this big reputation/low delivery manga is controversial. Rightfully so: it's exclusively repulsive, pointless sexualized violence against women. The art is hard to understand, backgrounds rarely make an appearance. A confusing, lifeless series apparently empty of
- [Body Brokers, by Annie Cheney](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/04/body-brokers-by-annie-cheney/) - Fascinating expose of the U.S. funeral industry that shows that donated bodies are nearly as likely to be sold piecemeal as used for research or teaching. Ghastly in some places, hilarious in others. A good example of how to create a full-length book from a magazine feature. Certainly not for the squeamish. Buy Body Brokers
- [What Happens Next, by Marc Norman](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/04/what-happens-next-by-marc-norman/) - An excellent history of Hollywood sceenwriting, and as a result, of Hollywood itself. Especially valuable for its insights into Hollywood's early years. Movies fans and writers alike will find much to love here. Plus, it packs in tons of interesting tidbits and zingers that will make you way more interesting at parties. Buy What Happens
- [Kane Vol. 6: Partners, by Paul Grist](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/06/kane-vol-6-partners-by-paul-grist/) - Comics' only pure police procedural. No other comic is so obsessive in examining, in minute detail, the ways in which we can't escape our previous actions and how our pasts color our presents. Grist is an excellent page designer, but this volume's story felt like it made less progress than previous ones. Buy Kane Vol.
- [DMZ Vol. 4: Friendly Fire, by Brian Wood, Riccardo Burchielli, et al.](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/06/dmz-vol-4-friendly-fire-by-brian-wood-riccardo-burchielli-et-al/) - Wood and Burchielli's alternate history of a new U.S. civil war in the near future is generally engaging, though its politics are not necessarily hugely sophisticated. Still, I like them. This examines the pivotal Day 205 massacre through Rashomon-style perspectives. Frustrating story — the massacre itself is gripping, but the fallout somewhat predictable. Buy DMZ
- [Crossing Midnight Vol. 2: A Map of Midnight, by Mike Carey and Jim Fern](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/06/crossing-midnight-vol-2-a-map-of-midnight-by-mike-carey-and-jim-fern/) - This concept is appealing — a story about Japanese legends and ghosts, by English and American creators — but the execution fails a bit. Beautiful art, but the stories don't have much weight to them and it's hard to engage with the characters. The series has been cancelled and I'm done with it here. Buy
- [Conjunctions 39, The New Wave Fabulists](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/06/conjunctions-39-the-new-wave-fabulists/) - An anthology covering the growing crossover between literary fiction and genres like horror, science fiction, and fantasy. I love those kinds of stories, but this group was weak. It would have been great to see Dan Chaon, Brian Evenson, or Steve Erickson in it. Instead, some of these stories just felt limp. Buy Conjunctions 39
- [Clockwork Creature, by Kyle Strahm](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/06/clockwork-creature-by-kyle-strahm/) - An early work by artist Kyle Strahm, one of my collaborators on Split Lip. Kyle's work is distinctive and beautiful, though the print-on-demand reproduction undermines his art — the blacks are weak, not deep enough. Kyle's got more, higher-profile work coming soon. I've seen a bit — and now can't wait to see more. Buy
- [Master of Reality, by John Darnielle](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/06/master-of-reality-by-john-darnielle/) - From a series of short books on important albums. This one, on Black Sabbath's album of the same name, is by my favorite musician, John Darnielle, AKA the Mountain Goats. This essay is written in the form of a novel about a kid locked against his will into a residential treatment facility. Buy Master of
- [Dragon Head Vol. 10, by Minetaro Mochizuki](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/06/dragon-head-vol-10-by-minetaro-mochizuki/) - I'd decided to quit this pointless series before its end, but found I'd mail-ordered the final volume and forgotten. Since the book was in hand, I read it. Mistake. The series ends on an utterly pointless and befuddling note, hardly resolving key plot points and adding a bunch of junior high philosophizing. Buy Dragon Head
- [Scalped, Vol. 2: Casino Boogie, by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/06/scalped-vol-2-casino-boogie-by-jason-aaron-and-rm-guera/) - The second installment of Aaron's noir-on-the-reservation series. This collection of linked short stories focusing on an individual characters on the night of the opening of the reservation's casino is more appealing than the first volume, with deep and rewarding character work. Not sure I'll be buying volume 3; just don't feel compelled. Buy Scalped, Vol.
- [Smuggling Spirits, Vol. 1, by Ben Fisher and Mike Henderson](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/06/smuggling-spirits-vol-1-by-ben-fisher-and-mike-henderson/) - A good high concept: in an alternative 1920s, where demons overran the earth after World War I, a man and boy run booze across the countryside. The execution is less polished. Henderson's moody, inky, appealing work recalls Sin City-era Frank Miller, but this thin volume's story feels slight and doesn't quite engage. Buy Smuggling Spirits,
- [Blood Meridian, by Cormac McCarthy](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/06/blood-meridian-by-cormac-mccarthy/) - As interesting a study in genre as I can recall. If anyone else wrote this bludgeoning, gore-soaked novel, it would be horror, but the name on the cover makes it literature. Some of the violence is hard to take, but the language is amazing. Echoes of McCarthy in Brian Evenson's Old West. Buy Blood Meridian
- [Whatever, by Karl Stevens](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/08/whatever-by-karl-stevens/) - A collection of strips Stevens did for the Boston Phoenix alt.weekly. Stevens captures just the right moment sand expressions. The images are nearly poetic and his heavily crosshatched style beautiful. If you lived in Boston in your 20s (as I did), this book may be more poignant than is comfortable. Truly excellent. Buy Whatever at
- [Pulphope, by Paul Pope](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/08/pulphope-by-paul-pope/) - An artbook by one of the leading comics artists of this generation. The book is highlighted by the appearance of comics he did in Japan that have never been published elsewhere. His essays are also fascinating, but it seems unfair that he can be a great artist and a good writer simultaneously. Buy Pulphope at
- [Why the Devil Chose New England for His Work, by Jason Brown](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/08/why-the-devil-chose-new-england-for-his-work-by-jason-brown/) - A bruising collection of short stories that will ring unpleasantly true for anyone who's lived very long in rural New England. Though some of the stories are a little slow, the best ones punch you in the face and then curse at you with a Maine accent. Which is a good thing. Buy Why the
- [Y the Last Man, Vol. 10: Whys and Wherefores](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/09/y-the-last-man-vol-10-whys-and-wherefores/) - By Brian K. Vaughn and Pia Guerra The final collection of the five-year series about a gender plague that leaves only one man alive on the planet. A great, though slightly hurried, wrap up to a great series, with one of the most effective slow motion (or, for the comics fan, decompressed) scenes I've encountered
- [Found II, by Davy Rothbart](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/09/found-ii-by-davy-rothbart/) - The second book-length collection of found notes, letters, journals, and ephemera. The novelty is wearing off a bit, or maybe the finds just aren't as high quality, since more of them are needed to support the magazine and the books. Still, I was proud to have a find in the first volume. Buy Found II
- [Acme Novelty Library 18, by Chris Ware](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/09/acme-novelty-library-18-by-chris-ware/) - A typically beautiful and high-design comic focusing on the life story of one resident of a Chicago apartment building; part of Ware's Building Stories series. Good stuff, but I wonder: does anyone ever laugh in Chris Ware comics? Writing funny is hard, but these comics, great as they are, can be bummers. Buy Acme Novelty
- [Age of Bronze, Vol. 3: Betrayal, by Eric Shanower](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/09/age-of-bronze-vol-3-betrayal-by-eric-shanower/) - The third installment of Shanower's epic graphic novel of the history of the Trojan War. An impressive technical achievement, in that strictly speaking very little happens (a lot of sailing and talking, really), yet it manages to be gripping. His focus on character, nuance, and a gods-free narrative makes a great story. Buy Age of
- [Can I Keep My Jersey?, by Paul Shirley](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/09/can-i-keep-my-jersey-by-paul-shirley/) - Christine lent me this amusing memoir about the life of a marginal professional basketball player (11 teams in 4 years isn't a successful track record). Though Shirley's insight into higher-achieving players in fascinating and he's definitely not your average pro athlete, he's not quite as beyond them as he seems to think. Buy Can I
- [Blue, by Elizabeth Genco and Sami Makkonen](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/10/blue-by-elizabeth-genco-and-sami-makkonen/) - A modern retelling of the Bluebeard legend (I did my own version at Split Lip), with art by my collaborator Sami Makkonen. A great debut for Genco, who updates the story well while retaining a dreamy sense of fairy tale. I'd love to see more comics adapting fairy tales and folk ballads. Buy Blue at
- [The Dain Curse, by Dashiell Hammett](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/10/the-dain-curse-by-dashiell-hammett/) - Hammett's second novel; I liked the first, Red Harvest, better. Though the prose and dialogue are a lot of fun, the plot felt too driven by the need for the book to continue and less by the characters. Perhaps the book was overplotted – I just didn't want to continue after a while. Buy The
- [The Best American Crime Reporting 2008](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/10/the-best-american-crime-reporting-2008/) - The annual anthology of true crime writing from the country's leading magazines. While always great books full of fascinating stories, it gets depressing to read the same broad outlines of people and the crimes they commit or are victims of year after year. It's just an unpleasant commentary on the human condition. Buy The Best
- [Use Your Illusion I and II, by Eric Weisbard](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/10/use-your-illusion-i-and-ii-by-eric-weisbard/) - Another installment of the excellent 33 1/3 series of books on seminal albums. This one is only nominally about GN'R. It's really about the end of a the blockbuster album phase of the music industry, the decline of metal in the face of grunge, and correcting the shaky record that is memory. Buy Use Your
- [DMZ, vol. 5: The Hidden War](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/11/dmz-vol-5-the-hidden-war/) - by Brian Wood, Riccardo Burchielli, Daniel Zezelj, and Nathan Fox A series of stories focusing on supporting characters. Normally the kind of thing I love, but not dense enough with story for me. I'm losing some interest in DMZ. I'd like less focus on the DMZ and more on the rest of the country, but
- [The Year of Magical Thinking, by Joan Didion](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/11/the-year-of-magical-thinking-by-joan-didion/) - Didion's memoir about the year her husband died and her daughter almost did. I found her lifestyle a little irritating, but the book is a clinic on writing mechanics. The writing is so spare, so lean, so technically perfect that each sentence compels you to continue and is a deep, intense joy. Buy The Year
- [The Last Season, by Phil Jackson](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/11/the-last-season-by-phil-jackson/) - Jackson's book on the 2004 Lakers, the team he thought would be his last (he's back now). An interesting take on trying to manage nearly unmanageable personalities. Jackson's ideas about leadership and teamwork – and the need to subsume the self to a greater collective whole to achieve success – are fascinating and instructive. Buy
- [World War Z, by Max Brooks](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/11/world-war-z-by-max-brooks/) - I'm rarely jealous of a book. Admiring, yes; jealous, no. I'm jealous of this one. It not only breaks ground for faux-oral history books about horror, but probably also covers the ground behind it. Anyone working in this direction will inevitably be compared to this book, and probably will come up short. Buy World War
- [Me and The Devil Blues, Vol. 1, by Akira Hiramoto](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/11/me-and-the-devil-blues-vol-1-by-akira-hiramoto/) - A manga about the mysterious, legendary life of blues musician Robert Johnson. Creepy in places, but not enough happens in these 500 pages to keep me interested. The art's beautiful, but Hiramoto doesn't always convey music visually (not an easy thing) well enough to balance the art with the music it's about. Buy Me and
- [Stiff, by Mary Roach](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/11/stiff-by-mary-roach/) - A book about the many fascinating uses of human cadavers. Packed so full of interesting scientific and historical trivia that even if you only remember half of it, you'll be the life of dinner parties for years. Not great to read during actual dinners, though – as I learned at my own expense Buy Stiff
- [Ex Machina, Vol. 7: Ex Cathedra](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/11/ex-machina-vol-7-ex-cathedra/) - By Brian K. Vaughn and Tony Harris The ongoing exploits of Mitchell Hundred, the ex-superhero mayor of New York. This short volume suffers for a slightly pointless-seeming story about the Pope and less sharp, more stiff art than normal. The final story takes a sharp turn away from superhero/political hybrid comic towards Batman-style superheroics. I'm
- [Criminal Vol. 2: Lawless](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/12/criminal-vol-2-lawless/) - by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips Brubaker and Philips chronicle the quest for the truth about his brother's death by a one-time criminal and solider, Tracy Lawless. Great comics in the true noir sensibility, full of double crosses, dangerous women, haunting guilt, and brutal histories. Any fan of film or detective noir would do well
- [Cerebus, Vol. 16: The Last Day](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/12/cerebus-vol-16-the-last-day/) - by Dave Sim and Gerhard Nearly 200 pages of comics about a day or so, ending on two of notes of remarkable visceral horror. Cerebus's life's work is perverted and scuttled, then, upon his death, he's tricked one more time and denied heaven. Daring end, though Sim's religious/philosophical musings are perhaps indicative of some kind
- [100 Bullets, Vol. 12: Dirty](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/12/100-bullets-vol-12-dirty/) - by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso 100 Bullets is perhaps the greatest crime series in comics history. Each installment is a marvel of betrayal, violence, sex and conspiracy. The mechanics are great, the art wonderful. The problem with this volume? I read it three weeks ago and barely remember what happened. Still, the upcoming conclusion
- [House, by Josh Simmons](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/12/house-by-josh-simmons/) - I usually avoid wordless comics. They feel too flimsy, lacking serious characters or story. Not so House. This wordless horror novel crushes you with hopelessness and the grim endings for three friends exploring an abandoned house. No comic has left me feeling so queasy, dark, and beaten up in a long time. Buy House at
- [Local, by Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/12/local-by-brian-wood-and-ryan-kelly/) - Connected short stories following one character through 12 years of her life, with issue covering her life in a different city across North America. A well-executed book with solid writing and art. Conventional wisdom says this kind of comic doesn't sell – I hope that's wrong; I'd love to write something like this. Buy Local
- [I Shall Destroy All The Civilized Planets, by Fletcher Hanks](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/12/i-shall-destroy-all-the-civilized-planets-by-fletcher-hanks/) - Edited by Paul Karasik A collection of comics from obscure titles of the 30s and 40s. Among the most bizarre and strange sci-fi/superhero comics I've read - brief, strange, with huge leaps of logic, but pure entertainment. Little prepared me for the gleeful madness and barely contained violence coming from the author that these stories
- [A Treasury of XXth Century Murder: The Lindbergh Child, by Rick Geary](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/12/a-treasury-of-xxth-century-murder-the-lindbergh-child-by-rick-geary/) - Continuing Rick Geary's series on history's greatest crimes and murders. These are classics for anyone who enjoys historical true crime or non-fiction history, whether in prose or comics. The story here is familiar, of course, and though the execution isn't flashy, Geary's fantastic draftsmanship and quirky style and characters are a joy. Buy A Treasury
- [Thunderstruck, by Erik Larson](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/12/thunderstruck-by-erik-larson/) - A second tome by Larson intertwining Victorian murder and scientific/cultural developments. Not as engaging as The Devil in the White City, due to the subjects...
- [Blindness, by Jose Saramago](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/12/blindness-by-jose-saramago/) - Further proof of my philistinism: this was written by a Nobel prize winner, I hated it. It read like a horror novel without the horror, the writing never captured my attention, the characters never came alive. And what was with the comma splicing? It was on purpose, but I don't understand why. Buy Blindness at
- [The Postman Always Rings Twice, by James M. Cain](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/01/the-postman-always-rings-twice-by-james-m-cain/) - A classic noir novel of lust and murder. Amusing how the crime committed by the main characters - and how it gets adjudicated - is so dependent on something as unsexy as insurance (a la Cain's masterpiece Double Indemnity). The novel's a good reminder of the dangers of getting what you want. Buy The Postman
- [Swallow Me Whole, by Nate Powell](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/02/swallow-me-whole-by-nate-powell/) - The first book in nearly 100 that made me want to break the 52-word limit. I could write hundreds of words, but constraints spur creation. Beautiful in form and content, it portrays the thin narrative boundary between mental illness and the supernatural with creepy, heartbreaking precision and a fully realized, singular vision. Buy Swallow Me
- [The Books of Blood, Vol. 1, by Clive Barker](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/01/the-books-of-blood-vol-1-by-clive-barker/) - I first read these stories in my early teens; coming back to them reveals the relative rawness of Barker's craft here and his influence on my thinking about horror. These stories embody a great horror-writing truism: always have one greater horror to present after the one you've been building to is employed. Buy The Books
- [Books of Blood, Vol. 2, by Clive Barker](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/02/books-of-blood-vol-2-by-clive-barker/) - The second volume of horror stories reminds me of an important horror tenet: truly monumental, outsized horror must often inspire religious devotion or even love. Lovecraft got that, and even though Barker didn't like Lovecraft for a long time, he gets it, too. Few other writers get it as deeply as they. Buy The Books
- [The Books of Blood, Vol. 3, by Clive Barker](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/02/the-books-of-blood-vol-3-by-clive-barker/) - These little Berkley editions, purchased in my early teens, are weird things: Barker intended a single volume, not three low-cost mass-market paperbacks. Worse, they're riddled with errors. Incorrect punctuation, misspellings, transposed words — they're a mess. I hope, if I ever have a book published, that the publisher treats my work more carefully. Buy The
- [The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street, by Rod Serling, Mark Kneece, and Rich Ellis](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/03/the-monsters-are-due-on-maple-street-by-rod-serling-mark-kneece-and-rich-ellis/) - A slight adaptation of a Twilight Zone classic. While a classic Red Scare TV episode, the comic seems out of time and out of joint. It appears to take place in modern times, but doesn't play on any of our current fears. What was a meaty TV episode is a low-impact comic. Buy The Monsters
- [Childhood and Other Neighborhoods, by Stuart Dybek](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/04/childhood-and-other-neighborhoods-by-stuart-dybek/) - Always interesting to find a closet horror fan among the literary fiction ranks. This first, finely wrought collection of Dybek's stories reveals him to enjoy horror movies and darker themes more than I'd run into in his later work. Or maybe I just missed them in this other stories. Could merit looking. Buy Childhood and
- [The Mammoth Book of Best Crime Comics](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/04/the-mammoth-book-of-best-crime-comics/) - Ed. Paul Gravett Nearly 500 pages of crime comics, ranging from the 50s to the present. Some boring stuff, some classics, some great short tales by Neil Gaiman and a touching auto-bio piece by Alan Moore to finish up. Biggest revelation: that both Mickey Spillane and Dashiell Hammett wrote newspaper comics for quite a while.
- [Scout Vol. 2, by Timothy Truman](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/04/scout-vol-2-by-timothy-truman/) - I generally enjoyed the first volume of this reprint of the 1980s indie comic. The bottom fell out for me this time: the reproduction is muddy and blurred, the deficiencies in Truman's anatomy and perspective work were too foregrounded, and too many pictures of Scout shooting and being shot at bored me. Buy Scout Vol.
- [A Drifting Life, by Yoshihiro Tatsumi](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/05/a-drifting-life-by-yoshihiro-tatsumi/) - An impressively compelling 800+ page autobiography in comics form. Tatsumi's life tells the story of the early years of manga and how he helped pioneer things taken today as standard. I think, like Tatsumi, I'm going to tie on a headband every time I sit down to write comics from now on. Buy A Drifting
- [Meathaus SOS, by various artists](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/05/meathaus-sos-by-various-artists/) - Another installment of the long-running alt.comics anthology that earlier introduced me to Tomer Hanuka, Farel Dalrymple, and James Jean. Those issues felt like revelations, worlds opening up. This one, though offering some pretty art (and a surprising number of horror comics), feels a little heavy with the unappealing, undercooked alt.comics I dislike. Buy Meathaus SOS
- [Cat-Eyed Boy Vol. 2, by Kazuo Umezu](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/05/cat-eyed-boy-vol-2-by-kazuo-umezu/) - This volume finishes the earlier volume's interminable Band of 100 Monsters. But, as the book proceeds, the stories become better/weirder, the art more polished. The story about the father pledging his son to a snake featured the most shocking event in a comic I've read recently; I actually did a double take. Buy Cat-Eyed Boy
- [The Goon Vol. 7: A Place of Heartache and Grief](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/06/756/) - By Eric Powell The Goon is a strange comic combination of humor, horror, and 30s-era crime. While early volumes were hilarious, recently the jokes have faded for me. This volume, despite its promise of greater trouble and tragedy later, made me laugh out of loud - a welcome reminder of why I enjoy the series.
- [Rum, Sodomy and the Lash, by Jeffrey T. Roesgen](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/06/rum-sodomy-and-the-lash-by-jeffrey-t-roesgen/) - My favorite books in the 33 1/3 series are those that deeply illuminate the creation of an album or that weave a compelling fiction out of the album's raw materials. This edition attempts to straddle the line and, while it provides some interesting historical detail, fails to fulfill the promise of either. Buy 33 1/3
- [Pictures at a Revolution, by Mark Harris](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/06/pictures-at-a-revolution-by-mark-harris/) - Harris' compelling history of Hollywood in flux examines the 1968 Best Picture nominees (including Bonnie and Clyde and The Graduate) and the transition to the New Hollywood that they heralded. Despite being 400-plus pages, Pictures was easy to read in one sitting. Highly recommended to anyone interested in entertainment or social history. Buy Pictures at
- [Last Night at the Lobster, by Stewart O'Nan](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/06/last-night-at-the-lobster-by-stewart-onan/) - Some days I really miss working high school/college jobs, at movie theaters, Staples, and restaurants. They weren't necessarily good jobs, but the camaraderie and the pride in them was pleasing. O'Nan's short novel, about the last day of a Red Lobster, made me want those jobs again, if only for a while. Buy Last Night
- [Knockemstiff, by Donald Ray Pollock](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/07/knockemstiff-by-donald-ray-pollock/) - Not a set of short stories to make you happy. Apocalyptically dark, gloomy stories about a rural Ohio town from the 60s to the present. These are well-crafted stories and Pollock has a compelling voice. While you probably won't enjoy these stories, if you like literary fiction, you should check this out. Buy Knockemstiff at
- [Travels in the Scriptorium, by Paul Auster](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/07/travels-in-the-scriptorium-by-paul-auster/) - I've read Auster since being loaned City of Glass 15 years ago, but this tiny novel failed with me. It echoed Evenson, Erickson, and Cormac McCarthy, but its meta-fictional look at Auster's creative history and process didn't interest me. I was more interested in the in-story book than the novel surrounding it. Buy Travels in
- [Sounds of Your Name, by Nate Powell](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/08/sounds-of-your-name-by-nate-powell/) - A collection of all of Powell's work to the date of its publication (in this way it duplicates his earlier Tiny Giants). Powell is tremendous and though some of the early work here is rough, it's easy to see he was on his way to the mastery achieved in Swallow Me Whole. Buy Sounds of
- [Strangeways: Murder Moon, by Matt Maxwell and Luis Guaragna](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/08/strangeways-murder-moon-by-matt-maxwell-and-luis-guaragna/) - A fun werewolf tale set in the old West. The middle section has a few slow moments, but the action is great, featuring some particularly taut, appealing scenes. Guaragna's art is a bit uneven. Still, this is the first in a series of horror westerns by Maxwell; I'm looking forward to more. Buy Strangeways Murder
- [Fugue State, by Brian Evenson](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/08/fugue-state-by-brian-evenson/) - This latest collection of Evenson's short fiction is far and away his best. The stories sing with violence, black humor, and a momentum and clarity that sometimes has felt missing in the past. Especially of interest here is his breathing new life into traditional horror tropes through his skill, style, and subtleties. Buy Fugue State
- [The Nobody, by Jeff Lemire](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/08/the-nobody-by-jeff-lemire/) - This rural Invisible Man has charms: Lemire is a great cartoonist, draws convincing portraits of small-town life, and accomplishes some visually inventive scenes with invisible bodies. Still, despite its 144 pages, the story feels slight and doesn't say much new about the Invisible Man. A mixed first encounter with the well-regarded Lemire. Buy The Nobody
- [How to Take a Japanese Bath, by Leonard Koren](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/08/how-to-take-a-japanese-bath-by-leonard-koren/) - It may be too much information to tell you that I do a lot of reading in the tub. As a result, though, I was interested in this tiny guide to using Japanese bathhouses. Of course, the real star for me is the ero-guro manga artist Suehiro Maruo, who provides the illustrations. Buy How to
- [Absolute Sandman Vol. 1, by Neil Gaiman and various artists](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/08/absolute-sandman-vol-1-by-neil-gaiman-and-various-artists/) - This is my third or fourth time through the deep, expansive, rewarding Sandman series. This time, though, I'm enjoying the Absolute treatment: hardcover, much larger pages on higher-quality paper, re-colored art, and substantial backmatter (notes, scripts, sketches). Despite these stories coming relatively early in Gaiman's comics career, it's still accomplished, appealing work. Buy Absolute Sandman
- [Await Your Reply, by Dan Chaon](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/09/await-your-reply-by-dan-chaon/) - Chaon is working at masterful stuff in his second novel. The plot is about identity theft, and of course, identity. Chaon pulls a great trick about identity that gives the book the eerie air of a murder ballad (or Shirley Jackson's James Harris) and left me subtly, deeply unsettled. Absolutely terrific stuff. Buy Await Your
- [Creepy Archives, Vol. 1](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/09/creepy-archives-vol-1/) - This deluxe collection of the influential 60s/70s horror comic is a joy. The terrific production values perfectly highlight the art: Each issue showcases some of the greatest illustrators of middle century American comics. The stories are shockingly slight, but the art is so amazing that it cures all that could be wrong. Buy the Creepy
- [The Possibility of an Island, by Michel Houellebecq](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/10/the-possibility-of-an-island-by-michel-houellebecq/) - Houellebecq is lauded for his literary fiction, but to my reading, he's writing science fiction. This book follows a comedian's quixotic quest for sex - and his involvement with a cult that almost accidentally dooms humans and creates a successor species. An interesting book slowed by too many digressions and some overwriting. Buy The Possibility
- [The Blot, by Tom Neely](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/10/the-blot-by-tom-neely/) - As previously noted, I usually avoid wordless comics. The great notices for this silent comic mixing surreal horror with classic animation-style art overcame my normal skepticism. Glad I did. This conveys such remarkable, dislocating horror (via a metastasizing inkblot taking over a man's life) that more words would detract from the experience. Books: 55/52 52/52:
- [All and Sundry, by Paul Hornschemeier](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/11/all-and-sundry-by-paul-hornschemeier/) - Paul Hornschemeier is a master at evoking real emotion through the comics page, something not many are adept at. Comics are rarely laugh-out-loud funny for me, but Hornschemeier's always are. Few can make me truly sad, but his do. These skills are in evidence even in this combination odd and sods/sketchbook collection. Buy All and
- [Noir, edited by Diana Schutz](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/11/noir-edited-by-diana-schutz/) - Crime comics have experienced a mini-renaissance in recent years that is especially welcome in the superhero-dominated world of comics. Noir is a solid, short collection, with standout stories coming in Brian Azzarello's nod to Batman's origin from the perspective of the Waynes' killers and a new Stray Bullets story from David Lapham. Books: 60/52 52/52:
- [Just One Look, by Harlan Coben](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/11/just-one-look-by-harlan-coben/) - As I understand it, Coben is respected as a writer of smart, modern, tight crime thrillers. His novel of the same name was the basis of the film Tell No One, which was really good. This, however, was terrible. Bad writing, poor plot, cardboard characters. Nothing to see here; move it along. Buy Just One
- [Pixu, by Gabriel Ba, Becky Cloonan, Vasilis Lolos, Fabio Moon](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/11/pixu-by-gabriel-ba-becky-cloonan-vasilis-lolos-fabio-moon/) - I read this in singe issues, so the plot of this haunted apartment building tale held no surprises. Still, it was a worthwhile read: I've been thinking about pacing and structure in horror comics and this is a master class. So creepy, so surreal, and so formally intelligent, it merits repeated study. Buy Pixu at
- [Columbine, by Dave Cullen](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/11/columbine-by-dave-cullen/) - This magnificent book, which explodes most of the conventional wisdom about Columbine, made me think about how we filter disturbing events through our own experiences, and thus gravely misunderstand them. It also made me wonder if a psychopath like Eric Harris is human in the same way as the rest of us. Buy Columbine at
- [Lush Life, by Richard Price](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/12/lush-life-by-richard-price/) - A virtuoso, beautiful book about cops, crime, history, urban development, and the ghost kicked up by the old becoming new. Pure pleasure on every page, from Price's rhythms of daily life and delicious dialogue. I was surprised, though, at how much the Brooklyn funeral revived my distaste for the NYC hipster scene. Buy Lush Life
- [Fires, by Nick Antosca](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/12/fires-by-nick-antosca/) - Conceptually, right up my alley: A novel about wildfires revealing the horrifying, hidden secrets of a quiet suburban neighborhood. It didn't quite work for me, though. Too many metaphors, not enough plot, too much obsession with dysfunctional sex and tortured relationships. Though it dragged on, I'm curious to see where Antosca goes. Buy Fires at
- [The Ruins, by Scott Smith](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/12/the-runs-by-scott-smith/) - This Americans-on-vacation horror novel is intense, queasy, non-stop. The villain, if you can say there is one, is impressively original. The novel could be a textbook for an ethics class: there are impossible choices for the characters every few pages and it's hard to argue with the decision that dooms the characters. Buy The Ruins
- [Blankets, by Craig Thompson](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/12/blankets-by-craig-thompson/) - A really interesting, richly realized memoir about growing up as a misfit and finding comfort and connection in a first love. In American comics, so much action is compressed that it's refreshing to see an artist stretch a story that might be 50-100 pages into a 500-page memoir. An appealing, affecting work. Buy Blankets at
- [There Once Lived a Woman Who Tried to Kill Her Neighbor's Baby, by Ludmilla Petrushevskaya](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/12/there-once-lived-a-woman-who-tried-to-kill-her-neighbor’s-baby-by-ludmilla-petrushevskaya/) - This should be right up my alley: dark fairy tales and short stories with fantasy/fairy tale overtones. But it doesn't work for me. Part of it may be the emphasis on allegory (not my thing, I'm finding); part may be the unrelentingly bleak Russian setting. Maybe not my thing, also, I guess. Buy There Once
- [I Have the Right to Destroy Myself, by Young-ha Kim](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/12/i-have-the-right-to-destroy-myself-by-young-ha-kim/) - This is a weird book. It's a Korean novel about a writer who gets people to hire him to help them commit suicide. Maybe. He might be an American Psycho-style unreliable narrator, too. I don't have the cultural context to know if this is understated and smart, or just under-realized and odd. Buy I Have
- [Batman Year 100, by Paul Pope](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/01/batman-year-100-by-paul-pope/) - This dystopian future Batman tale by the always-excellent Paul Pope comes straight from deep in the heart of the War on Terror. In this, Batman is the ultimate libertarian, whose very existence is a defense of privacy and civil liberties. An interesting spin on Batman, and of course the art is wonderful. Books: 1/52 52/52:
- [The Bus Driver Who Wanted to be God & Other Stories, by Etgar Keret](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/01/the-bus-driver-who-wanted-to-be-god-other-stories-by-etgar-keret/) - Keret's very short stories are long jokes, absurdist sketches, and mordant commentary on modern life, especially as it's lived in Israel. I enjoyed this book well enough, but all of my favorite stories are elsewhere. These stories seem thin in places, but, overall, it's a solid entry in his body of work. Buy The Bus
- [Shade the Changing Man Vol. 1: The American Scream, by Peter Milligan and Chris Bachalo](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/01/shade-the-changing-man-vol-1-the-american-scream-by-peter-milligan-and-chris-bachalo/) - As I recall, this series gets much better as it goes. This installment sees the creators finding their legs, determining what the series is going to be about (putatively: American myths and madness, but I recall it heading elsewhere). It's slightly gawky, but appealing enough to propel me to the next book. Buy Shade the
- [Born in the USA, by Geoffrey Himes](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/02/born-in-the-usa-by-geoffrey-himes/) - Creative types, prepare to be depressed: this book chronicles the 2ish years in which Springsteen wrote Nebraska (which is mostly the demos!), Born in the USA, and dozens of rare gems. The book details a truly remarkable period of creativity and makes a convincing case that this is The Boss' best album. Buy 33 1/3
- [Garfield Minus Garfield, by Jim Davis](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/02/garfield-minus-garfield-by-jim-davis/) - The concept feels gimmicky (the title tells it: remove the titular character from Garfield strips), but it plays out inspired. Removing the main character reveals the darkly funny and truly tortured life of Jon, Garfield's owner. A fascinating study in what happens when a seemingly crucial element is removed from a work. Buy Garfield Minus
- [20th Century Boys, Vol. 5, by Naoki Urasawa](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/11/20th-century-boys-vol-5-by-naoki-urasawa/) - I believe this series runs 20 volumes, though it's hard to imagine how the plot could last that long. Still, Urasawa's technique of cutting away just before major climaxes (as he does here, just before the battle the last four books seemed to be building towards) indicates that he's got a plan. Buy 20th Century
- [Monster, Vols. 12-16, by Naoki Urasawa](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/11/monster-vols-12-16-by-naoki-urasawa/) - Winding towards the end of this saga about crime, ethics, the horrors of the Cold War, sociopathology, and character. This arc introduces some really interesting themes about the importance of names to our identity and sense of self, and includes probably the most chilling and wonderful in-story fairy tale I've ever seen. Buy Monster at
- [Monster Vols. 17-18, by Naoki Urasawa](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/01/monster-vols-17-18-by-naoki-urasawa/) - The concluding volumes of this thriller are as intricate and well-realized as the first 16. The lead up to and the massacre in Ruheheim is built up well, but is also executed in a delicate, shell-shocking way. Though the main character's obeisance to the Hippocratic Oath seems foolish after all that's happened. Buy Monster Vols.
- [Pluto Vol. 1, by Naoki Urasawa](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/03/pluto-vol-1-by-naoki-urasawa/) - Manga master Urasawa does something interesting here: takes Osamu Tezuka's famous Astro Boy characters and concept and reinvents them in his image: a compelling sci-fi mystery about the world's greatest, and most dangerous, robots being murdered. Urasawa is a master of the vignette character study; I look forward to the next volume. Buy Pluto Vol.
- [Pluto Vol. 2, by Naoki Urasawa](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/04/pluto-vol-2-by-naoki-urasawa/) - Urasawa's mystery about murdered super robots deepens in this volume. The character studies here are more affecting than in Monster and I'm more engaged in this story. The suffusing sadness of the ex-soldier robots and the judgment coming to them resulting from their wartime-actions is compelling; I'm eager for the next installment. Buy Pluto Vol.
- [Pluto Vol. 3, by Naoki Urasawa](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/06/pluto-vol-3-by-naoki-urasawa/) - What's so compelling about the sadness of the characters in this murder mystery? Their hangdog faces and shadowed cheeks are the most effective evocation of world-weary sadness I've seen in comics. Perhaps I'm interested in their revelations, but I'm not sure. Dealing with the terrible things done in their pasts is fascinating. Buy Pluto Vol.
- [Pluto Vol. 6, by Naoki Urasawa](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/12/pluto-vol-6-by-naoki-urasawa/) - It's hard to believe this isn't the concluding volume; practically everything wraps up here. It could be the last book, but there are two to go. A common problem with Japanese comics is the drive to continue popular stories beyond what's necessary. I hope that's not the case with this great story. Buy Pluto Vol.
- [Pluto, Vol. 7, by Naoki Urasawa](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/02/pluto-vol-7-by-naoki-urasawa/) - After last volume's seeming-conclusion, I wasn't sure this installment could retain the momentum that made the series so good. Wrong. Here, Urasawa delves deeper into the mysteries of the past and introduces an interesting flashback technique. Can't wait for the conclusion – the mysteries' unraveling promises to be more compelling than the fight. Buy Pluto
- [No Country for Old Men, by Cormac McCarthy](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/03/no-country-for-old-men-by-cormac-mccarthy/) - My third exposure (two viewings of the movie) raises my certainty that this is one of the great stories of recent decades. A few things struck me: the movie hews faithfully to the book; Chigurh seems supernatural in the film but insane in the book; McCarthy's ear for phrase turns is unequalled. Buy No Country
- [The Book of Basketball, by Bill Simmons](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/03/the-book-of-basketball-by-bill-simmons/) - If you love basketball you must read this book. Nearly 700 pages of deeply insightful writing you could structure a yearlong discussion group around. The constant pop-culture and porn jokes wear thin after a while, though, as does being so aggressively masculine and hetero. This might be a better book without that. Buy The Book
- [The Dreamer, by Will Eisner](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/03/the-dreamer-by-will-eisner/) - A semi-fictionalized autobiography about Eisner's time at the dawn of comic books. Usually Eisner can be counted on for at least a good story, but the shady origins of comics is a story that's been told so many times, you need to bring something new to justify another. This doesn't add enough. Buy The Dreamer
- [Samaritan, by Richard Price](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/04/samaritan-by-richard-price/) - If I ever become 10% as good a writer as Richard Price, I will die a happy man. This is another in a line of fantastic crime/social survey novels, set in urban New Jersey. Not only is this a great crime novel, it's acutely insightful in terms of psychology, class, and race. Buy Samaritan at
- [The Invincible Iron Man Omnibus, by Matt Fraction and Salvador Larocca](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/04/the-invincible-iron-man-omnibus-by-matt-fraction-and-salvador-larocca/) - My first straight-up superhero comic in years. An entertaining deconstruction of Tony Stark, but marred by the heavily photo-reffed art (which is nearly saved by great coloring). Still, the depth of psychological thinking Fraction put into his take on Stark is impressive. I wish this volume hadn't ended on a cliffhanger, though. Buy Invincible Iron
- [Pluto Vol. 8, by Naoki Urasawa](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/04/pluto-vol-8-by-naoki-urasawa/) - Wrapping up a great series. This volume meditates on hate in many aspects. Somewhat darkly, hate is portrayed as a life-giving force, but it's also so dangerous, so pointless as to literally threaten to destroy the world. I'll be curious to see how this fares in re-reading, but it's a great journey. Buy Pluto Vol.
- [Planetary Vol. 4, by Warren Ellis and John Cassaday](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/04/planetary-vol-4-by-warren-ellis-and-john-cassaday/) - A series interrupted by massive delays. The first two stories are taut and exciting, the rest - after delay - too heavy on explication and schemes that have no real chance of failing. The last story, about the importance of friendship, rang hollow. Unfortunately, this ending doesn't fit what's been a quality series. Buy Planetary
- [Incognito, by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/04/incognito-by-ed-brubaker-and-sean-phillips/) - Brubaker and Phillips are the reigning kings of noir comics. This tale, a noir/superhero mashup about a former supervillain in the witness protection program learning about himself and his life, is dark, smart, and compelling. Brubaker's ideas are sharp and Phillips' art is perfect for this kind of comic. Really great stuff. Buy Incognito at
- [FreeDarko presents The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac: Styles, Stats, and Stars in Today's Game, by Bethlehem Shoals, Dr. Lawyer IndianChief, Silverbird 5000, Brown Recluse Esq., Big Baby Belafonte ](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/05/freedarko-presents-the-macrophenomenal-pro-basketball-almanac-styles-stats-and-stars-in-todays-game-by-bethlehem-shoals-dr-lawyer-indianchief-silverbird-5000-brown-recluse-esq-big-baby-bel/) - An interesting counterpoint to Bill Simmons' book. Whereas his emphasizes winning and almost nothing else, this is about style being as important, if not more so, than winning. There's some interesting writing here, especially things like assessing world achievements if done at the speed of certain players, but I side with Simmons. Buy FreeDarko presents
- [Greek Street Vol. 1: Blood Calls for Blood, by Peter Milligan and David Gianfelice](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/05/greek-street-vol-1-blood-calls-for-blood-by-peter-milligan-and-david-gianfelice/) - A new comic series setting ancient Greek myths in modern-day London. I love Greek myths and myths echoing in the modern world, but this didn't connect with me. The characters didn't quite work for me, and the art was too Vertigo-samey, dark browns and oranges. I don't expect to read volume two. Buy Greek Street
- [1974, The Red Riding Quartet, Book 1 by David Peace](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/05/1974-the-red-riding-quartet-book-1-by-david-peace/) - Maybe the best crime/noir/social novel I've read in years, this side of Richard Price. This is set in the north of England during the years of the Yorkshire Ripper and is a fantastic examination of the place and the era. It's a great, grisly mystery to boot. I can't recommend this enough. Buy 1974 at
- [Fordlandia, by Greg Grandin](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/06/fordlandia-by-greg-grandin/) - A fascinating examination of Henry Ford and his attempts to impose his systems on the Amazon. Really an examination of how Ford destroyed the pastoral world he valued and didn't have the self-awareness to see it. It also reveals Ford as a crackpot who got one thing right and hardly anything else. Buy Fordlandia at
- [The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/06/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-by-stieg-larsson/) - A truly mixed bag. The mystery here is pretty engrossing, but it's undercut by deeply wooden prose and awkward characters. It reads like a journalist wrote it, and that he identified a bit too much with his leads. An interesting contrast with 1974, which addressed some similar social issues much, much better. Buy The Girl
- [1977 and 1980: The Red Riding Quartet Books 2 and 3, by David Peace](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/06/1977-and-1980-the-red-riding-quartet-books-2-and-3-by-david-peace/) - Terrific continuation of the North of England crime series focusing on the Yorkshire Ripper. The patterns of the plots and characters here are similar in both books, and similar to 1974, but Peace seems to be making a comment on restrictive social structures and eternal recurrence. Ugly, unpleasant stuff, but excellent books. Buy 1977 at
- [Talking with Serial Killers, by Christopher Berry-Dee](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/06/talking-with-serial-killers-by-christopher-berry-dee/) - A sloppy, bad book. Berry-Dee He confuses serial killers with other kinds of murderers, changes quotes to fit British idiom (so what other quotes did he change without notice?), and basic errors of fact abound (for instance, a murder weapon is referred to as a .22 and a .25 in consecutive paragraphs). Buy Talking with
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-07-04](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/07/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-07-04/) - How do you know your holiday Friday afternoon/evening is awesome? You respond to over 100 emails (and still have 160 left). Whoa. # Second to musicals & zombies, my favorite pair is bowling & unions. I give you, the Strike! shirt. Art by Joel Vollmer. https://bit.ly/9wOLvg # I mentioned that the standard edition of Split
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-06-27](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/06/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-06-27/) - New Split Lip design is 98% done! So wonderful. Can't wait to debut the updated site. # Turns out being on vacation out of the country reduces my tweeting substantially. But I'm back now. Watch out. Also, a week late: Lakers! # Yay! // @pvdjuiceco Thank u so much, everybody! PVD Juice Co is now
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-06-20](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/06/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-06-20/) - Hard to fathom that Wizard World Philly lets dealers sell tables of bootleg DVDs. Classy and professional. # Powered by Twitter Tools
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-06-13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/06/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-06-13/) - Set up and ready to go at Wizard World Philly day 2. Table 1011 in artists alley. Bring on Ted dibiase and folks looking for horror comics! # Oops. I forgot Lillian Garcia and Bushwacker Luke. Saw them too. # Wrestlers seen at wizard World Philly: virgil, Val venis, iron sheik, nikolai volkoff, Greg valentine.
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-06-06](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/06/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-06-06/) - Also! Mountain Goats episode of Dinner with the Band on IFC. A fine night indeed. # I'd have preferred its tagline - "There's something wrong with Esther" - had been the title (that's a great 70s feel), but hey, nice work # Wow did I like the movie Orphan more than expected. That was really
- [Wilson, by Daniel Clowes](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/06/wilson-by-daniel-clowes/) - It's definitely gutsy to make a book whose main character is so caustic, so unpleasant, so unredeemed. But it works. Told in one-page vignettes with substantial moments elided, this is a really interesting book that will likely reward re-reading. Wilson's misanthropy feels dead-on, true to the life of people we've all known. Buy Wilson at
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-05-30](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/05/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-05-30/) - Here's that promised sneak peek of the new Split Lip cover. Art by the great Shane Oakley. Dig it: https://twitpic.com/1s03uk # Finalizing new Split Lip book cover tonight. This new cover art by Shane Oakley is ridiculously nice. I'll post the cover when it's done. # 6 pgs of new Split Lip script done. Love
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-05-23](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/05/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-05-23/) - Very, very happy that Seesmic is now on the iPhone. Posting from it now and I hope to not go back to another client. # Dinner at Da-Lat in Worcester. @flammabledamsel is going to be jealous. # Is rickrolling still a thing? Because this Whole Foods is rickrolling me right now. # You guys know
- [Mind Hunter, by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/05/mind-hunter-by-john-douglas-and-mark-olshaker/) - A fascinating account of the development of the criminal profiling techniques that are used to catch serial killers. A little self-aggrandizing, perhaps, but fascinating. I wish there had been more on the whys of serial killers, though, not just the hows. That's bound to be in another book, maybe even by Douglas. Buy Mind Hunter
- [A Softer World Vol. 2, by Joey Comeau and Emily Horne](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/04/a-softer-world-vol-2-by-joey-comeau-and-emily-horne/) - I loved the first collection of this webcomic, and though this edition is similar to that, it struck me less forcefully. Maybe it's repetition of themes/styles of joke or because there's only so much that can be done in three self-contained panels. It's still good work - it just didn't blow me away. Buy A
- [Never Learn Anything From History, by Kate Beaton](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/03/never-learn-anything-from-history-by-kate-beaton/) - The perfect thing if you like comics, history, and trivia. A terrific collection of webcomics treating historical figures both famous and obscure, in their most important moments and lesser ones. Beaton's art probably can't be judged sophisticated, but it's deceptively nuanced and very effective at conveying character and the jokes. Hilarious stuff. Books: 15/52 52/52:
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-05-16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/05/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-05-16-2/) - Apparently the song I was born to sing at karaoke is "If Heaven Ain't a Lot Like Dixie" by Hank Williams Jr. Who knew? # Pensacola, Fla: strip club with sign out front reading "support single moms." # Shocked to learn that @delta charges me US$23 to check a single bag. Rest assured, @delta, I
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-05-09](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/05/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-05-09-2/) - Strangely, it's another cannibalism story. This makes 3 or 4 (out of ~40). Not sure what to make of that, other than I'm still a vegetarian # Revised Split Lip script complete. I'll sit on it for a day or two and double check. After that, it goes to Erik Rose for drawing. # Most
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-05-02](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/05/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-05-02/) - Most of the heavy lifting done on "Cured", Split Lip script mentioned yesterday. Added 3 pgs, tweaked characters, now much scarier. Success. # He had some amazing ideas that turned the script into something even grosser and much better. Truly a joy working with such creative people # One of the real pleasures of Split
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-04-25](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/04/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-04-25/) - First bike ride of the season? Accomplished and awesome. # Webcomics.com keeps getting better. Now has a 10% off deal on offset printing for just $30/yr. subscription. Why haven't you signed up yet? # Can comics actually scare us? Creators and critics weigh in. It's a really good discussion. https://bit.ly/b9sLhA # Like horror comics with
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-04-18](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/04/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-04-18/) - Two episodes in, I'm not yet decided about Fringe, but the picture quality of the Blu-ray it's on is amazing. # Anyone even been on the Bruce Air/Iron Maiden tours where Bruce Dickinson flies you to the show? That's seeming appealing. Please RT # Watching Iron Maiden: Flight 666 thanks to @hugecranium. Man, this band
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-04-11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/04/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-04-11/) - MoCCA day one complete. Sales were lower than I'd hoped. Here's to a better day two! # Set up at MoCCA. New book and Tshirts look awesome. Hoping for a great show. Come on by! # MoCCA bound. Finally. See y'all there. # Preparing for year's first con - @moccanyc - is busy work. Lots
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-04-04](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/04/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-04-04-2/) - A whole bunch of iPad questions answered and other articles linked to. https://ipod.about.com/od/beforeyoubuy/a/ipad-faq.htm # iPad is in hand. Setting it up now. Looks pretty awesome so far. # While I sit awaiting delivery of my iPad, thought I'd mention: NYC comix types, I'll be at MOCCA 4/10-11: https://bit.ly/cw6om9 # Glad to announce that the Special
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-27](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/03/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-03-27/) - Just decided: there will be a special LTD Ed. Split Lip vol. 2 w/ a previously unpublished story & more. Planning debut at MOCCA in April. # Nice interview with Zane Grant, writer of We Will Bury You, featuring art by Split Lip collaborator Kyle Strahm - https://bit.ly/9UsGnl # Today's Webcomics.com post on 50 ways
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-27](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/03/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-03-27-2/) - Just decided: there will be a special LTD Ed. Split Lip vol. 2 w/ a previously unpublished story & more. Planning debut at MOCCA in April. # Nice interview with Zane Grant, writer of We Will Bury You, featuring art by Split Lip collaborator Kyle Strahm - https://bit.ly/9UsGnl # Today's Webcomics.com post on 50 ways
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-20](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/03/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-03-20/) - Nothing clears a headcold like a good dish of kimchi. # The first Split Lip t-shirts have arrived. They came out well. They will be revealed, with pricing, soonish. # And boy did Lloyd Bridges look like George W Bush in 9152. #highnoon # Watching High Noon. Grace Kelly - whoa; who knew? # Powered
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/03/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-03-13/) - I don't like ending horror on final twists (tho sometimes it works), but just found old idea with nice last-panel punch. It's my next script # Powered by Twitter Tools
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/03/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-03-13-2/) - I don't like ending horror on final twists (tho sometimes it works), but just found old idea with nice last-panel punch. It's my next script # Powered by Twitter Tools
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-07](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/03/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-03-07/) - Assuming I didn't mess anything up, I've placed my first semi-Split Lip-related t-shirt order. # Conan, what is good? When you finish a novel, wonder what to read next, and a big box from Amazon is waiting at the mailbox. # House of the Devil = Aesthetically dead on; dramatically a good deal too slow.
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-07](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/03/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-03-07-2/) - Assuming I didn't mess anything up, I've placed my first semi-Split Lip-related t-shirt order. # Conan, what is good? When you finish a novel, wonder what to read next, and a big box from Amazon is waiting at the mailbox. # House of the Devil = Aesthetically dead on; dramatically a good deal too slow.
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-28](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/02/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-02-28/) - Just ordered the second printing of Split Lip vol. 1 to prepare for the 2010 con season. My vol. 2 order will be coming soon. Exciting! # Recent research reading for Split Lip: https://bit.ly/9akWNf # Cracked a Split Lip story I'd been poking at for ~ a year but couldn't make work. Now it does;
- [Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-28](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/02/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-02-28-2/) - Just ordered the second printing of Split Lip vol. 1 to prepare for the 2010 con season. My vol. 2 order will be coming soon. Exciting! # Recent research reading for Split Lip: https://bit.ly/9akWNf # Cracked a Split Lip story I'd been poking at for ~ a year but couldn't make work. Now it does;
- [How To Make Webcomics, by Scott Kurtz, Kris Straub, Dave Kellett, and Brad Guigar](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/02/how-to-make-webcomics-by-scott-kurtz-kris-straub-dave-kellett-and-brad-guigar/) - I wasn't sure this book would be that useful. I've been doing Split Lip for years and this book's aimed more at newspaper-style humor strips than short horror comics. Well, I was wrong. My copy is now full of turned-down corners as reminders for great ideas I need to come back to. Buy How To
- [Inbound Vol. 4, by The Boston Comics Roundtable](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/01/inbound-vol-4-by-the-boston-comics-roundtable/) - Exactly the kind of comic I'd like to see more of: an anthology of stories from Boston's history, by writers and artists from Boston. As with any anthology, some stories are better than others, and the best stories' shortness is frustrating (most stories are 4 pages), but I can get behind this. Buy Inbound Vol.
- [What I Read in 2009](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2010/01/what-i-read-in-2009/) - This was my second year of attempting to read 52 books in 52 weeks. And, as in 2008, I met the overall goal. In 2009, I read 71 books. This was down a bit from 2008, when I read 83, but that's basically in line with my goal. I had planned to read fewer comics
- [Blink and You'll Miss It ...](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/12/blink-and-youll-miss-it/) - ... but I'm in this story that Time.com did at King Con Brooklyn. I'm only there for about two seconds, though, so if you don't already know what I look like, you'll probably miss me. However, you'll get some good long shots of art by Split Lip contributor Karl Slominski from Plan B: The Haunted
- [Split Lip Conventions 2009](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/11/split-lip-conventions-2009/) - When it comes to comics, 2009 held a lot of firsts for me: first paid comic work, first self-published TPB, first time at conventions promoting and selling my work. With my final convention of the year ending last weekend, I'm looking back at this first year. All things considered, I'm really looking forward to my
- [Split Lip Vol. 1 Available at 7 Stores in New England](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/10/split-lip-vol-1-available-at-7-stores-in-new-england/) - I'm proud to announce that Split Lip vol. 1 - your best bet for indie horror comics goodness this Halloween - is now available for purchase at seven stores in New England. If you've been thinking about buying Split Lip, or are a regular customer of these stores, consider picking one up at retail and
- [XKCD volume 0, by Randall Munroe](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/10/xkcd-volume-0-by-randall-munroe/) - XKCD is an amazing comic. For something that's so much about Linux and cryptography and other geeky pursuits, it's consistently emotionally affecting. From joy to real sorrow, it's all packed around the command line jokes. It's hard to believe, but these blank-faced stick figures convey more emotion than many over-rendered mainstream artists. Buy XKCD Vol.
- [Split Lip at E. Hanover Comics Show This Sunday](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/06/split-lip-at-e-hanover-comics-show-this-sunday/) - Hey, NY Metro Area Split Lip fans: I'm going to be the comic show in East Hanover, NJ, this Sunday. The show is at the Ramada Conference Center (130 Route 10, East Hanover, NJ). It runs from 10 am - 4 pm and it will cost you just a lousy $2 to get in. I'll
- [Convention Reminder: Split Lip at MCAF May 17](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/05/convention-reminder-split-lip-at-mcaf-may-17/) - Hey Folks - just a reminder that I'll be at the Maine Comics Arts Festival in Portland on May 17 selling Split Lip Vol. 1. This is the first year of the show, but it looks to be shaping up terrifically well, with guests including Becky Cloonan and Gabrielle Bell. If you're in New England,
- [Making the Split Lip TPB](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/04/making-the-split-lip-tpb/) - As you know by now, Split Lip Vol. 1 is on sale to anyone with an Internet connection and credit card or PayPal account. But I'm not just selling Split Lip Vol. 1, I'm also writing about the process of its creation in a series called I'll Do It Myself for Indy Comics News. I'll
- [Split Lip's 2009 Convention Appearances](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/04/split-lips-2009-convention-appearances/) - I'm going to be at a few conventions this year getting the word out about Split Lip, selling the print versions of the comics, and generally doing the meet and greet thing. This is the first time I've been to comics conventions to sell Split Lip and I'm excited to see how it goes, meet
- [Sneak Peak: Termites in Your Smile](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/04/sneak-peak-termites-in-your-smile/) - Another sneak peak at some art from an upcoming Split Lip story I'm excited about. These are two character designs for Termites in Your Smile by artist Doug Draper. The first is Rafe, the hero or villain of the story, depending on your perspective. The second is his friend Dan. As you can see, Doug's
- [Update: Upcoming Stories at Split Lip](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/04/update-upcoming-stories-at-split-lip/) - In Mid-March, I gave you a glimpse into the stories coming up over the next few months at Split Lip. At the time, there were three stories without artists listed and a fourth that wasn't yet on the list. Now I've got artists for three of them and want to update you. The Cousin of
- [Sneak Peak: The Pieces of Meat](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/04/sneak-peak-the-pieces-of-meat/) - I was so excited to see the first two pages of the upcoming Split Lip story "The Pieces of Meat" that I felt compelled to share one of them with you. Here's the first page of the story, drawn by Dirk Shearer. You'll probably get to see another page or two before the thing goes
- [Split Lip Volume 1 On Sale Now](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/04/split-lip-volume-1-on-sale-now/) - I'm pleased to announce that the first-ever U.S. Split Lip tradepaperback is now available for purchase. Split Lip volume 1 features 11 Split Lip stories totaling 158 pages of great horror comics. It's available for just $15 and contains the following stories: Straw Men, by Sam Costello and Gary Crutchley Headin' South, by Sam Costello
- [Small Hands, by Daniel Zezelj](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/03/small-hands-by-daniel-zezelj/) - This European comic is all art. The story seems to concern a piano playing teenager being pushed into crime, but it's hard to say. There's just not enough story. But the art's the focus here. No one else's work looks like Zezelj's. His thick, heavy brush lines are distinctive and so beautiful. Books: 18/52 52/52:
- [I'll Be at Webcomics Weekend](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/03/ill-be-at-webcomics-weekend/) - Everyone knows about the shaping-up-to-be awesome/important/historic Webcomics Weekend coming up in Easthampton, Mass., on March 20-22, right? Here's hoping that you do and that you already registered, because they're full up and not taking new folks on. This thing looks like it's going to be a pretty important gathering of webcomics folks - and I'll
- [Upcoming Stories at Split Lip](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/03/upcoming-stories-at-split-lip/) - Every year, Split Lip takes a little hiatus at the beginning of the year to allow me some time to recharge, write new stories, and build up a good stock of work to let us barrel headlong into the new year. That hiatus is set to end in the next few weeks, with our first
- [Can't Stop Talking About Comics](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/02/cant-stop-talking-about-comics/) - Or, at least, people keep asking my opinions about them. Which I tremendously appreciate. After my first two professional interviews ever ran in the last couple of months, I've been lucky enough to have been asked for my opinions three times recently, twice by Indy Comic News and once by the fascinating project ComicsCareer.com. Indy
- [It Feels Good to Get Burned This Way](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/01/it-feels-good-to-get-burned-this-way/) - Good news from the world of comics as it pertains to me. One of my Split Lip stories from our October two-year anniversary celebration, Bad Radio, has been accepted into a Negative Burn anthology set for publication this summer. Bad Radio was written by me and drawn by Nelson Evergreen. It's the story of a
- [Getting Real, by 37signals](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/01/getting-real-by-37signals/) - A brilliant, concise book on developing powerful, usable web applications. Beyond that, though, there are lessons here that can be applied to web development, project management, and life. As David Cronenberg said about Naked Lunch: it's like the Bible; you find your favorite passages and go back to them over and over. Buy Getting Real
- [Talking About Comics](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/01/talking-about-comics/) - Over the last couple of months, I've been interviewed twice about my comics writing, especially Split Lip. Evidently, I'd forgotten to mention that here, so here are the two pieces: The Pulse Jazma Online Ain't I fascinatin'?
- [What I Read in 2008](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2009/01/what-i-read-in-2008/) - I set out at the beginning of 2008 to see if I could do something I'd never specifically tried to do: read 52 books in 52 weeks. This has been a pursuit of bloggers for years (I'm far from the first to attempt it), but as a pretty busy guy, but also one who reads
- [My Professional Comics Debut - Cthulhu Tales #9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/12/my-professional-comics-debut-cthulhu-tales-9/) - This one caught me a little off-guard or I would have mentioned it sooner, but, as of Wednesday, Dec. 17, I'm a professional comics writer. My debut story, "It Must Have Been Something You Ate," is one of the three stories in Boom Studio's Cthulhu Tales #9. Cthulhu Tales is an anthology series that uses
- [The Perfect Holiday Gift: Horror Comics](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/12/the-perfect-holiday-gift-horror-comics/) - Still looking for that perfect holiday gift? Well, have I got a deal for you! Two volumes of my horror comic, Split Lip, were published in Australia earlier this year. Unfortunately the economy forced the publisher out of business, but I've come into his remaining stock of the comics and am selling them. There are
- [Cerebus, Vol. 15: Latter Days](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/11/cerebus-vol-15-latter-days/) - by Dave Sim and Gerhard Fascinating in that it touches on something comics rarely does: personal religious conversion/revelation. However, in this case, the story of Dave Sim's religious revelation, as told through the character of Cerebus, is too personal and too inaccessible to be interesting. Hundreds of pages of comics commentary on the Torah isn't
- [The Mammoth Book of Best Horror Comics](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/11/the-mammoth-book-of-best-horror-comics/) - ed. Peter Normanton An anthology of horror comics since the 1950s, it's more valuable for the historical comics than for the uneven modern ones. The older ones had more craft, if not always more originality. The book's historical survey is damaged by lacking the most important horror comics of all time – those from EC
- [Submission Success](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/09/submission-success/) - Remember those submissions I mentioned a little while back? Well, count at least one of them as a success. I've sold my first ever comic script (I've published a bunch, but no one paid me for them). Sometime in the future (not sure when yet), I'll have an 8-page story in Boom Studios' Cthulhu Tales
- [Runoff Vol. 3, by Tom Manning](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/03/runoff-vol-3-by-tom-manning/) - The concluding volume of Manning's small-town-strangeness series. A case of diminishing returns. The comedy bits feel like padding and the superheroish characters undermine the series' tone, leaving the series feeling diffuse, scattered, and unsatisfying. The appealingly downbeat and daring ending visually echoes one of comics' great sequences, the Tokyo apocalypse in Akira. Book: 20/52 52/52:
- [Runoff Vol. 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/03/runoff-vol-2/) - by Tom Manning This installment veers from quirky small-town life mixed with terror to include those things plus Bloom Country-style comic strips. Manning's mastery of different styles of cartooning is impressive, but the addition is a bit off-putting - as is the team of Universal horror-era archetypes who almost smack of superheroes. Weird direction overall.
- [Runoff Vol. 1](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/2008/02/runoff-vol-1/) - By Tom Manning Manning's Twin Peaks-esque small-town horror/mystery is appealingly drawn, with pleasingly eccentric characters that ring true to those familiar with small town life. Re-reading the first collection lacks the pleasure of discovery, but that sense will return in the next two volumes, which are mostly new to me. I'm looking forward to it.

## Pages

- [Home](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/)
- [The Full Split Lip Library](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/split-lip-archive/) - Read the entire 700+ pages of Split Lip. Split Lip has been called "the best horror anthology on the Internet."
- [The Creators](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/the-creators/) - Learn more about the writer and artists who create the Split Lip horror stories.
- [Supernatural Horror Comics](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/supernatural-horror-comics/) - The unnatural, abnormal, extra-dimensional, and otherwise unreal are the greatest threats in this collection of supernatural horror comics.
- [Body Horror Comics](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/body-horror-comics/) - A collection of free comics designed to make you feel uncomfortable in your skin. Body Horror comics at Split Lip.
- [Weird Fiction Comics](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/weird-fiction-comics/) - Everything is just slightly ... off ... and wrong in this collection of free weird fiction comics from Split Lip.
- [Psycho Killer Comics](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/psycho-killer-comics/) - Qqu'est-ce que c'est, psycho killers? Big, sharp weapons and deranged minds feature heavily in this collection of horror webcomics.
- [Monster Comics](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/monster-comics/) - Monsters, creatures, and otherwise unnatural beings walk the earth in this collection of free horror webcomics from Split Lip.
- [Horror Comics About Tragedy](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/horror-comics-about-tragedy/) - Many horror stories are actually tragedies, as proved in this collection of free horror webcomics at Split Lip.
- [Horror Comics About Insanity](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/horror-comics-about-insanity/) - Unsound minds, hidden secrets, and madmen abound in this collection of horror comics about insanity at Split Lip.
- [Horror Comics About Ghosts](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/horror-comics-about-ghosts/) - From vengeful spirits to lost loves, restless ghosts are haunting this collection of horror comics. Horror comic ghost stories at Split Lip.
- [Creepy Kid Horror Comics](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/creepy-kid-horror-comics/) - There's nothing scarier than a creepy little kid in this collection of horror comics. Creepy Kid comics at Split Lip.
- [Unlock All Split Lip Stories](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/support-split-lip-on-patreon/) - The Split Lip story you chose is only available to members. Read it—and all Split Lip stories, plus bonuses—now. For a one-time purchase of just US$4.99 via PayPal, you unlock unlimited, permanent access to all Split Lip stories—and much more. With your payment, you get: Full access to the Split Lip archive. The 15 most recent
- [Reviews](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/reviews/) - Hear from the critics about why they think Split Lip is one of the best horror comics online today.
- [Split Lip Store](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/split-lip-store/) - Buy Split Lip horror comics, books, and more.
- [Archive Demo](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/archive-demo/) - Free Stories All the Pretty Corpses art by Chiara Colasanti Set at a high-end fashion show, this story examines just how far some people are willing to go for glamour and fame. themes: body horror Read Now Patreon Bonuses Behind the Scenes Art (24 pgs) | Script Excerpts | Character Designs An Old Man, Looking art
- [Conventions](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/conventions/) - Sam Costello will be at the following conventions, selling Split Lip books, comics, and t-shirts. If any Split Lip artists will also be at the event, it's noted below. 2018 Terrificon Aug. 17-19 Mohegan Sun Expo Center Uncasville, CT Table AA-15 Granite State Comic Con Sept. 8-9 Manchester Downtown Hotel Manchester, NH Table B13
- [Drawing a Split Lip Story](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/drawing-a-split-lip-story/) - Last Updated: Jan. 5, 2018 There's a been a lot of talk recently about the necessity of creators being transparent about the rates they make from various publishers to prevent things like gender-driven pay bias, exploitation of new creators in terms of rates and rights, and much more. Since I offer all of my artists
- [eBooks](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/ebooks/) - Get eBook versions of the Split Lip horror comics library at Gumroad, comiXology, and DriveThruComics, among others.
- [Full Blog Archive](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/full-blog-archive/)
- [ignore](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/split-lip-blog-archive/) - All comics written by Sam Costello  Doll's House Art: Savannah Horrocks June 2015 Unsub Art: TJ Kirsch May 2015 Eight Days Alone Art: Matthew Goik March 2015 Lone and Level Art: Max Temescu Jan. 2015 Victims Art: Steven Perkins Oct. 2014 Last Caress Art: Douglas Draper, Jr. April 2012 A Mother’s Love Art: David Hitchcock July 2011 The Voice
- [Webcomics Lists](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/webcomics-lists/) - Split Lip is listed at the following Top Webcomics Sites: Comic Rankers Buzzcomix Kill Boredom Piperka OnlineComics.net

## Comics

- [Se Perdre, page 20](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/se-perdre-20/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens Did you enjoy Se Perdre? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, John Bivens The Voice of Celia Darling Fitcher’s Bird Unsub Art: T.J. Kirsch Last Caress Art: Douglas Draper, Jr. A Slip of the Tongue Art: Rye Hickman
- [Where Have I Been All My Life?, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/whibaml-page14/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Benjamin AE Filby Page 14 of 14 Did you enjoy Where Have I Been All My Life? Check out these other Split Lip stories: In Another Room Art: Lee O'Connor Eight Days Alone Art: Matthew Goik A Slip of the Tongue Art: Rye Hickman
- [A Slip of the Tongue](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/slip-tongue-page1/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Rye Hickman page 1 of 5 Split Lip has been away for a while, as I worked on new stories and as we launched and successfully completed our 10th anniversary Kickstarter. A Slip of the Tongue is the first in our next cycle of stories. Upcoming stories will feature art
- [A Slip of the Tongue, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/slip-tongue-page2/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Artist:Â Rye Hickman page 2Â of 5
- [A Slip of the Tongue, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/slip-tongue-page3/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Artist:Â Rye Hickman page 3Â of 5
- [A Slip of the Tongue, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/slip-tongue-page4/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Artist:Â Rye Hickman page 4Â of 5
- [A Slip of the Tongue, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/slip-tongue-page5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Rye Hickman page 5 of 5 Did you enjoy A Slip of the Tongue? Check out these other Split Lip stories: Ingress and Egress Art: Jason Ho The Cousin of Death Art: Gary Crutchley The Pieces of Meat Art: Dirk Shearer
- [See No Evil, page 17](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/see-no-evil-page-17/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Trevor Denham page 17 of 17 Did you enjoy See No Evil? Check out these other Split Lip stories: If You Get Close to Her, Kiss Her Once For Me Art: Christine Larsen The Pieces of Meat Art: Dirk Shearer School Supplies Art: Brian McGleenon
- [See No Evil, page 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/see-no-evil-page-16/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Trevor Denham page 16 of 17 Don't want to wait 6 weeks to read the entire story? Get a DRM-free PDF of the full story, plus bonus features, for just $0.99.
- [See No Evil, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/see-no-evil-page-15/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Trevor Denham page 15 of 17 I'm sort of obsessed with this idea. We make mistakes in life all the time. Multiple times a day probably. But in comics, movies, books, we so rarely see people make mistakes. The idea that a character in a story might—emphasis on might—misunderstand something and behave
- [See No Evil, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/see-no-evil-page-14/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Trevor Denham page 14 of 17 Don't want to wait 6 weeks to read the entire story? Get a DRM-free PDF of the full story, plus bonus features, for just $0.99.
- [See No Evil, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/see-no-evil-page-11/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Trevor Denham page 11 of 17 Don't want to wait 6 weeks to read the entire story? Get a DRM-free PDF of the full story, plus bonus features, for just $0.99.
- [See No Evil, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/see-no-evil-page-10/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Trevor Denham page 10 of 17 Don't want to wait 6 weeks to read the entire story? Get a DRM-free PDF of the full story, plus bonus features, for just $0.99.
- [See No Evil, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/see-no-evil-page-9/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Trevor Denham page 9 of 17 Don't want to wait 6 weeks to read the entire story? Get a DRM-free PDF of the full story, plus bonus features, for just $0.99.
- [See No Evil, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/see-no-evil-page-8/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Trevor Denham page 8 of 17 Don't want to wait 6 weeks to read the entire story? Get a DRM-free PDF of the full story, plus bonus features, for just $0.99.
- [See No Evil, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/see-no-evil-page-7/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Trevor Denham page 7 of 17 Don't want to wait 6 weeks to read the entire story? Get a DRM-free PDF of the full story, plus bonus features, for just $0.99.
- [See No Evil, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/see-no-evil-page-6/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Trevor Denham page 6 of 17 Don't want to wait 6 weeks to read the entire story? Get a DRM-free PDF of the full story, plus bonus features, for just $0.99.
- [See No Evil, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/see-no-evil-page-5/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Trevor Denham page 5 of 17 Don't want to wait 6 weeks to read the entire story? Get a DRM-free PDF of the full story, plus bonus features, for just $0.99.
- [See No Evil, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/see-no-evil-page-4/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Trevor Denham page 4 of 17 Don't want to wait 6 weeks to read the entire story? Get a DRM-free PDF of the full story, plus bonus features, for just $0.99.
- [See No Evil, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/see-no-evil-page-3/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â Trevor Denham page 3Â of 17 Here's a great example of what Trevor brought to this story. The original script doesn't include the skull image from the top of the page or this specific layout (more behind-the-scenes on the story in the PDF linked to below). Instead, he looked at the script, understood
- [See No Evil, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/see-no-evil-page-2/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Trevor Denham page 2 of 17 Don't want to wait 6 weeks to read the entire story? Get a DRM-free PDF of the full story, plus bonus features, for just $0.99.
- [See No Evil](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/see-no-evil-page-1/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Trevor Denham page 1 of 17 Just in time for the Halloween season, a story featuring death, demon hunters, blood magic, and otherworldly creatures. I think you guys are going to like this one. Don't want to wait 6 weeks to read the entire story? Get a DRM-free PDF of
- [Fish Drink](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fish-drink/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Iain Laurie page 1 of 8
- [Fish Drink, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fish-drink-8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Iain Laurie Did you enjoy Fish Drink? Check out these other Split Lip stories: Straw Gods Art: T.J. Kirsch PrettyBoy Art: Karl Slominski Ashes to Ashes Art: Anthony Peruzzo
- [Fish Drink, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fish-drink-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Iain Laurie
- [Fish Drink, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fish-drink-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Iain Laurie
- [Fish Drink, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fish-drink-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Iain Laurie
- [Fish Drink, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fish-drink-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Iain Laurie
- [Fish Drink, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fish-drink-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Iain Laurie
- [Fish Drink, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fish-drink-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Iain Laurie
- [Live Through This, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/live-through-13/) - Writer: Sam Costello Art and lettering: T.J. Kirsch Page 13 of 15
- [Live Through This, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/live-through-12/) - Writer: Sam Costello Art and lettering: T.J. Kirsch Page 12 of 15
- [Live Through This, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/live-through-11/) - Writer: Sam Costello Art and lettering: T.J. Kirsch Page 11 of 15
- [Live Through This, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/live-through-10-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Art and lettering: T.J. Kirsch Page 10 of 15
- [Live Through This, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/live-through-9-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Art and lettering: T.J. Kirsch Page 9 of 15
- [Live Through This, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/live-through-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Art and lettering: T.J. Kirsch Page 6 of 15
- [Live Through This, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/live-through-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Art and lettering: T.J. Kirsch Page 5 of 15
- [Live Through This, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/live-through-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Art and lettering: T.J. Kirsch Page 4 of 15
- [Live Through This, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/live-through-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Art and lettering: T.J. Kirsch Page 3 of 15
- [Live Through This, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/live-through-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Art and lettering: T.J. Kirsch Page 2 of 15
- [Live Through This](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/live-through-1/) - Writer: Sam Costello Art and lettering: T.J. Kirsch Page 1 of 15 To me, horror that ends in death isn't terribly interesting. Sure, death works as punctuation sometimes, but it often removes some of a story's impact for me. After all, death is the end. Everything is over for the characters. To me, what's
- [Where Have I Been All My Life?, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/whibaml-page12/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Benjamin AE Filby Page 12 of 14
- [Where Have I Been All My Life?, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/whibaml-page11/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Benjamin AE Filby Page 11 of 14
- [Where Have I Been All My Life?, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/whibaml-page9/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Benjamin AE Filby Page 9 of 14
- [Where Have I Been All My Life?, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/whibaml-page8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Benjamin AE Filby Page 8 of 14
- [Where Have I Been All My Life?, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/whibaml-page7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Benjamin AE Filby Page 7 of 14
- [Where Have I Been All My Life?, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/whibaml-page6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Benjamin AE Filby Page 6 of 14
- [Where Have I Been All My Life?, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/whibaml-page5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Benjamin AE Filby Page 5 of 14
- [Where Have I Been All My Life?, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/whibaml-page4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Benjamin AE Filby Page 4 of 14
- [Where Have I Been All My Life?, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/whibaml-page3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Benjamin AE Filby Page 3 of 14
- [Where Have I Been All My Life?, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/whibaml-page2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Benjamin AE Filby Page 2 of 14
- [The Executioner is a Lonely Man](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-executioner-is-a-lonely-man/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Brian A. Laframboise page 1 of 15
- [The Exterminator](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/exterminator-p1/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Kelly Williams page 1 of 22
- [The Exterminator, page 20](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/exterminator-p20/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Kelly Williams page 20Â of 22
- [The Exterminator, page 19](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/exterminator-p19/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Kelly Williams page 19Â of 22
- [The Exterminator, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/exterminator-p11/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Kelly Williams page 11 of 22
- [The Exterminator, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/exterminator-p10/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Kelly Williams page 10 of 22
- [The Exterminator, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/exterminator-p7/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Kelly Williams page 7 of 22
- [The Exterminator, page 22](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/exterminator-p22/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Kelly Williams page 22 of 22
- [The Exterminator, page 21](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/exterminator-p21/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Kelly Williams page 21 of 22
- [The Exterminator, page 18](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/exterminator-p18/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Kelly Williams page 18Â of 22
- [The Exterminator, page 17](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/exterminator-p17/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Kelly Williams page 17 of 22
- [The Exterminator, page 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/exterminator-p16/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Kelly Williams page 16 of 22
- [The Exterminator, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/exterminator-p15/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Kelly Williams page 15 of 22
- [The Exterminator, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/exterminator-p14/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Kelly Williams page 14 of 22
- [The Exterminator, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/exterminator-p13/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Kelly Williams page 13 of 22
- [The Exterminator, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/exterminator-p12/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Kelly Williams page 12 of 22
- [The Exterminator, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/exterminator-p9/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Kelly Williams page 9 of 22
- [The Exterminator, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/exterminator-p8/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Kelly Williams page 8 of 22
- [The Exterminator, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/exterminator-p6/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Kelly Williams page 6 of 22
- [The Exterminator, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/exterminator-p5/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Kelly Williams page 5 of 22
- [The Exterminator, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/exterminator-p4/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Kelly Williams page 4 of 22
- [The Exterminator, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/exterminator-p3/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Kelly Williams page 3 of 22
- [The Exterminator, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/exterminator-p2/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Kelly Williams page 2 of 22
- [Hey, Come Here, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/comehere-p10/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Claire Connelly page 10 of 12
- [Hey, Come Here, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/comehere-p9/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Claire Connelly page 9 of 12
- [Hey, Come Here, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/comehere-p11/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Claire Connelly page 11 of 12
- [Hey, Come Here, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/comehere-p12/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Claire Connelly page 12 of 12 Did you enjoy Hey, Come Here? Check out these other Split Lip stories: The Voice of Celia Darling Art: John Bivens Doll's House Art: Savannah Horrocks All the Pretty Corpses Art: Chiara Colasanti
- [Hey, Come Here, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/comehere-p5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Claire Connelly page 5 of 12
- [Hey, Come Here, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/comehere-p6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Claire Connelly page 6 of 12
- [Hey, Come Here, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/comehere-p7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Claire Connelly page 7 of 12
- [Hey, Come Here, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/comehere-p8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Claire Connelly page 8 of 12
- [Hey, Come Here, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/comehere-p2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Claire Connelly page 2 of 12
- [Hey, Come Here, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/comehere-p4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Claire Connelly page 4 of 12
- [Hey, Come Here](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/comehere-p1/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Claire Connelly page 1 of 12
- [Hey, Come Here, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/comehere-p3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Claire Connelly page 3 of 12
- [Doux Didou, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/didou-pg15/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Artist:Â David Hitchcock page 15Â of 16
- [Doux Didou, page 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/didou-pg16/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: David Hitchcock page 16 of 16 Did you enjoy Doux Didou? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, David Hitchcock A Mother's Love or try these other stories Fitcher's Bird Art: John Bivens Make Westing Art: Anthony Peruzzo Doll's House Art: Savannah Horrocks SaveSave
- [Doux Didou, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/didou-pg14/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Artist:Â David Hitchcock page 14Â of 16
- [Doux Didou, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/didou-pg13/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Artist:Â David Hitchcock page 13Â of 16
- [Doux Didou, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/didou-pg12/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Artist:Â David Hitchcock page 12Â of 16
- [Doux Didou, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/didou-pg10/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Artist:Â David Hitchcock page 10Â of 16
- [Doux Didou, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/didou-pg9-2/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Artist:Â David Hitchcock page 9Â of 16
- [Doux Didou, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/didou-pg11/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Artist:Â David Hitchcock page 11Â of 16
- [Doux Didou, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/didou-pg8/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Artist:Â David Hitchcock page 8Â of 16
- [Doux Didou, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/didou-pg6/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Artist:Â David Hitchcock page 6Â of 16
- [Doux Didou, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/didou-pg3/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Artist:Â David Hitchcock page 3Â of 16
- [Doux Didou, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/didou-pg7/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Artist:Â David Hitchcock page 7Â of 16
- [Doux Didou, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/didou-pg5/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Artist:Â David Hitchcock page 5Â of 16
- [Doux Didou, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/didou-pg4/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Artist:Â David Hitchcock page 4Â of 16
- [Doux Didou](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/didou-pg1/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: David Hitchcock page 1 of 16 There are two things worth knowing before you dig into this tale of family horror set during the French Revolution. First, "Didou" is a nickname for the French name Didier, which is our main character's name. Second, "doux" means "sweet" in French. Allons y.
- [Doux Didou, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/didou-pg2/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Artist:Â David Hitchcock page 2Â of 16
- [All the Pretty Corpses, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/prettycorpses-pg11/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Chiara Colasanti page 11 of 12
- [All the Pretty Corpses, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/prettycorpses-pg12/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Chiara Colasanti page 12 of 12 Did you enjoy All the Pretty Corpses? Check out these other Split Lip stories: A Mother's Love Art: David Hitchcock Doll's House Art: Savannah Horrocks Cured Art: Erik Rose
- [All the Pretty Corpses, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/prettycorpses-pg10/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Chiara Colasanti page 10 of 12
- [All the Pretty Corpses, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/prettycorpses-pg9/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Chiara Colasanti page 9 of 12
- [All the Pretty Corpses, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/prettycorpses-pg8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Chiara Colasanti page 8 of 12
- [All the Pretty Corpses, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/prettycorpses-pg6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Chiara Colasanti page 6 of 12
- [All the Pretty Corpses, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/prettycorpses-pg7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Chiara Colasanti page 7 of 12
- [All the Pretty Corpses, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/prettycorpses-pg5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Chiara Colasanti page 1 of 12
- [All the Pretty Corpses, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/prettycorpses-pg4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Chiara Colasanti page 4 of 12
- [All the Pretty Corpses, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/prettycorpses-pg3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Chiara Colasanti page 3 of 12
- [All the Pretty Corpses, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/prettycorpses-pg2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Chiara Colasanti page 2 of 12
- [All the Pretty Corpses](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/prettycorpses-pg1/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Chiara Colasanti page 1 of 12
- [Panopticon, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/panopticon-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Joel Vollmer
- [Panopticon, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/panopticon-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Joel Vollmer Did you enjoy Panopticon? Check out these other Split Lip stories: Ingress & Egress Art: Jason Ho Straw Gods Art: T.J. Kirsch > The Executioner is a Lonely Man Art: Brian A. Laframboise
- [A Mother's Love](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/a-mothers-love/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: David Hitchcock page 1 of 16
- [PrettyBoy, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/prettyboy-8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Karl Slominski Did you enjoy PrettyBoy? Check out these other Split Lip stories: In Another Room Art: Lee O'Connor Make Westing adapted from Jack London Art: Anthony Peruzzo Victims Art: Steven Perkins
- [PrettyBoy, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/prettyboy-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Karl Slominski
- [PrettyBoy, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/prettyboy-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Karl Slominski
- [PrettyBoy, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/prettyboy-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Karl Slominski
- [PrettyBoy, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/prettyboy-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Karl Slominski
- [PrettyBoy, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/prettyboy-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Karl Slominski
- [PrettyBoy, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/prettyboy-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Karl Slominski
- [PrettyBoy](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/prettyboy/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Karl Slominski page 1 of 8
- [Quants, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/quants-page-9/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: David Brame page 9 of 11 This page shows one of the detailed, and so fantastic, touches that David added to the story to make it better: That smiley face on the receipt in panel 2. That wasn't in the original script, but what an amazing touch. It's exactly the kind of thing this
- [Quants, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/quants-page-11/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: David Brame page 11 of 11 I love what David did with this page. After a story that was basically sitting and talking, the action here is so fast, so vicious, so dynamic. That's really going out with a bang. Did you enjoy Quants? Check out these other Split Lip stories: Termites
- [Quants, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/quants-page-8/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â David Brame page 8Â of 11
- [Quants, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/quants-page-7/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: David Brame page 7 of 11 One of many things I love about David's art is that he draws the world we live in. Look at the people in this bar. That's not the roster of body shapes, races, and fashion styles that you'd see in the average comic. But it is the variety
- [Quants, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/quants-page-6/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â David Brame page 6Â of 11
- [Quants, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/quants-page-5/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â David Brame page 5Â of 11
- [Quants, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/quants-page-4/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: David Brame page 4 of 11 I love the way David broke up the grid structure of the previous pages here to reflect the increasing drunkenness of the main characters. It puts the page off kilter without bashing us over the head with the idea.
- [Quants, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/quants-page-3/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â David Brame page 3Â of 11
- [Quants, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/quants-page-2/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â David Brame page 2Â of 11
- [Quants](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/quants-page-1/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: David Brame page 1 of 11 Writing comics isn't easy for me. It often takes months—or more—from the spark of an idea to finished comic, with lots of false starts and dead ends along the way. That's the way it usually works, at least. In the case of Quants, things fell
- [A Mother's Love, page 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/a-mothers-love-16/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: David Hitchcock page 16 of 16 Did you enjoy A Mother's Love? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, David Hitchcock Doux Didou Make Westing adapted from Jack London Art: Anthony Peruzzo The Wind and The Rain Art: Neal Von Flue School Supplies Art: Brian
- [A Mother's Love, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/a-mothers-love-15/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: David Hitchcock page 15 of 16
- [A Mother's Love, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/a-mothers-love-14/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: David Hitchcock page 14 of 16
- [A Mother's Love, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/a-mothers-love-13/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: David Hitchcock page 13 of 16
- [A Mother's Love, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/a-mothers-love-12/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: David Hitchcock page 12 of 16
- [A Mother's Love, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/a-mothers-love-11/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: David Hitchcock page 11 of 16
- [A Mother's Love, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/a-mothers-love-10/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: David Hitchcock page 10 of 16
- [A Mother's Love, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/a-mothers-love-8/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: David Hitchcock page 8 of 16
- [A Mother's Love, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/a-mothers-love-9/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: David Hitchcock page 9 of 16
- [A Mother's Love, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/a-mothers-love-7/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: David Hitchcock page 7 of 16
- [A Mother's Love, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/a-mothers-love-6/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: David Hitchcock page 6 of 16
- [A Mother's Love, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/a-mothers-love-5/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: David Hitchcock page 5 of 16
- [A Mother's Love, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/a-mothers-love-4/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: David Hitchcock page 4 of 16
- [A Mother's Love, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/a-mothers-love-3/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: David Hitchcock page 3 of 16
- [A Mother's Love, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/a-mothers-love-2/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: David Hitchcock page 2 of 16
- [Look Carefully, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Panopticon, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/panopticon-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Joel Vollmer
- [Panopticon](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/panopticon/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Joel Vollmer page 1 of 6
- [The Voice of Celia Darling, page 21](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-voice-of-celia-darling-21/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: John Bivens page 21 of 22
- [The Voice of Celia Darling, page 22](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-voice-of-celia-darling-22/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: John Bivens page 22 of 22 Did you enjoy The Voice of Celia Darling? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, John Bivens Se Perdre Fitcher’s Bird Lone and Level Art: Max Temescu Look Carefully Art: Sami Makkonen Safe as Houses Art: Felipe Cunha
- [The Voice of Celia Darling, page 20](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-voice-of-celia-darling-20/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: John Bivens page 20 of 22
- [The Voice of Celia Darling, page 19](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-voice-of-celia-darling-19/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: John Bivens page 19 of 22
- [The Voice of Celia Darling, page 17](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-voice-of-celia-darling-17/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: John Bivens page 17 of 22
- [The Voice of Celia Darling, page 18](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-voice-of-celia-darling-18/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: John Bivens page 18 of 22
- [The Voice of Celia Darling, page 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-voice-of-celia-darling-16/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: John Bivens page 16 of 22
- [The Voice of Celia Darling, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-voice-of-celia-darling-13/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens page 14 of 22
- [The Voice of Celia Darling, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-voice-of-celia-darling-15/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: John Bivens page 15 of 22
- [The Voice of Celia Darling, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-voice-of-celia-darling-12/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens page 13 of 22
- [The Voice of Celia Darling, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-voice-of-celia-darling-11/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens page 12 of 22
- [The Voice of Celia Darling, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-voice-of-celia-darling-10/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens page 11 of 22
- [The Voice of Celia Darling, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-voice-of-celia-darling-14/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: John Bivens page 10 of 22
- [The Voice of Celia Darling, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-voice-of-celia-darling-9/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: John Bivens page 9 of 22
- [The Voice of Celia Darling, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-voice-of-celia-darling-8/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: John Bivens page 8 of 22
- [The Voice of Celia Darling, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-voice-of-celia-darling-7/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: John Bivens page 7 of 22
- [The Voice of Celia Darling, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-voice-of-celia-darling-5/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: John Bivens page 5 of 22
- [The Voice of Celia Darling, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-voice-of-celia-darling-6/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: John Bivens page 6 of 22
- [The Voice of Celia Darling, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-voice-of-celia-darling-4/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: John Bivens page 4 of 22
- [The Voice of Celia Darling, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-voice-of-celia-darling-3/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: John Bivens page 3 of 22
- [The Voice of Celia Darling, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-voice-of-celia-darling-2/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: John Bivens page 2 of 22
- [The Voice of Celia Darling](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-voice-of-celia-darling/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: John Bivens page 1 of 22
- [Face of Fire, Belly of Blood, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-fire-pg2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ege Avci page 2 of 23
- [Face of Fire, Belly of Blood](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-fire-pg1/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ege Avci page 1 of 23
- [Face of Fire, Belly of Blood, page 23](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-fire-pg23/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ege Avci page 23 of 23
- [Face of Fire, Belly of Blood, page 22](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-fire-pg22/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ege Avci page 22 of 23
- [Face of Fire, Belly of Blood, page 21](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-fire-pg21/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ege Avci page 21 of 23
- [Face of Fire, Belly of Blood, page 20](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-fire-pg20/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ege Avci page 20 of 23
- [Face of Fire, Belly of Blood, page 19](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-fire-pg19/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ege Avci page 19 of 23
- [Face of Fire, Belly of Blood, page 18](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-fire-pg18/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ege Avci page 18 of 23
- [Face of Fire, Belly of Blood, page 17](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-fire-pg17/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ege Avci page 17 of 23
- [Face of Fire, Belly of Blood, page 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-fire-pg16/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ege Avci page 16 of 23
- [Face of Fire, Belly of Blood, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-fire-pg15/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ege Avci page 15 of 23
- [Face of Fire, Belly of Blood, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-fire-pg14/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ege Avci page 14 of 23
- [Face of Fire, Belly of Blood, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-fire-pg13/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ege Avci page 13 of 23
- [Face of Fire, Belly of Blood, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-fire-pg12/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ege Avci page 12 of 23
- [Face of Fire, Belly of Blood, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-fire-pg11/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ege Avci page 11 of 23
- [Face of Fire, Belly of Blood, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-fire-pg10/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ege Avci page 10 of 23
- [Face of Fire, Belly of Blood, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-fire-pg9/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ege Avci page 9 of 23
- [Face of Fire, Belly of Blood, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-fire-pg8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ege Avci page 8 of 23
- [Face of Fire, Belly of Blood, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-fire-pg7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ege Avci page 7 of 23
- [Face of Fire, Belly of Blood, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-fire-pg6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ege Avci page 6 of 23
- [Face of Fire, Belly of Blood, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-fire-pg5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ege Avci page 5 of 23
- [Face of Fire, Belly of Blood, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-fire-pg4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ege Avci page 4 of 23
- [Face of Fire, Belly of Blood, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-fire-pg3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ege Avci page 3 of 23
- [Look Carefully, page 23](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully-23/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Look Carefully, page 21](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully-21/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Look Carefully, page 24](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully-24/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen Did you enjoy Look Carefully? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, Sami Makkonen Mujer The Harvestmen See No Evil Art: Trevor Denham Last Caress Art: Douglas Draper, Jr. Doll's House Art: Savannah Horrocks SaveSave
- [Look Carefully, page 22](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully-22/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Look Carefully, page 19](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully-19/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Look Carefully, page 18](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully-18/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Look Carefully, page 20](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully-20/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Look Carefully, page 17](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully-17/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Look Carefully, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully-15/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Look Carefully, page 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully-16/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Look Carefully, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully-14/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Look Carefully, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully-13/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Look Carefully, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully-12/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Look Carefully, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully-11/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Look Carefully, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully-10/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Look Carefully, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully-9/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Look Carefully, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Look Carefully, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully-8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Look Carefully, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Look Carefully, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Look Carefully, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Look Carefully, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Look Carefully](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/look-carefully/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen page 1 of 24
- [The Railroad Boy, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-railroad-boy-8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Felipe Sobreiro Based on the folk ballad of the same name. Did you enjoy The Railroad Boy? Check out these other Split Lip stories: The Wind and The Rain Art: Neal Von Flue Fitcher's Bird Art: John Bivens Make Westing adapted from Jack London Art: Anthony Peruzzo
- [The Railroad Boy, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-railroad-boy-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Felipe Sobreiro Based on the folk ballad of the same name.
- [The Railroad Boy, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-railroad-boy-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Felipe Sobreiro Based on the folk ballad of the same name.
- [The Railroad Boy, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-railroad-boy-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Felipe Sobreiro Based on the folk ballad of the same name.
- [The Railroad Boy, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-railroad-boy-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Felipe Sobreiro Based on the folk ballad of the same name.
- [The Railroad Boy](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-railroad-boy/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Felipe Sobreiro page 1 of 8 Based on the folk ballad of the same name.
- [School Supplies, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/school-supplies-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Brian McGleenon
- [School Supplies, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/school-supplies-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Brian McGleenon
- [School Supplies, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/school-supplies-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Brian McGleenon
- [School Supplies, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/school-supplies-8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Brian McGleenon Did you enjoy School Supplies? Check out these other Split Lip stories: A Mother's Love Art: David Hitchcock The Cousin of Death Art: Gary Crutchley The Wind and The Rain Art: Neal Von Flue
- [School Supplies, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/school-supplies-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Brian McGleenon
- [School Supplies, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/school-supplies-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Brian McGleenon
- [School Supplies, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/school-supplies-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Brian McGleenon
- [School Supplies](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/school-supplies/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Brian McGleenon page 1 of 8
- [An Old Man, Looking, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/an-old-man-looking-13/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia
- [An Old Man, Looking, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/an-old-man-looking-9/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia
- [An Old Man, Looking, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/an-old-man-looking-10/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia
- [An Old Man, Looking, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/an-old-man-looking-11/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia
- [An Old Man, Looking, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/an-old-man-looking-12/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia
- [An Old Man, Looking, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/an-old-man-looking-8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia
- [An Old Man, Looking, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/an-old-man-looking-14/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia Did you enjoy An Old Man, Looking? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, Diego Candia The Consequences of a Little Alone Time The Cousin of Death Art: Gary Crutchley Victims Art: Steven Perkins Beyond the Campfire Light Art: Jason Ho SaveSave
- [An Old Man, Looking, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/an-old-man-looking-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia
- [An Old Man, Looking, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/an-old-man-looking-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia
- [An Old Man, Looking, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/an-old-man-looking-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia
- [An Old Man, Looking, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/an-old-man-looking-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia
- [An Old Man, Looking, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/an-old-man-looking-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia
- [An Old Man, Looking, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/an-old-man-looking-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia
- [An Old Man, Looking](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/an-old-man-looking/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia page 1 of 14
- [Cured, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/cured-8/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Erik Rose
- [Cured, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/cured-9/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Erik Rose
- [Quants, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/quants-page-10/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â David Brame page 10 of 11
- [Make Westing, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/make-westing-12/) - Adapted from the story by Jack London Written by Sam Costello Art and lettering by Anthony Peruzzo Did you enjoy Make Westing? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, Anthony Peruzzo Ashes to Ashes Mujer Art: Sami Makkonen Victims Art: Steven Perkins Fitcher's Bird Art: John Bivens
- [Make Westing, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/make-westing-11/) - Adapted from the story by Jack London Written by Sam Costello Art and lettering by Anthony Peruzzo
- [Make Westing, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/make-westing-10/) - Adapted from the story by Jack London Written by Sam Costello Art and lettering by Anthony Peruzzo
- [Make Westing, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/make-westing-page-9/) - Adapted from the story by Jack London Written by Sam Costello Art and lettering by Anthony Peruzzo
- [Make Westing, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/make-westing-8/) - Adapted from the story by Jack London Written by Sam Costello Art and lettering by Anthony Peruzzo
- [Make Westing, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/make-westing-7/) - Adapted from the story by Jack London Written by Sam Costello Art and lettering by Anthony Peruzzo
- [Make Westing, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/make-westing-6/) - Adapted from the story by Jack London Written by Sam Costello Art and lettering by Anthony Peruzzo
- [Make Westing, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/make-westing-5/) - Adapted from the story by Jack London Written by Sam Costello Art and lettering by Anthony Peruzzo
- [Make Westing, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/make-westing-3/) - Adapted from the story by Jack London Written by Sam Costello Art and lettering by Anthony Peruzzo
- [Make Westing, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/make-westing-2/) - Adapted from the story by Jack London Written by Sam Costello Art and lettering by Anthony Peruzzo
- [Make Westing, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/make-westing-4/) - Adapted from the story by Jack London Written by Sam Costello Art and lettering by Anthony Peruzzo
- [Make Westing](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/make-westing/) - Adapted from the story by Jack London Written by Sam Costello Art and lettering by Anthony Peruzzo page 1 of 12
- [Long Live the King, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/long-live-the-king-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley Did you enjoy Long Live the King? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, Gary Crutchley The Cousin of Death Straw Men Termites In Your Smile Art: Douglas Draper, Jr. Ingress & Egress Art: Jason Ho PrettyBoy Art: Karl Slominski SaveSave
- [Live Through This, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/live-through-8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Art and lettering: T.J. Kirsch Page 8 of 15
- [Live Through This, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/live-through-14/) - Writer: Sam Costello Art and lettering: T.J. Kirsch Page 14 of 15
- [Ingress and Egress, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ingress-and-egress-9/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Ingress and Egress, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ingress-and-egress-10/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Ingress and Egress, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ingress-and-egress-8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Ingress and Egress, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ingress-and-egress-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Ingress and Egress, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ingress-and-egress-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Ingress and Egress, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ingress-and-egress-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Ingress and Egress, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ingress-and-egress-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Ashes to Ashes, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ashes-to-ashes-10/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Anthony Perruzo
- [Ashes to Ashes, page 22](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ashes-to-ashes-22/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Anthony Perruzo Did you enjoy Ashes to Ashes? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, Anthony Peruzzo Make Westing The Railroad Boy Art: Felipe Sobreiro Headin' South Art: Kyle Strahm Fish Drink Art: Iain Laurie SaveSave
- [Ashes to Ashes, page 21](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ashes-to-ashes-21/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Anthony Perruzo
- [Ashes to Ashes, page 20](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ashes-to-ashes-20/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Anthony Perruzo
- [Ashes to Ashes, page 19](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ashes-to-ashes-19/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Anthony Perruzo
- [Ashes to Ashes, page 18](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ashes-to-ashes-18/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Anthony Perruzo
- [Ashes to Ashes, page 17](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ashes-to-ashes-17/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Anthony Perruzo
- [Ashes to Ashes, page 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ashes-to-ashes-16/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Anthony Perruzo
- [Ashes to Ashes, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ashes-to-ashes-15/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Anthony Perruzo
- [Ashes to Ashes, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ashes-to-ashes-14/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Anthony Perruzo
- [Ashes to Ashes, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ashes-to-ashes-13/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Anthony Perruzo
- [Ashes to Ashes, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ashes-to-ashes-11/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Anthony Perruzo
- [Ashes to Ashes, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ashes-to-ashes-12/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Anthony Perruzo
- [Ashes to Ashes, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ashes-to-ashes-9/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Anthony Perruzo
- [Ashes to Ashes, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ashes-to-ashes-8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Anthony Perruzo
- [Ashes to Ashes, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ashes-to-ashes-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Anthony Perruzo
- [Ashes to Ashes, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ashes-to-ashes-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Anthony Perruzo
- [Ashes to Ashes, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ashes-to-ashes-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Anthony Perruzo
- [Ashes to Ashes, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ashes-to-ashes-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Anthony Perruzo
- [Ashes to Ashes, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ashes-to-ashes-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Anthony Perruzo
- [Ashes to Ashes, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ashes-to-ashes-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Anthony Perruzo
- [Ashes to Ashes](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ashes-to-ashes/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Anthony Perruzo page 1 of 22
- [Where Have I Been All My Life?, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/whibaml-page10/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Benjamin AE Filby Page 10 of 14
- [Unsub, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/unsub-pg13/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: TJ Kirsch page 13 of 13 Did you enjoy Unsub? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, T.J. Kirsch Straw Gods Live Through This Cured Art:Erik Rose Se Perdre Art: John Bivens Face Blind Art: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Unsub, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/unsub-pg12/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â TJ Kirsch page 12Â of 13
- [Unsub, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/unsub-pg11/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â TJ Kirsch page 11Â of 13
- [Unsub, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/unsub-pg10/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â TJ Kirsch page 10Â of 13
- [Unsub, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/unsub-pg9/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â TJ Kirsch page 9Â of 13
- [Unsub, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/unsub-pg8/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â TJ Kirsch page 8 of 13
- [Unsub, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/unsub-pg6/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â TJ Kirsch page 6Â of 13
- [Unsub, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/unsub-pg7/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â TJ Kirsch page 7Â of 13
- [Unsub, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/unsub-pg5/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â TJ Kirsch page 5Â of 13
- [Unsub, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/unsub-pg4/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â TJ Kirsch page 4Â of 13
- [Unsub, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/unsub-pg3/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â TJ Kirsch page 3Â of 13
- [Unsub, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/unsub-pg2/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â TJ Kirsch page 2Â of 13
- [Unsub](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/unsub-pg1/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: TJ Kirsch page 1 of 13
- [Live Through This, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/live-through-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Art and lettering: T.J. Kirsch Page 7 of 15
- [Safe As Houses, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/safe-houses-pg6/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Art:Â Felipe Cunha page 6Â of 9
- [Safe As Houses, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/safe-houses-pg9/) - Writer: Sam Costello Art: Felipe Cunha page 9 of 9 Did you enjoy Safe As Houses? Check out these other Split Lip stories: Unsub Art: TJ Kirsch In Another Room Art: Lee O'Connor Victims Art: Steven Perkins
- [Safe As Houses, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/safe-houses-pg8/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Art:Â Felipe Cunha page 8Â of 9
- [Safe As Houses, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/safe-houses-pg7/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Art:Â Felipe Cunha page 7Â of 9
- [Safe As Houses, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/safe-houses-pg5/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Art:Â Felipe Cunha page 5Â of 9 Around the time I was writing this story, I read Killer on the Road, by Ginger Strand, which draws some interesting connections between the development of the American interstate highway system and the rise of serial killers. Not a causal connection, per se, but certainly some metaphorical
- [Safe As Houses, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/safe-houses-pg4/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Art:Â Felipe Cunha page 4Â of 9 Around the time I was conceiving this comic, the Josef Fritzl case was on my mind. IÂ find that story so disturbing, so horrific that I don't know that I could ever write a full comic that touches on it (or even if it would be a good
- [Safe As Houses, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/safe-houses-pg3/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Art:Â Felipe Cunha page 3Â of 9
- [Safe As Houses, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/safe-houses-pg2/) - Writer:Â Sam Costello Art:Â Felipe Cunha page 2Â of 9 Martin's is a real place in Great Barrington, MA., around the corner from where I lived for a while. My friend Mike used to be a cook there. It was the first place I ever had a grilled muffin (they're heavenly; if you haven't had one, you
- [Safe As Houses](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/safe-houses-pg1/) - Writer: Sam Costello Art: Felipe Cunha page 1 of 9 This is a really different kind of story for me. It's not a traditional narrative comic. Instead, it's a lot more like a single-panel-a-day newspaper strip, except there's not much funny here. If you've read a couple of Split Lip stories, you'll know that one
- [Doll's House, page 19](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/dh-page19/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Savannah Horrocks page 19 of 19 Did you enjoy Doll's House? Check out these other Split Lip stories: An Old Man, Looking Art: Diego Candia In Another Room Art: Lee O'Connor Victims Art: Steven Perkins
- [Doll's House, page 17](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/dh-page17/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â Savannah Horrocks page 17Â of 19
- [Doll's House, page 18](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/dh-page18/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â Savannah Horrocks page 18 of 19
- [Doll's House, page 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/dh-page16/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Savannah Horrocks page 16 of 19 Have you guys read Beautiful Darkness? This pages reminds me of the scene in that of the girl waking up in the forest. I wrote this story long before reading Beautiful Darkness, and I don't know if Savannah has read it, but the intersection feels so strong to
- [Doll's House, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/dh-page15/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â Savannah Horrocks page 15Â of 19
- [Doll's House, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/dh-page14/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â Savannah Horrocks page 14 of 19 Another amazing image. The angle Savannah chose here, the details of the dress and the drawings in the background, all combine to make this a powerful reveal.
- [Doll's House, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/dh-page13/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â Savannah Horrocks page 13Â of 19 What a page. Savannah's work here is so great. The interior of the house in panel 1, the look of fear on Hannah's face in panel 4, those drawings in panel 2. Great stuff here.
- [Doll's House, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/dh-page12/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â Savannah Horrocks page 12Â of 19
- [Doll's House, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/dh-page11/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â Savannah Horrocks page 11Â of 19
- [Doll's House, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/dh-page10/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â Savannah Horrocks page 10 of 19
- [Doll's House, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/dh-page9/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Savannah Horrocks page 9 of 19 A classic horror trope: hiding family secrets in storage areas—attics, basements, sheds. When something's hidden behind a door, literally anything could be waiting for us.
- [Doll's House, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/dh-page8/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â Savannah Horrocks page 8Â of 19 A lot of horror is jumpscares and big, broad events. But horror, sometimes, is in the small details that don't immediately stand out.
- [Doll's House, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/dh-page7/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â Savannah Horrocks page 7Â of 19
- [Doll's House, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/dh-page6/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â Savannah Horrocks page 6Â of 19
- [Doll's House, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/dh-page5/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â Savannah Horrocks page 5Â of 19 I like this moment between the family members, Hannah and her mom gently teasing Kent. One of the few pages in this story without menace or tension.
- [Doll's House, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/dh-page4/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â Savannah Horrocks page 4Â of 19
- [Doll's House, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/dh-page3/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Savannah Horrocks page 3 of 19 I really did come across a weird statue in a field when walking once. No explanation for why it was there or who erected it. It wasn't as creepy as this—it was a monk or priest, as I recall, kind of pastoral—but it definitely made that field an eerie place.
- [Doll's House, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/dh-page2/) - writer:Â Sam Costello artist:Â Savannah Horrocks page 2Â of 19 I don't have kids, so I don't know for sure, but I imagine these disagreements over the limits and style of childrearing crop up between parents all the time. It's just part of the experience, but I suspect sometimes becomes a major point of contention.
- [Doll's House](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/dh-page1/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Savannah Horrocks page 1 of 19 Stories are stories, right? The medium doesn’t matter when you begin with the idea. It’s the characters and their relationships, the plot and its twists that matter. That’s true with Doll’s House, at least. Doll’s House, you see, started its life, years ago, as
- [Lone and Level, page 28](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-28/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 28 of 28 Did you enjoy Lone and Level? Check out these other Split Lip stories: Victims Art: Steven Perkins Oct. 2014 Beyond the Campfire Light Art: Jason Ho Jan. 2010 The Pieces of Meat Art: Dirk Shearer Feb. 2010
- [Lone and Level, page 27](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-27/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 27 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 26](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-26/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 26 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 25](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-25/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 25 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 24](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-24/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 24 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 23](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-23/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 23 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 22](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-22/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 22 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 21](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-21/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 21 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 20](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-20/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 20 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 19](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-19/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 19 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 17](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-17/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 17 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 18](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-18/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 18 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-16/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 16 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-15/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 15 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-14/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 14 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-13/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 13 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-12/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 12 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-11/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 11 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-10/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 10 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-09/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 9 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-08/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 8 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-07/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 7 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-06/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 6 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-04/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 4 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-05/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 5 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-03/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 3 of 28
- [Lone and Level](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-01/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 1 of 28
- [Lone and Level, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ll-page-02/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Max Temescu page 2 of 28
- [The Pieces of Meat, pages 24](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat-24/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer Did you enjoy The Pieces of Meat? Check out these other Split Lip stories: Cured Art: Erik Rose Face Blind Art: Ayhan Hayrula Mujer Art: Sami Makkonen
- [The Pieces of Meat, pages 23](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat-23/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer
- [The Pieces of Meat, pages 22](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat-22/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer
- [The Pieces of Meat, pages 21](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat-21/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer
- [The Pieces of Meat, pages 20](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat-20/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer
- [The Pieces of Meat, pages 19](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat-19/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer
- [The Pieces of Meat, pages 18](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat-18/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer
- [The Pieces of Meat, pages 17](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat-17/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer
- [The Pieces of Meat, pages 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat-16/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer
- [The Pieces of Meat, pages 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat-15/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer
- [The Pieces of Meat, pages 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat-14/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer
- [The Pieces of Meat, pages 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat-13/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer
- [The Pieces of Meat, pages 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat-12/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer
- [The Pieces of Meat, pages 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat-10/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer
- [The Pieces of Meat, pages 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat-11/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer
- [The Pieces of Meat, pages 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat-9/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer
- [The Pieces of Meat, pages 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat-8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer
- [The Pieces of Meat, pages 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer
- [The Pieces of Meat, pages 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer
- [The Pieces of Meat, pages 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer
- [The Pieces of Meat, pages 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer
- [The Pieces of Meat, pages 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer
- [The Pieces of Meat, pages 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer
- [The Pieces of Meat](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-pieces-of-meat/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Dirk Shearer
- [Last Caress, page 24](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page-2/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. page 24 of 24 Did you enjoy Last Caress? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, Douglas Draper, Jr. Termites In Your Smile In Another Room Art: Lee O'Connor Look Carefully Art: Sami Makkonen Headin' South Art: Kyle Strahm
- [Last Caress, page 23](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. page 23 of 24
- [Last Caress, page 22](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page-x-24/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. page 22 of 24
- [Last Caress, page 21](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page-x-23/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. page 21 of 24
- [Last Caress, page 20](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page-x-19/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. Page 20 of 24
- [Last Caress, page 19](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page-x-18/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. Page 19 of 24
- [Last Caress, page 18](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page-x-17/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. Page 18 of 24
- [Last Caress, page 17](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page-x-16/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. Page 17 of 24
- [Last Caress, page 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page-x-15/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. Page 16 of 24
- [Last Caress, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page-x-20/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. page 15 of 24
- [Last Caress, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page-x-12/) - Written by: Sam Costello Art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. page 12 of 24
- [Last Caress, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page-x-11/) - Written by: Sam Costello Art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. page 11 of 24
- [Last Caress, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page-x-10/) - Written by: Sam Costello Art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. page 10 of 24
- [Last Caress, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page-x-9/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. page 9 of 24
- [Last Caress, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page-x-7/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. page 7 of 24
- [Last Caress, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page-x-5/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. page 5 of 24
- [Last Caress, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page-x-6/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. page 6 of 24
- [Last Caress, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page-x-3/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. page 3 of 24
- [Last Caress, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page-x-4/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. page 4 of 24
- [Last Caress, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page-x-2/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. page 2 of 24
- [Last Caress](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page-x/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. page 1 of 24
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 25](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-25/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr. Did you enjoy Termites In Your Smile? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, Douglas Draper, Jr. Last Caress Victims Art: Steven Perkins On The Plateau Art: Kyle Harabedian Look Carefully Art: Sami Makkonen SaveSave
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 24](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-24/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 23](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-23/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 21](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-20/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 20](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-19/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 19](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-18/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 18](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-17/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 17](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-16/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-15/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-14/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-13/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-12/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-11/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-10/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-9/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-page-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 22](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-22/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Termites In Your Smile, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Termites In Your Smile](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr. page 1 of 25
- [Straw Men, page 20](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-men-20/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley Did you enjoy Straw Men? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, Gary Crutchley The Cousin of Death Long Live the King Straw Gods Art: T.J. Kirsch Cured Art: Erik Rose An Old Man, Looking Art: Diego Candia SaveSave
- [Straw Men, page 19](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-men-19/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Straw Men, page 18](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-men-18/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Straw Men, page 17](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-men-17/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Straw Men, page 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-men-16/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Straw Men, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-men-15/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Straw Men, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-men-14/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Straw Men, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-men-13/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Straw Men, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-men-12/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Straw Men, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-men-11/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Straw Men, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-men-10/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Straw Men, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-men-9/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Straw Men, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-men-8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Straw Men, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-men-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Straw Men, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-men-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Straw Men, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-men-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Straw Men, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-men-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Straw Men, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-men-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Straw Men, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-men-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Straw Men](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-men/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley page 1 of 20
- [Straw Gods, page 18](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-gods-18/) - Written by Sam Costello Art and Lettering by TJ Kirsch Did you enjoy Straw Gods? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, T.J. Kirsch Unsub Live Through This Straw Men Art: Gary Crutchley Ashes to Ashes Art: Anthony Peruzzo In Another Room Art: Lee O'Connor
- [Straw Gods, page 17](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-gods-17/) - Written by Sam Costello Art and Lettering by TJ Kirsch
- [Straw Gods, page 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-gods-16/) - Written by Sam Costello Art and Lettering by TJ Kirsch
- [Straw Gods, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-gods-15/) - Written by Sam Costello Art and Lettering by TJ Kirsch
- [Straw Gods, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-gods-14/) - Written by Sam Costello Art and Lettering by TJ Kirsch
- [Straw Gods, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-gods-13/) - Written by Sam Costello Art and Lettering by TJ Kirsch
- [Straw Gods, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-gods-12/) - Written by Sam Costello Art and Lettering by TJ Kirsch
- [Straw Gods, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-gods-11/) - Written by Sam Costello Art and Lettering by TJ Kirsch
- [Straw Gods, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-gods-8/) - Written by Sam Costello Art and Lettering by TJ Kirsch
- [Straw Gods, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-gods-10/) - Written by Sam Costello Art and Lettering by TJ Kirsch
- [Straw Gods, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-gods-7/) - Written by Sam Costello Art and Lettering by TJ Kirsch
- [Straw Gods, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-gods-6/) - Written by Sam Costello Art and Lettering by TJ Kirsch
- [Straw Gods, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-gods-5/) - Written by Sam Costello Art and Lettering by TJ Kirsch
- [Straw Gods, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-gods-4/) - Written by Sam Costello Art and Lettering by TJ Kirsch
- [Straw Gods, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-gods-3/) - Written by Sam Costello Art and Lettering by TJ Kirsch
- [Straw Gods, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-gods-2/) - Written by Sam Costello Art and Lettering by TJ Kirsch
- [Straw Gods](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-gods/) - Written by Sam Costello Art and Lettering by TJ Kirsch page 1 of 18 Astute or long-time Split Lip readers are going to notice some strong similarities between Straw Gods and a story from about a year ago, Straw Men, which was drawn by Gary Crutchley. That's because they both grew from the same idea.
- [Se Perdre, page 17](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/se-perdre-17/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Se Perdre, page 19](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/se-perdre-19/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Se Perdre, page 18](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/se-perdre-18/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Se Perdre, page 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/se-perdre-16/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Se Perdre, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/se-perdre-15/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Se Perdre, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/se-perdre-14/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Se Perdre, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/se-perdre-13/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Se Perdre, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/se-perdre-8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Se Perdre, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/se-perdre-12/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Se Perdre, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/se-perdre-11/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Se Perdre, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/se-perdre-10/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Se Perdre, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/se-perdre-9/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Se Perdre, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/se-perdre-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Se Perdre, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/se-perdre-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Se Perdre, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/se-perdre-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Se Perdre, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/se-perdre-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Se Perdre, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/se-perdre-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Se Perdre, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/se-perdre-page-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Se Perdre](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/se-perdre/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens page 1 of 20
- [The Tree of Remembrance, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-tree-of-remembrance-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Nelson Evergreen Did you enjoy The Tree of Remembrance? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, Nelson Evergreen Bad Radio Panopticon Art: Joel Vollmer If You Get Close to Her, Kiss Her Once For Me Art: Christine Larsen Departing for the Third Heaven Art: Josie Morway
- [The Tree of Remembrance, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-tree-of-remembrance-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Nelson Evergreen
- [The Tree of Remembrance, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-tree-of-remembrance-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Nelson Evergreen
- [The Tree of Remembrance, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-tree-of-remembrance-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Nelson Evergreen
- [The Tree of Remembrance, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-tree-of-remembrance-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Nelson Evergreen
- [The Tree of Remembrance](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-tree-of-remembrance/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Nelson Evergreen page 1 of 6
- [The Railroad Boy, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-railroad-boy-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Felipe Sobreiro Based on the folk ballad of the same name.
- [The Railroad Boy, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-railroad-boy-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Felipe Sobreiro Based on the folk ballad of the same name.
- [Ingress and Egress, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ingress-and-egress-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Ingress and Egress, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ingress-and-egress-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Ingress and Egress](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ingress-and-egress/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho page 1 of 15
- [In Another Room, page 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/in-another-room-16/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Lee O'Connor Did you enjoy In Another Room? Check out these other Split Lip stories: Victims Art: Steven Perkins An Old Man, Looking Art: Diego Candia Face Blind Art: Ayhan Hayrula
- [In Another Room, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/in-another-room-15/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Lee O'Connor
- [In Another Room, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/in-another-room-14/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Lee O'Connor
- [In Another Room, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/in-another-room-13/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Lee O'Connor
- [In Another Room, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/in-another-room-10/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Lee O'Connor
- [In Another Room, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/in-another-room-12/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Lee O'Connor
- [In Another Room, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/in-another-room-11/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Lee O'Connor
- [In Another Room, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/in-another-room-9/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Lee O'Connor
- [In Another Room, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/in-another-room-8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Lee O'Connor
- [In Another Room, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/in-another-room-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Lee O'Connor
- [In Another Room, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/in-another-room-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Lee O'Connor
- [In Another Room, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/in-another-room-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Lee O'Connor
- [In Another Room, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/in-another-room-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Lee O'Connor
- [In Another Room, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/in-another-room-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Lee O'Connor
- [In Another Room, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/in-another-room-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Lee O'Connor
- [In Another Room](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/in-another-room/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Lee O'Connor page 1 of 16
- [If You Get Close To Her, Kiss Her Once For Me, page 19](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/if-you-get-close-to-her-kiss-her-once-for-me-19/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Christine Larsen page 19 of 19 And one quick scheduling note: the tone is about to change pretty dramatically. Now that the sad/sweet If You Get Close to Her... has concluded, we'll be moving to the much darker The Voice of Celia Darling, with art by John Bivens. To give a
- [If You Get Close To Her, Kiss Her Once For Me, page 17](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/if-you-get-close-to-her-kiss-her-once-for-me-17/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Christine Larsen page 17 of 19
- [If You Get Close To Her, Kiss Her Once For Me, page 18](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/if-you-get-close-to-her-kiss-her-once-for-me-18/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Christine Larsen page 18 of 19
- [If You Get Close To Her, Kiss Her Once For Me, page 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/if-you-get-close-to-her-kiss-her-once-for-me-16/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Christine Larsen page 16 of 19
- [If You Get Close To Her, Kiss Her Once For Me, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/if-you-get-close-to-her-kiss-her-once-for-me-15/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Christine Larsen page 15 of 19
- [If You Get Close To Her, Kiss Her Once For Me, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/if-you-get-close-to-her-kiss-her-once-for-me-14/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Christine Larsen page 14 of 19
- [If You Get Close To Her, Kiss Her Once For Me, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/if-you-get-close-to-her-kiss-her-once-for-me-13/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Christine Larsen page 13 of 19
- [If You Get Close To Her, Kiss Her Once For Me, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/if-you-get-close-to-her-kiss-her-once-for-me-12/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Christine Larsen page 12 of 19
- [If You Get Close To Her, Kiss Her Once For Me, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/if-you-get-close-to-her-kiss-her-once-for-me-11/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Christine Larsen page 11 of 19
- [If You Get Close To Her, Kiss Her Once For Me, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/if-you-get-close-to-her-kiss-her-once-for-me-10/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Christine Larsen page 10 of 19
- [If You Get Close To Her, Kiss Her Once For Me, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/if-you-get-close-to-her-kiss-her-once-for-me-9/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Christine Larsen page 9 of 19
- [If You Get Close To Her, Kiss Her Once For Me, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/if-you-get-close-to-her-kiss-her-once-for-me-8/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Christine Larsen page 8 of 19
- [If You Get Close To Her, Kiss Her Once For Me, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/if-you-get-close-to-her-kiss-her-once-for-me-7/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Christine Larsen page 7 of 19
- [If You Get Close To Her, Kiss Her Once For Me, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/if-you-get-close-to-her-kiss-her-once-for-me-6/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Christine Larsen page 6 of 19
- [If You Get Close To Her, Kiss Her Once For Me, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/if-you-get-close-to-her-kiss-her-once-for-me-5/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Christine Larsen page 5 of 19
- [If You Get Close To Her, Kiss Her Once For Me, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/if-you-get-close-to-her-kiss-her-once-for-me-4/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Christine Larsen page 4 of 19
- [If You Get Close To Her, Kiss Her Once For Me, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/if-you-get-close-to-her-kiss-her-once-for-me-3/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Christine Larsen page 3 of 19
- [If You Get Close To Her, Kiss Her Once For Me, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/if-you-get-close-to-her-kiss-her-once-for-me-2/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Christine Larsen page 2 of 19
- [If You Get Close To Her, Kiss Her Once For Me](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/if-you-get-close-to-her-kiss-her-once-for-me/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Christine Larsen page 1 of 19
- [Headin' South, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/headin-south-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Kyle Strahm
- [Fitcher's Bird, page 17](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fitchers-bird-17/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Fitcher's Bird, page 18](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fitchers-bird-18/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens Did you enjoy Fitcher's Bird? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, John Bivens The Voice of Celia Darling Se Perdre The Wind and The Rain Art: Neal Von Flue The Railroad Boy Art: Felipe Sobreiro On the Plateau Art: Kyle Harabedian
- [Fitcher's Bird, page 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fitchers-bird-16/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Fitcher's Bird, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fitchers-bird-15/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Fitcher's Bird, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fitchers-bird-14/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Fitcher's Bird, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fitchers-bird-13/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Fitcher's Bird, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fitchers-bird-11/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Fitcher's Bird, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fitchers-bird-12/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Fitcher's Bird, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fitchers-bird-10/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Fitcher's Bird, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fitchers-bird-9/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Fitcher's Bird, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fitchers-bird-8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Fitcher's Bird, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fitchers-bird-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Fitcher's Bird, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fitchers-bird-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Fitcher's Bird, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fitchers-bird-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Fitcher's Bird, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fitchers-bird-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Fitcher's Bird, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fitchers-bird-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Fitcher's Bird, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fitchers-bird-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens
- [Fitcher's Bird](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/fitchers-bird/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: John Bivens page 1 of 18
- [Face Blind, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-blind-28/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Face Blind, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-blind-29/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula Did you enjoy Face Blind? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, Ayhan Hayrula Not Sleeping Well Bad Radio Art: Nelson Evergreen The Voice of Celia Darling Art: John Bivens Beyond the Campfire Light Art: Jason Ho SaveSaveSaveSave SaveSave
- [Face Blind, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-blind-27/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Face Blind, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-blind-26/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Face Blind, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-blind-25/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Face Blind, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-blind-24/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Face Blind, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-blind-23/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Face Blind, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-blind-22/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Face Blind, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-blind-21/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Face Blind, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-blind-20/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Face Blind, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-blind-19/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Face Blind, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-blind-18/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Face Blind, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-blind-17/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Face Blind, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-blind-16/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Face Blind](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/face-blind-15/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula page 1 of 15
- [The Consequences of a Little Alone Time, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-consequences-of-a-little-alone-time-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia
- [The Consequences of a Little Alone Time, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-consequences-of-a-little-alone-time-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia
- [The Consequences of a Little Alone Time, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-consequences-of-a-little-alone-time-10/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia Did you enjoy The Consequences of a Little Alone Time? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, Diego Candia An Old Man, Looking Last Caress Art: Douglas Draper, Jr. In Another Room Art: Lee O'Connor Victims Art: Steven Perkins
- [The Consequences of a Little Alone Time, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-consequences-of-a-little-alone-time-9/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia
- [The Consequences of a Little Alone Time, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-consequences-of-a-little-alone-time-8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia
- [The Consequences of a Little Alone Time, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-consequences-of-a-little-alone-time-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia
- [The Consequences of a Little Alone Time, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-consequences-of-a-little-alone-time-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia
- [The Consequences of a Little Alone Time, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-consequences-of-a-little-alone-time-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia
- [The Consequences of a Little Alone Time, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-consequences-of-a-little-alone-time-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia
- [The Consequences of a Little Alone Time](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-consequences-of-a-little-alone-time/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Diego Candia page 1 of 10
- [Eight Days Alone, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/8da-page-8-2/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Matthew Goik page 8 of 15
- [Eight Days Alone, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/8da-page-15-3/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Matthew Goik page 15 of 15 Did you enjoy Eight Days Alone? Check out these other Split Lip stories: In Another Room Art: Lee O'Connor Last Caress Art: Douglas Draper, Jr. Victims Art: Steven Perkins
- [Eight Days Alone, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/8da-page-14/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Matthew Goik page 14 of 15
- [Eight Days Alone, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/8da-page-9/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Matthew Goik page 9 of 15
- [Eight Days Alone, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/8da-page-13/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Matthew Goik page 13 of 15
- [Eight Days Alone, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/8da-page-10/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Matthew Goik page 10 of 15
- [Eight Days Alone, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/8da-page-11/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Matthew Goik page 11 of 15
- [Eight Days Alone, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/8da-page-12/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Matthew Goik page 12 of 15
- [Eight Days Alone, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/8da-page-7/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Matthew Goik page 7 of 15
- [Eight Days Alone, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/8da-page-3/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Matthew Goik page 3 of 15
- [Eight Days Alone, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/8da-page-6-2/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Matthew Goik page 6 of 15
- [Eight Days Alone, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/8da-page-5/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Matthew Goik page 5 of 15
- [Eight Days Alone, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/8da-page-4/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Matthew Goik page 4 of 15
- [Eight Days Alone, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/8da-page-2/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Matthew Goik page 2 of 15
- [Beyond the Campfire Light, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/beyond-the-campfire-light-13/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Beyond the Campfire Light, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/beyond-the-campfire-light-14/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Beyond the Campfire Light, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/beyond-the-campfire-light-15/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho Did you enjoy Beyond the Campfire Light? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, Jason Ho Ingress and Egress Look Carefully Art: Sami Makkonen Face Blind Art: Ayhan Hayrula The Cousin of Death Art: Gary Crutchley SaveSave
- [Beyond the Campfire Light, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/beyond-the-campfire-light-12/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Beyond the Campfire Light, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/beyond-the-campfire-light-11/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Beyond the Campfire Light, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/beyond-the-campfire-light-10/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Beyond the Campfire Light, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/beyond-the-campfire-light-9/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Beyond the Campfire Light, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/beyond-the-campfire-light-8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Beyond the Campfire Light, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/beyond-the-campfire-light-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Beyond the Campfire Light, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/beyond-the-campfire-light-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Beyond the Campfire Light, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/beyond-the-campfire-light-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Beyond the Campfire Light, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/beyond-the-campfire-light-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Beyond the Campfire Light, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/beyond-the-campfire-light-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Beyond the Campfire Light, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/beyond-the-campfire-light-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Beyond the Campfire Light](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/beyond-the-campfire-light/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho page 1 of 15
- [Not Sleeping Well, page 20](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/not-sleeping-well-18/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula Did you enjoy Not Sleeping Well? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, Ayhan Hayrula Face Blind Beyond the Campfire Light Art: Jason Ho Panopticon Art: Joel Vollmer The Cousin of Death Art: Gary Crutchley
- [Not Sleeping Well, page 19](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/not-sleeping-well-17/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Not Sleeping Well, page 18](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/not-sleeping-well-16/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Not Sleeping Well, page 17](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/not-sleeping-well-15/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Not Sleeping Well, page 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/not-sleeping-well-14/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Not Sleeping Well, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/not-sleeping-well-13/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Not Sleeping Well, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/not-sleeping-well-12/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Not Sleeping Well, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/not-sleeping-well-11/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Not Sleeping Well, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/not-sleeping-well-10/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Not Sleeping Well, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/not-sleeping-well-9/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Not Sleeping Well, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/not-sleeping-well-8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Not Sleeping Well, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/not-sleeping-well-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Not Sleeping Well, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/not-sleeping-well-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Not Sleeping Well, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/not-sleeping-well-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Not Sleeping Well, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/not-sleeping-well-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Not Sleeping Well, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/not-sleeping-well-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Not Sleeping Well, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/not-sleeping-well-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Not Sleeping Well, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/not-sleeping-well-page-2-2/) - writer: Sam Costello art: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Not Sleeping Well, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/not-sleeping-well/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Ayhan Hayrula
- [Test Comic](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/test-comic/)
- [Where Have I Been All My Life?](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/whibaml-page1/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Benjamin AE Filby Page 1 of 14 There's a lyric in the Townes Van Zandt song "To Live Is to Fly" that I try to live by: "It don't pay to think too much on the things you leave behind." I try to live by it, because it seems like the
- [Where Have I Been All My Life?, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/whibaml-page13/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Benjamin AE Filby Page 13 of 14
- [Live Through This, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/live-through-15/) - Writer: Sam Costello Art and lettering: T.J. Kirsch Page 15 of 15 By the same artist, T.J. Kirsch Unsub Straw Gods or try these other stories In Another Room Art: Lee O'Connor Victims Art:Â Steven Perkins Doll's House Art:Â Savannah Horrocks
- [Mujer, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/mujer-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen Did you enjoy Mujer? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, Sami Makkonen The Harvestmen Look Carefully Victims Art: Steven Perkins School Supplies Art: Brian McGleenon See No Evil Art: Trevor Denham
- [The Harvestmen, page 20](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-harvestmen-20/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen Did you enjoy The Harvestmen? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, Sami Makkonen Mujer Look Carefully Doll's House Art: Savannah Horrocks On The Plateau Art: Kyle Harabedian Quants Art: David Brame
- [Ingress and Egress, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ingress-and-egress-15/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho Did you enjoy Ingress and Egress? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, Jason Ho Beyond the Campfire Light Ashes to Ashes Art: Anthony Peruzzo On The Plateau Art: Kyle Harabedian A Mother's Love Art: David Hitchcock
- [The Cousin of Death, page 17](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-cousin-of-death-17/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley Did you enjoy The Cousin of Death? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, Gary Crutchley Long Live the King Straw Men Straw Gods Art: T.J. Kirsch Victims Art: Steven Perkins The Pieces of Meat Art: Dirk Shearer
- [Bad Radio, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/bad-radio-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Nelson Evergreen Did you enjoy Bad Radio? Check out these other Split Lip stories: By the same artist, Nelson Evergreen The Tree of Remembrance On the Plateau Art: Kyle Harabedian Beyond the Campfire Light Art: Jason Ho A Mother's Love Art: David Hitchcock
- [The Executioner is a Lonely Man, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-executioner-is-a-lonely-man-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Brian A. Laframboise
- [The Executioner is a Lonely Man, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-executioner-is-a-lonely-man-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Brian A. Laframboise
- [The Executioner is a Lonely Man, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-executioner-is-a-lonely-man-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Brian A. Laframboise
- [The Executioner is a Lonely Man, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-executioner-is-a-lonely-man-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Brian A. Laframboise
- [The Executioner is a Lonely Man, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-executioner-is-a-lonely-man-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Brian A. Laframboise
- [The Executioner is a Lonely Man, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-executioner-is-a-lonely-man-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Brian A. Laframboise
- [The Executioner is a Lonely Man, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-executioner-is-a-lonely-man-page-8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Brian A. Laframboise
- [The Executioner is a Lonely Man, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-executioner-is-a-lonely-man-9/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Brian A. Laframboise
- [The Executioner is a Lonely Man, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-executioner-is-a-lonely-man-10/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Brian A. Laframboise
- [The Executioner is a Lonely Man, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-executioner-is-a-lonely-man-11/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Brian A. Laframboise
- [The Executioner is a Lonely Man, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-executioner-is-a-lonely-man-12/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Brian A. Laframboise
- [The Executioner is a Lonely Man, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-executioner-is-a-lonely-man-13/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Brian A. Laframboise
- [The Executioner is a Lonely Man, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-executioner-is-a-lonely-man-14/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Brian A. Laframboise
- [The Executioner is a Lonely Man, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-executioner-is-a-lonely-man-15/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Brian A. Laframboise Did you enjoy The Executioner is a Lonely Man? Check out these other Split Lip stories: The Voice of Celia Darling Art: John Bivens PrettyBoy Art: Karl Slominski Beyond the Campfire Light Art: Jason Ho SaveSave SaveSave SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave
- [Not Sleeping Well](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/not-sleeping-well-page-1-2/) - writer: Sam Costello art: Ayhan Hayrula page 1 of 20
- [Headin' South](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/headin-south/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Kyle Strahm page 1 of 7
- [Headin' South, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/headin-south-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Kyle Strahm
- [Headin' South, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/headin-south-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Kyle Strahm
- [Headin' South, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/headin-south-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Kyle Strahm
- [Headin' South, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/headin-south-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Kyle Strahm
- [Headin' South, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/headin-south-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Kyle Strahm Did you enjoy Headin' South? Check out these other Split Lip stories: Mujer Art: Sami Makkonen The Cousin of Death Art: Gary Crutchley If You Get Close to Her, Kiss Her Once For Me Art: Christine Larsen
- [The Harvestmen](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-harvestmen/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen page 1 of 20
- [The Harvestmen, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-harvestmen-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [The Harvestmen, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-harvestmen-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [The Harvestmen, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-harvestmen-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [The Harvestmen, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-harvestmen-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [The Harvestmen, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-harvestmen-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [The Harvestmen, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-harvestmen-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [The Harvestmen, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-harvestmen-8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [The Harvestmen, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-harvestmen-9/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [The Harvestmen, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-harvestmen-10/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [The Harvestmen, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-harvestmen-11/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [The Harvestmen, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-harvestmen-12/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [The Harvestmen, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-harvestmen-13/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [The Harvestmen, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-harvestmen-14/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [The Harvestmen, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-harvestmen-15/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [The Harvestmen, page 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-harvestmen-16/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [The Harvestmen, page 17](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-harvestmen-17/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [The Harvestmen, page 18](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-harvestmen-18/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [The Harvestmen, page 19](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-harvestmen-19/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [The Wind and The Rain](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-wind-and-the-rain/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Neal von Flue page 1 of 8 Adapted from the folk song of the same name.
- [The Wind and The Rain, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-wind-and-the-rain-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Neal von Flue Adapted from the folk song of the same name.
- [The Wind and The Rain, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-wind-and-the-rain-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Neal von Flue Adapted from the folk song of the same name.
- [The Wind and The Rain, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-wind-and-the-rain-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Neal von Flue Adapted from the folk song of the same name.
- [The Wind and The Rain, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-wind-and-the-rain-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Neal von Flue Adapted from the folk song of the same name.
- [The Wind and The Rain, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-wind-and-the-rain-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Neal von Flue Adapted from the folk song of the same name.
- [The Wind and The Rain, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-wind-and-the-rain-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Neal von Flue Adapted from the folk song of the same name.
- [The Wind and The Rain, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-wind-and-the-rain-8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Neal von Flue Adapted from the folk song of the same name. Did you enjoy The Wind and The Rain? Check out these other Split Lip stories: Make Westing adapted from Jack London Art: Anthony Peruzzo The Railroad Boy Art: Felipe Sobreiro Fitcher's Bird Art: John Bivens
- [On The Plateau](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/on-the-plateau/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Kyle Harabedian page 1 of 8
- [On The Plateau, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/on-the-plateau-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Kyle Harabedian
- [On The Plateau, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/on-the-plateau-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Kyle Harabedian
- [On The Plateau, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/on-the-plateau-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Kyle Harabedian
- [On The Plateau, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/on-the-plateau-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Kyle Harabedian
- [On The Plateau, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/on-the-plateau-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Kyle Harabedian
- [On The Plateau, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/on-the-plateau-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Kyle Harabedian
- [On The Plateau, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/on-the-plateau-8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Kyle Harabedian Did you enjoy On The Plateau? Check out these other Split Lip stories: Long Live the King Art: Gary Crutchley > The Harvestmen Art: Sami Makkonen Straw Men Art: Gary Crutchley
- [Ingress and Egress, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ingress-and-egress-11/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Ingress and Egress, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ingress-and-egress-12/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Ingress and Egress, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ingress-and-egress-13/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Ingress and Egress, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/ingress-and-egress-14/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Jason Ho
- [Bad Radio](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/bad-radio/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Nelson Evergreen page 1 of 5
- [Bad Radio, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/bad-radio-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Nelson Evergreen
- [Bad Radio, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/bad-radio-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Nelson Evergreen
- [Bad Radio, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/bad-radio-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Nelson Evergreen
- [Long Live the King](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/long-live-the-king/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley page 1 of 6
- [Long Live the King, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/long-live-the-king-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Long Live the King, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/long-live-the-king-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Long Live the King, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/long-live-the-king-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Long Live the King, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/long-live-the-king-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Mujer](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/mujer/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen page 1 of 6
- [Mujer, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/mujer-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Mujer, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/mujer-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Mujer, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/mujer-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Mujer, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/mujer-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Sami Makkonen
- [Panopticon, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/panopticon-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Joel Vollmer
- [Panopticon, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/panopticon-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Joel Vollmer
- [The Cousin of Death](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-cousin-of-death/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley page 1 of 17
- [The Cousin of Death, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-cousin-of-death-2/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [The Cousin of Death, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-cousin-of-death-3/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [The Cousin of Death, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-cousin-of-death-4/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [The Cousin of Death, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-cousin-of-death-5/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [The Cousin of Death, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-cousin-of-death-6/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [The Week's Twitter Updates for 2009-07-07](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-weeks-twitter-updates-for-2009-07-07/) - Makes me wish I could vote for two stories this month! I may have to sit this one out, though. Not sure I can pick a favorite! # Then Adventures of Mr. Simian by two-time SLC artist John Bivens. https://bit.ly/V3jTl # First up: The Assignment by Justin Jordan and past and future Split Lip artist
- [The Cousin of Death, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-cousin-of-death-7/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [The Cousin of Death, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-cousin-of-death-8/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [The Cousin of Death, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-cousin-of-death-9/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [The Cousin of Death, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-cousin-of-death-10/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [The Cousin of Death, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-cousin-of-death-11/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [The Cousin of Death, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-cousin-of-death-12/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [The Cousin of Death, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-cousin-of-death-13/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [The Cousin of Death, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-cousin-of-death-14/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [The Cousin of Death, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-cousin-of-death-15/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Split Lip Returns with 7 New Stories, iPhone App](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/split-lip-returns-with-7-new-stores-iphone-app/) - My horror webcomic, Split Lip, has been on hiatus for most of 2009. There are a lot of reasons for this, few of them interesting. More interesting? That Split Lip is back as of this week, with the beginning of the first of seven all-new stories set to debut on the site throughout the next
- [The Cousin of Death, page 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/the-cousin-of-death-16/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Gary Crutchley
- [Termites In Your Smile](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/termites-in-your-smile-21/) - Writer: Sam Costello Artist: Douglas Draper, Jr.
- [Comics Two-Fer: SPX and Cthulhu Tales](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/comics-two-fer-spx-and-cthulhu-tales/) - The second half of this week is a good one for me when it comes to comics for two reasons: SPX and what came in the mail today. First: SPX is this weekend at Maryland. I'll be at table B8B selling Split Lip and breaking hearts. If you're planning to come to SPX, please stop
- [Win Split Lip Vol. 1! Do It!](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/win-split-lip-vol-1-do-it/) - Want to win a copy of Split Lip vol. 1? You've got a chance. In fact, you've got 10 chances, because I'm giving away up to 10 copies of Split Lip vol. 1 between now and Halloween. Here's how it works. You can enter by: Tweeting about Split Lip Joining the Split Lip Facebook group
- [Upcoming Split Lip Convention Appearances](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/upcoming-split-lip-convention-appearances/) - If you're anywhere in the rough triangle formed by Boston, Albany, and Brooklyn, I'm coming your way over the next three weekends. That's not a threat, it's a promise. Mostly because that's where my next three conventions to promote Split Lip are (but maybe, just maybe, I'm gunning for you, too). If you're avoiding me,
- [Departing for the Third Heaven](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/departing-for-the-third-heaven/) - Written by Sam Costello Drawn by Josie Morway page 1 of 8
- [Departing for the Third Heaven, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/departing-for-the-third-heaven-2/) - Written by Sam Costello Drawn by Josie Morway
- [Departing for the Third Heaven, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/departing-for-the-third-heaven-3/) - Written by Sam Costello Drawn by Josie Morway
- [Departing for the Third Heaven, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/departing-for-the-third-heaven-4/) - Written by Sam Costello Drawn by Josie Morway
- [Departing for the Third Heaven, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/departing-for-the-third-heaven-5/) - Written by Sam Costello Drawn by Josie Morway
- [Departing for the Third Heaven, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/departing-for-the-third-heaven-6/) - Written by Sam Costello Drawn by Josie Morway
- [Departing for the Third Heaven, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/departing-for-the-third-heaven-7/) - Written by Sam Costello Drawn by Josie Morway
- [Departing for the Third Heaven, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/departing-for-the-third-heaven-8/) - Written by Sam Costello Drawn by Josie Morway Did you enjoy Departing for the Third Heaven? Check out these other Split Lip stories: Ashes to Ashes Art: Anthony Peruzzo Victims Art: Steven Perkins Fitcher's Bird Art: John Bivens
- [Straw Gods, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/straw-gods-9/) - Written by Sam Costello Art and Lettering by TJ Kirsch
- [Cured](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/cured/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Erik Rose page 1 of 17 I'm excited to share Cured with you, starting today. I'll warn you, though, you probably don't want to eat while you read this one.
- [Cured, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/cured-2/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Erik Rose
- [Cured, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/cured-3/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Erik Rose
- [Cured, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/cured-4/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Erik Rose
- [Cured, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/cured-5/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Erik Rose
- [Cured, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/cured-6/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Erik Rose
- [Cured, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/cured-7/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Erik Rose
- [Cured, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/cured-16/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Erik Rose
- [Cured, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/cured-10/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Erik Rose
- [Cured, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/cured-11/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Erik Rose
- [Cured, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/cured-12/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Erik Rose
- [Cured, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/cured-13/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Erik Rose
- [Cured, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/cured-17/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Erik Rose
- [Cured, page 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/cured-14/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Erik Rose
- [Cured, page 17](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/cured-15/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Erik Rose Did you enjoy Cured? Check out these other Split Lip stories: The Pieces of Meat Art: Dirk Shearer Mujer Art: Sami Makkonen Straw Men Art: Gary Crutchley
- [Last Caress, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page-x-8/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. page 8 of 24
- [Last Caress, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page-x-13/) - Written by: Sam Costello Art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. page 13 of 24
- [Last Caress, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/last-caress-page-x-14/) - Written by: Sam Costello Art by: Douglas Draper, Jr. page 14 of 24
- [Victims](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/victims-page-01/) - written by:Â Sam Costello art by:Â Steven Perkins lettering by:Â Laura Barton page 1 of 22 *** Our first new story after a 2+ year hiatus. We're thrilled to be back. Check back every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for new pages from the second incarnation of Split Lip.
- [Victims, page 2](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/victims-page-02/) - written by:Â Sam Costello art by:Â Steven Perkins lettering by:Â Laura Barton page 2Â of 22
- [Victims, page 3](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/victims-page-03/) - written by:Â Sam Costello art by:Â Steven Perkins lettering by:Â Laura Barton page 3Â of 22
- [Victims, page 4](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/victims-page-04/) - written by:Â Sam Costello art by:Â Steven Perkins lettering by:Â Laura Barton page 4Â of 22
- [Victims, page 5](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/victims-page-05-2/) - written by:Â Sam Costello art by:Â Steven Perkins lettering by:Â Laura Barton page 5Â of 22
- [Victims, page 6](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/victims-page-06/) - written by:Â Sam Costello art by:Â Steven Perkins lettering by:Â Laura Barton page 6Â of 22
- [Victims, page 7](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/victims-page-07/) - written by:Â Sam Costello art by:Â Steven Perkins lettering by:Â Laura Barton page 7Â of 22
- [Victims, page 8](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/victims-page-08/) - written by:Â Sam Costello art by:Â Steven Perkins lettering by:Â Laura Barton page 8 of 22
- [Victims, page 9](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/victims-page-09/) - written by:Â Sam Costello art by:Â Steven Perkins lettering by:Â Laura Barton page 9 of 22
- [Victims, page 10](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/victims-page-10-2/) - written by:Â Sam Costello art by:Â Steven Perkins lettering by:Â Laura Barton page 10Â of 22
- [Victims, page 11](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/victims-page-11-2/) - written by:Â Sam Costello art by:Â Steven Perkins lettering by:Â Laura Barton page 11 of 22
- [Victims, page 12](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/victims-page-12-2/) - written by:Â Sam Costello art by:Â Steven Perkins lettering by:Â Laura Barton page 12 of 22
- [Victims, page 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/victims-page-13/) - written by:Â Sam Costello art by:Â Steven Perkins lettering by:Â Laura Barton page 13 of 22
- [Victims, page 14](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/victims-page-14/) - written by:Â Sam Costello art by:Â Steven Perkins lettering by:Â Laura Barton page 14 of 22
- [Victims, page 15](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/victims-page-15/) - written by:Â Sam Costello art by:Â Steven Perkins lettering by:Â Laura Barton page 15 of 22
- [Victims, page 16](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/victims-page-16/) - written by:Â Sam Costello art by:Â Steven Perkins lettering by:Â Laura Barton page 16 of 22
- [Victims, page 17](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/victims-page-17/) - written by:Â Sam Costello art by:Â Steven Perkins lettering by:Â Laura Barton page 17 of 22
- [Victims, page 18](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/victims-page-18/) - written by:Â Sam Costello art by:Â Steven Perkins lettering by:Â Laura Barton page 18 of 22
- [Victims, page 19](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/victims-page-19/) - written by:Â Sam Costello art by:Â Steven Perkins lettering by:Â Laura Barton page 19 of 22
- [Victims, page 20](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/victims-page-20/) - written by:Â Sam Costello art by:Â Steven Perkins lettering by:Â Laura Barton page 20 of 22
- [Victims, page 21](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/victims-page-21/) - written by:Â Sam Costello art by:Â Steven Perkins lettering by:Â Laura Barton page 21 of 22
- [Victims, page 22](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/victims-page-22/) - written by: Sam Costello art by: Steven Perkins lettering by: Laura Barton page 22 of 22 Did you enjoy Victims? Check out these other Split Lip stories: A Mother's Love Art: David Hitchcock The Tree of Remembrance Art: Nelson Evergreen Fitcher's Bird Art: John Bivens
- [Eight Days Alone](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/8da-page-1/) - Written by Sam Costello Art by Matthew Goik page 1 of 15
- [See No Evil, pages 12 & 13](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/comic/see-no-evil-page-12-13/) - writer: Sam Costello artist: Trevor Denham pages 12-13 of 17 This is the first double-page splash in the history of Split Lip. Feels appropriately dynamic and intense to me. Don't want to wait 6 weeks to read the entire story? Get a DRM-free PDF of the full story, plus bonus features, for just $0.99.

## Categories

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## Chapters

- [The Executioner Is a Lonely Man](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/executioner/)
- [An Old Man, Looking](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/oldman/)
- [Not Sleeping Well](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/notsleeping/)
- [The Tree of Remembrance](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/tree/)
- [School Supplies](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/supplies/)
- [The Railroad Boy](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/railroad/)
- [Headin' South](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/headinsouth/)
- [The Consequences of a Little Alone Time](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/consequences/)
- [Face Blind](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/blind/)
- [Fish Drink](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/fishdrink/)
- [Fitcher’s Bird](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/fitcher/)
- [The Harvestmen](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/harvestmen/)
- [The Wind and The Rain](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/windrain/)
- [In Another Room](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/anotherroom/)
- [On The Plateau](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/plateau/)
- [Se Perdre](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/seperdre/)
- [Straw Men](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/strawmen/)
- [Ingress & Egress](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/ingress/)
- [Bad Radio](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/badradio/)
- [Long Live the King](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/longliveking/)
- [Ashes to Ashes](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/ashes/)
- [The Cousin of Death](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/cousin/)
- [Termites In Your Smile](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/termites/)
- [Look Carefully](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/lookcarefully/)
- [Beyond the Campfire Light](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/campfirelight/)
- [The Pieces of Meat](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/piecesofmeat/)
- [Departing for the Third Heaven](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/thirdheaven/)
- [Make Westing](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/makewesting/)
- [Straw Gods](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/strawgods/)
- [If You Get Close to Her, Kiss Her Once For Me](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/getclosetoher/)
- [The Voice of Celia Darling](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/celiadarling/)
- [A Mother’s Love](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/motherslove/)
- [Last Caress](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/caress/)
- [Victims](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/victims/)
- [Lone and Level](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/lonelevel/)
- [Eight Days Alone](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/eightdays/)
- [Unsub](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/unsub/)
- [Doll's House](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/dolls-house/)
- [Quants](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/quants/)
- [Safe As Houses](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/safe/)
- [See No Evil](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/see-no-evil/)
- [Mujer](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/mujer/)
- [PrettyBoy](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/prettyboy/)
- [Panopticon](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/panopticon/)
- [Cured](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/cured/)
- [A Slip of the Tongue](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/tongue/)
- [Doux Didou](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/doux-didou/)
- [Live Through This](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/live-through-this/)
- [Where Have I Been All My Life?](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/wherehaveibeen/)
- [All the Pretty Corpses](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/pretty-corpses/)
- [Hey, Come Here](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/hey-come-here/)
- [Face of Fire, Belly Blood](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/face-of-fire/)
- [The Exterminator](https://www.splitlipcomic.com/chapter/the-exterminator/)