Review“He'd never dare show his face around here.” - Granny Editor James Andre, a.k.a Mr Slime, presents a magazine loaded with ten stories that range from simple attempts at gross out to some biting social satire. Like Jason Franks, who has an entry in the collection, James Andre asks the reader to re-evaluate their definition of the dark genre and quite possibly what sort of reading matter they have gathering dust around their house. Clearly you shouldn't leave this magazine sitting around your lounge room where your maiden Aunt might stumble upon it. But hey James Andre gives ample warning to the unwary. Let's get down to business and see what might be lurking in the shadows. While it would be easy to write Yuck! off as yet another shock rock tactic in the never ending war against the prim and proper moral majority, this would do a disservice to the magazine and quite possibly miss an opportunity for a highly entertaining read into the bargain. So while on the surface we're talking the grunge end of town, things tend to go more than skin deep in the dark genre world. Well outside of Twilight that pretty much is a blemish on the arse of horror. But I digress, and on the bright side if you are a typical Twitard then Yuck! is not likely to be on your recommended reading list. Yuck! goes a hell of a lot deeper than it would first appear, whether this is by design or blind luck we're work out over subsequent Issues. Right from the front cover, a particularly effective, gruesome, and well constructed piece by the improbably named Ross Radiation, you simply know you're in for a good time tonight. The cover rocks in a sort of Betty Boo meets those fracking Zombies from the Romero Dead universe fashion. The artwork rolls out in a particular simple style through most of the panels, giving you the feeling that the illustrations are drawn to match the stories and not take any attention from what those stories might be trying to achieve. It's like a miniature version of the Kagemono graphic novels. So yeap different styles keeping things interesting and rocking along. Don't ask, I'm out of comparisons to mainstream comics, dial in and make your own assumptions and arguments. The single exception to the general naive style, once again that's an art form for those not up on their art history, is found in Square of the Crossbones (Jacek Zabawa), where the panels achieve an almost Mad magazine feel that is going to keep most readers happy with their time in country. This story is on going so expect regular updates through future issues of Yuck! magazine kids. Overall the artwork is easy to view, well laid out, and on occasion achieves the gross factor the magazine is aiming for. So I'm calling that a win-win situation for everyone involved. The actual magazine dimensions would be about the same as those Commando war comics that were all the rage a few decades back, so easy enough to store in a pocket and whip out on public transport to have people edging away from you. Guaranteed to do wonders for a comfortable commute to the pickle factory, just remember to chuckle insanely from time to time. We're talking approximately 32 or so pages in length for those wanting to know that figure. The covers are in colour and the panels are black and white. If you are easily offended or of the Politically Correct persuasion then I have to tell you that this magazine isn't for you as the stories go out of their way to be offensive to Liberal Party Members, the Rev Fred Nile, and Feminists. I like that in a magazine and there's something refreshing in an approach that doesn't seek to be either caring or sharing. Things kick off with Matt Emery's Junk which could I guess be construed as misogynist. Nightmare Kitchen by Ed Kearsley is what that Top Chief bollocks really should be, and they can eat that fat bastard from the show into the bargain. I’d pay to see that friends and neighbours. Jason Paulos, taking time out of the whole retro thing, continues the gourmet theme. Before J Marc Schmidt hits out with a dose of necrophilia that ensures Yuck! magazine wont be on School recommended reading lists. The final two stories in the collection, Bogey-Man (Jason Franks) and Rapist Rapist (Matt Emery) add some shaggy dog to the mix. In between the mentioned stories are a whole bunch of interesting contributions that on occasion will have you high fiving the dead body in your basement. Okay some websites to get your Yuck! on with, and hey I think I'm only just over the word limit here. Click on over to the official blog site right here. A site for Publisher Milk Shadow Books is in the development stage, over here when good to go. And if you want your very own copy of the magazine, and who doesn't, then surf to Etsy where for the price of $4.11 you are good to go.
ScaryMinds Rates this read as ...br> br> Another excellent dark genre magazine for those after some bleeding edge |