Review

"A DINGO'S GOT MY BABY!!!" - Kristy

So issue 21 of Decay magazine is another Ozploitation outing, you should know the drum by now we're talking T&A, gratuitous violence, and just for the sheer hell of it monsters out of your darkest nightmare. Even though we have had an announcement which won't please fans, more on that later, DK isn't taking the foot off the accelerator pedal as he drives Decay into even more chaotic traffic. Take a big breath folks before opening the covers and diving into this issue.

This issue we get seven yarns that will have you happily knocking over a few tinnies as you rip into them. So get ready for some full colour spread, two classic ongoing stories involving the Sisters and Oz zombie, and to kick things off we get an exploration of the absolutely delightful Aussie fauna. Hey you really can't expect any more folks; I'm jumping into the shotgun seat and checking out the full throttle mayhem of Issue #21.

Following the introduction to the issue by DK, which is basically summing up why we have the content to hand we rock into the first story which is titled Terror Australis, script by Darren Koziol and art by Dave Dye. What you get here is a group of Yanks thrown into the hostile Aussie outback, DK doing his part for Aussie tourism right here folks. There are a few horror tropes you may recognise in this one, but for those new to genre let me point out a couple to get your teeth into. Each of our victims is helpfully named which I always find amusing in dark genre outings. Like meet the meat, but hey don't get too attached they won't be around for any length of time. The hot chick gets her top ripped off, and just to round out never count things as done and dusted when you are neck deep in horror, there's always going to be one last bite taken. So yeah Yank tourists facing up to Aussie critters out to frack up their day, oh and naturally an outback Psycho. All this in glorious coloured detail to ensure you are having a good time.

I'm not sure what's going down in the clever country, but suddenly we are all excited by local cryptozoology, the second story in the issue for sure dials into this. Great to see local mythical creatures being incorporate into horror yarns. The Billabong, script by Karl Brandt art by Dragan Vignjevic, dials into the whole bunyip thing. Two investigators are looking into mutilated cattle at a local billabong, a water hole for foreign readers, and don't head the advice of a local. If in the outback kids always listen to the locals, unless it involves directions to secluded cabins etc. Anyways I got a nice traditional comic vibe from this one, and wouldn't have been surprised to run across it in an issue of Creepy.

Naturally we would expect a Sisters entry in each issue and this one is no different with Nicole Kane providing the script and Ben Sullivan the art for A Day at the Races. You know how the Melbourne Cup stops Australia, well that would be Australia minus the three vampire Sisters who barely take the time out of their busy schedule for murder and mayhem to listen to the race let alone place a bet on. If you like your Cup dripping blood then this might just be the tale you should be racing to read. Dear god in heaven I need to quit the puns right here right now.

And if you think the Ladies are going to be the stars of this particular issue then think again as Sally and Dan continue their journey through the zombie apocalypse in downtown Adelaide; hey make your own already dead jokes folks I was thinking something about barrels. Moving on before the whole population of North Adelaide turn up outside the Smind offices with pitchforks and burning torches. Darren Kozol provides the excellent script and Kurt Stone knocks over some very solid artwork in Oz Zombie: Real Monsters. The title pretty much gives you the themes going down here, yes I said "themes" sue me, with a bikie gang of bogans thrown into the mix. As should be apparent by now if you are a regular site reader, the zombies are the least of your troubles in the post-apocalyptic landscape. Hey no spoilers here buy the friggin magazine to check out what happens.

Going to squeeze in one more tale that I particular enjoyed because it's all dark with a reveal at the end that is pretty awesome. Five Finger Discount, script by Dean Rankine and art by Alister Lockhart, is I guess sometime in the future where civilisation is in decline, thinking around the time of the first Mad Max movie perhaps. Anyways a chick is at an outback café having a burger when one of the other patrons gives her a story about the meat not exactly being beef, which naturally leads her to storm out. Yeah you probably know what the twist is in this one, but it will still add sauce to your meat. Outstanding artwork used in this story with Alister Lockhart knocking it out of the ballpark.

Most excellent episode with some top line writing to keep us rocking to developments. While issue #21 is definitely bumping and grinding the Ozploitation tune, and folks if a walk on the wild side isn't your thing - talking gruesome violence and T&A here - you should still dial in. We're talking some pretty cool and diverse storylines which should keep about everyone glued to the page and entertained.

Okay so I mentioned an announcement you won't like and guess it's time to exhume that, so hold onto your linen and take a seat. Direct from the horse's mouth, yes have meet the infamous DK and no insult intended by the equine reference, Decay is ceasing publication with the final issue coming in at number 24. And before you throw a tantrum it's our fault friends and neighbours, if we had brought more issues then Decay would have a bright future rather than being consigned to the annals of Australian horror history. On the bright side Dark Oz have launched Retro Sci-Fi a new vision on classic science fiction that should have the nerds amongst us all excited. Before you get your knickers in a knot I'm not saying Retro Sci-Fi can replace Decay but we'll have a look at a couple of issues and see if something dark doesn't seep onto those pages.

It shouldn't need to be said but Decay #21 maintains the professional standard we have come to expect from Dark Oz production and is a bloody good read into the bargain. With only a few issues left to devour I'm probably not going to space things out but will leap in boots and all, yes I can read this magazine till the cows come home and Collingwood win another premiership. Issue #21 should be on your priority list to avoid drop bear syndrome, it's a thing shut up, along with any other issue you haven't read yet. Issue #21 should be available from your local comic book store, if they don't have it in stock remind them we live in #metoo times, or you could hook into a copy online via the Dark Oz website.

ScaryMinds Rates this read as ...