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From today's AICN COMICS REVIEWS...

NIGHTMARE FACTORY OGN
Four Short Stories by Thomas Ligotti
Words adapted by: Stuart Moore & Joe Harris
Art by Colleen Doran, Ben Templesmith, Ted McKeever, & Michael Gaydos
Publisher: Fox Atomic
Reviewer: Ambush Bug

Both Vroom Socko and stone's throw have mentioned recently that compilations are a mixed bag. Like music albums, you often find that you like one or two of the songs, but it is hard to have that same level of goodness throughout. Fortunately for me, I found this compilation of four short stories by Thomas Ligotti to be entertaining from start to finish.

Many of the comments from last week's column have compared Thomas Ligotti to Poe and Lovecraft. I'm not sure this is entirely accurate. This is not to say that Ligotti is not a good writer, but it seems as if Ligotti owes a lot of his writing to the works of Poe and Lovecraft and pays homage to them quite a bit. Granted, this is my first experience reading Ligotti's works, but there are an awful lot of references to familiar Poe/Lovecraft territory in this book in regards to ancient monsters and sacrifices set in small towns and tales of redemption morphing the ordinary into the extraordinary. Ligotti himself admits the similarities and homages in the introductions he provides to each short story. If anything, Ligotti is quite talented in bringing modern day metaphysics to these Poe and Lovecraftian themes, which in and of itself is putting a personalized stamp on his own brand of horror. Many of the stories depicted in this book delve deeply into the mind and how much of a terrifying effect it can have to our own realities. This book will definitely have you questioning the world around you, looking over your shoulder, and losing trust in your own perceptions. These tales of terror exude waves of paranoia and pathos from every page and panel. It doesn't help that it has some of today's best horror artists providing the panels.

The first story, "The Last Feast of Harlequin", is adapted by Stuart Moore (words) and Colleen Doran (art). This is the most Lovecraftian of the bunch, involving the Conqueror Worm itself and a small town festival. What I enjoyed about this one was the fact that it unabashedly follows a misinformed person and does a brilliant job of illustrating how one person's perceptions can be so skewed to ignore the harsh realities of the world. Colleen Doran's artwork is truly scary, a trait that comes out especially in the faces of the tortured souls that inhabit this eerie story.

Story two is called "Dream of a Mannikin" and thematically, it may be my favorite of the bunch. Ben Templesmith provides the art and Stuart Moore returns with the words. This story revolves around a curious visit to a psychologist's office by a mysterious woman. What starts out as a bizarre tale of dreams and nightmares turns into one man's struggle to have his own existence acknowledged. All of us long to be noticed and loved. The true horror that runs deep to one's soul occurs when that longing is not recognized. That terror is at the center of this wonderfully written and beautifully drawn story.

Visually, though, "Dr. Locrian's Asylum" is my favorite. I've always had an affinity towards Ted McKeever's skewed and wonderful artwork. His panels always look worn and tattered. Lopsided figures shamble across the page, yet they somehow embody a sense of honesty and beauty. This story of one town's decision to tear down the local asylum and the haunting ramifications of that decision is chill-inducing to look at. McKeever's images of the ghosts of the asylum are haunting. This is a wonderfully drawn piece of fiction with words by Joe Harris that resonates off the page.

Although not my favorite piece, the final story, "Teatro Grottesco" is a memorable and bizarre trip into a metaphysical nightmare. One man struggles to investigate and test the limits of reality with Morrison-esque results. Michael Gaydos offers some pretty vivid imagery, especially a haunting sequence involving a shrinking man the protagonist meets in an alley. This is, by far, the most "out there" story of the bunch. At times, it lost me, but the ending is a powerful one and a fine capper to the end of this book.

There isn't a story in this book that doesn't have the highest amount of professionalism added to it. Fox Atomic really has put together a special compilation and this is by far the best book the company has published to date.

We are still running our THE NIGHTMARE FACTORY "Send in your Nightmares" Contest. Details can be found here and ten lucky winners will receive a copy autographed by Thomas Ligotti himself.