Blood & Gourd
Art by Dave Acosta, Inks by Juan Albarran, Colors by Fran Gamboa l Written by: Jenz K. Lund, D.H. Shultis

Blood & Gourd is a comic book series created by Jenz K. Lund and D.H. Shultis that is being produced by indie publisher Dead Peasant. Just take a moment to really look over the image above.  Head devouring pumpkins, people!  I’ve always yearned for a comic book that involved demonic pumpkins indiscriminately killing town locals on the night of the ‘Aint That Somethin’ Pumpkin’ contest.  Alright, so maybe that’s not exactly true, but I am absolutely thrilled that this comic book series happened to land in my lap.

 

“It’s Devil’s Night in Olympia, WA- and out at Henderson Farms, the festivities are reaching a crescendo. Young and old have gathered to pick their own pumpkin, drink hot apple cider, and partake in the usual pumpkin farm fare. However, something has awakened from deep within the fertile soil. After years of abuse and humiliation, the pumpkins… are ready to pick us. You can beg! You can plead! You can scream! But these Hell’s lanterns are lit only with the burning desire to watch. You. Die!”

That’s a description of Issue #1 straight from Dead Peasant.  By the second page, the action has already started.  This issue is one hell of a ride and introduces us to Kitty (Katherine), her father, and the Henderson farm that they own and operate.  It’s been in their family for generations, but troubled times are coming, and the pumpkins want their due.  This issue starts on the day of their annual festival, which includes the ‘Aint That Somethin’ Pumpkin’ contest.  This year’s winner looks to be about a story and a half tall.  It’s after the contest, while everyone is discussing and arguing about the new winner, that the real fun begins.  At the center of it, all is a mysterious man with round rim glasses and a penchant for creepy poetry.  I won’t spoil any of the details, but I will say that Issue #1 is worth the price of admission.

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Bonus:  There is a nod to horror film icons Dan O’Bannon and Fred Dekker in this issue.

“Blood & Gourd Issue #2: Escape from Henderson Farms rolls us right back into the pumpkin pandemonium introduced in the 2015 premier issue. The sinister Mr. Pleasant has unleashed a massive otherworldly demon and, with it, murderous hordes of gourds and goblins. A handful of survivors may have endured the first rampaging wave of gruesome ghoulies and Cucurbita craziness, but will they find a way off the farm alive?
Get ready for more of the unfettered imagination and frantic madness you’ve come to expect from the award-winning Blood & Gourd series. Issue #2 is wilder, faster, and set for a September 2016 release!”

Issue #2 picks up right where the first left off.  The townspeople are fleeing, trying to make it out with their lives.  Pumpkins are flying everywhere as the body count rises.  Meanwhile, Kitty begins to come into her own and is looking to be a solid heroine for this series.  This issue also delves into the cause of all this mayhem.  A price is certainly being paid.  The mysterious man has moved on to song lyrics, and his name is finally revealed.

I love horror, I love Halloween, and I love comic books.  I feel like Dead Peasant created this comic book just for me, but I guess I’ll allow everyone else to read it as well.  Issue #3 cannot come soon enough.  This comic book series, while it is an indie publication, has some experienced talent behind it.  The outstanding artwork in this comic book is thanks to Juan Antonio Ramirez, who has also worked for Marvel, Dark Horse, and DC Comics.  All of the colors are equally as impressive and were completed by Fran Gamboa.  He is credited as having also worked for IDW, Image, Zenimuse, and Dynamite.  I highly recommend checking this comic book series out.

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