House of Fear: The Grumpledowns Gang and the Case of the Mail-Order Shoggoths. Brandon Barrows (Writer), Rafael Loureiro, James Hislope (Art), Jodh Jensen (Colours), Matt Krotzer (Letters). TEN31 Publishing (Summer 2017)

A great fun all ages horror comic that makes a very difficult task look easy. Any all ages comic has to solve a difficult problem, if it leans too heavily to one section of the audience it will loose the others, House of Fear is a great example of how to cater to the widest possible audience with confident delivery and a smart story. Ben Grumpledowns, a young boy gets a surprise when he gets a delivery after sending off to a ad in an old comic. Naturally this is not a good thing. A neatly set up situation releases the problem and within the context of the school Halloween Carnival the problems arise in a very engaging way.
Brandon Barrows' idea of a delivery from a long defunct company listed in the back of an old comic is just catnip to any comic collector who has read these extraordinary adverts with joy and amazement, it gives the perfect lead in with the young cast. The choice of monster is equally wonderful, Shoggoths have the shadow from H.P. Lovecraft on them and are scaled in the story to be threatening without being repulsive.The cast are engaging and energetic, the are not too cute or sawn-off adults, they emerge as children bound on enjoying their lives as much as they can and they give the reader the same chance to enjoy it too.
 Rafael Loureiro' interior art is friendly and full of details that create a believable and solid context. The cast are clearly individual and each is strongly expressive without every being cartoony. The action is fast and exciting. James Hislope delivers the bookends that capture the spirit of the earlier horror comics without breaking the tone or intent of the main story.
Jodh Jensen  colours are great, they bring out the detail of the art and create the emotional tone of the story, when the trouble is revealed it is dark and never overwhelming, the colouring brings the excitement without the possible fear and terror.
Matt Krotzer lettering is quiet and natural, the special effects are as loud and dramatic as required, they give the action a nice extra list that it needs to push the story. Hugely enjoyable.

Watson and Holmes. A Study in Black. Karl Bollers (Writer), Rick Leonardi, Larry Stroman (Art), Paul Mendoza & GuruEFX, Archie Van Buren, Jay David Ramos (Colours), Taylor Esposito, Dave Lanphear, Nicole McDonnell, Wilson Ramos Jr. (Letters) New Paradigm Studios (2013)

A hugely enjoyable and engaging alternative Sherlock Holmes story that confidently moves the cast to different time and context. John Watson is a medical intern in the Convent Emergency Center , Harlem , New York  where he meets Sherlock Holmes who arrives inquiring about a patient who has just been brought in. Holmes makes a suggestion regarding the patient that Watson follows up and this pushes him to visit Holmes at  Hudson's Bookshop, 221b Baker Street Harlem. The case and Watsons's involvement develops very nicely as an extensive and very dangerous conspiracy becomes clear and arrives at a very satisfactory conclusion.
The cast are superb. The headline is that both Watson and Holmes are New York African Americans and the story has a powerful New York context.  What matters is the joyous confidence with which Karl Bollers has written Watson and Holmes, the way that they interact with each other, respond to changing circumstances and in particular the way that John Watson is developed and presented is a huge pleasure. They are utterly true to themselves and their context, the essential details of a Sherlock Holmes story are presented with tremendous understated skill, none are blatantly highlighted and shoved at the reader, they are stitched firmly into the story. Best of all is the key relationship between Watson and Holmes, it is natural and unforced, the motivations for both that underlie their friendship is neatly set up.
The art by Rick Leonardi in the main story is a pleasure to read, it is full of details that firmly anchor the cast in a physical location, the cast are expressive, the body language is eloquent. The cast, including the walk on parts, are all individual, there are no generic characters. They all demand the readers attention without crowding out the action. The quiet moments are as interesting as the action, the cast are interested in what they are saying and that brings the reader into the moment.
In the Epilogue, Larry Stroman's art is distinctively different and equally effective, he captures the tension that runs through a sharp and bitter story that packs a considerable punch in a short space.
The colouring captures the emotional tones of the story and highlights the relevant details with subtle care and craft. This is a noir version of Holmes, the story is dark and even in the light of day there are deep shadows. The colouring shifts tones that track the tone of the story without shouting it, they frame the action and engage the reader.
This is a superb Holmes story, confidently taking the ideas and using them in a engaging and enjoyable way, a pleasure.