Comic Book Review - Shrieek! Issues #1 & #2

A collection of horror tales that’ll make a Cenobite scream!

As a comic anthology that had flown well below my radar, I was eagerly awaiting to check out the complimentary copies that David Metcalfe sent me along with a Commando Omnibus that I had purchased from him. Who said horror, and classic WW2 comics don’t go together? 

Horror comics seem to be making a comeback in recent months with Rebellion reviving the long-dormant Scream! and This Comic is Haunted from The77 being the recent two. Shrieek! is the newest kid on this haunted block, and Metcalfe has brought together a wealth of talent across the indie comic scene to create a horror-filled feast, with a small hint of comedy too! 

Across these opening two issues, we get a whole heap of standalone horror stories that range from things that go bump in the night, body shock horror, psychological horrors, serial killers in love, and old-fashioned creature features. There isn’t a single strip here that doesn’t fail to hit its mark, and with most, you’ll not see the punchline until it’s revealed to you. 

For fans of British comics, expect to see a few seasoned names, as well as (for me at least) a few new ones. The likes of Ed Doyle, Alan Holloway, and Pete Howard all make appearances with each bringing their unique styles across with them. This is then coupled with a heck of a shift from David Metcalfe who writes, draws, letters, and even edits Shrieeek!, to an unexpected appearance from 2000 AD alumni, Arthur Wyatt. For me, there are also a few new names in amongst the crowd with Brian Beardsley and Leigh Chalker surprising me with their work. 

There isn’t a lot more that I can say about both Shrieek! issues without spoiling the work that has gone into creating this wonderful anthology. What I will say is that it’s an outstanding comic book whose contents are a real labour of love from everyone involved in its creation. The groundwork was laid in Shrieek! Issue #1 is built upon within its second issue, and it makes a solid foundation for Metcalfe to expand upon within future issues. Another great selling point to Shrieek! is that both issues are standalone. This means that there are currently no overarching narratives, or continuations that require you to pick up past issues to understand what’s going on. This isn’t too bad due to the anthology only having two issues, but for future issues, it makes Shrieek! So much more access for casual comic book readers. 

Overall Shrieek! is a comic that I’m glad to have experienced. David Metcalfe has created a truly wonderful horror comic that’s filled with a perfect blend of dark humour and full-on horror. With a great mixture of creative talent that’s been brought together across the comic spectrum,  Shrieek!’s opening issues lay a solid foundation for a bright future! 

Rating: 9/10 

Shrieek! is available to purchase by clicking here.