Shedding with Zdunich’s The Molting

Horror comics have always popped in and out of popularity in the publication world. From its first major era in the late 1940s and into the 1950s, the horror comic was spear-headed by EC Comics. They delivered fun, gory, scary short stories in the Vault of Horror and in the Tales from the Crypt. But like all things horror, it had a cycle, and the EC Comic titles were eventually killed off by the newly formed Comics Code Authority. Horror comics made a minor comeback in the 1970s from the two biggest publication companies, DC and Marvel with House of Secrets from DC keeping in the EC vein. Marvel branched out from anthology titles, making on going series with Tomb of Dracula and Werewolf by Night.

Right now, we’re in a huge horror comic resurgence, and if you’re a horror genre fan, you couldn’t ask for a better time to live in. Dark Horse, Image, and other independent companies are focusing more and more on horror titles, ranging from graphic, gory titles to hero-based terror. If that doesn’t prove the genre popularity, then having George A. Romero, the Godfather of the Zombie, come to the horror comic with his short-lived series, Toe Tags: The Death of Death, should. The influences go both ways, and that explains what fan favorite Terrance Zdunich, writer/co-creator of Repo! A Genetic Opera is doing now with The Molting, his new illustrated series.

Zdunich is no stranger to this medium, as his fans will note his exceptional graphic novel-like interludes in Repo!, as well as, his “other” job as a storyboard artist. Teaming with colorist Brian Johnston, who has done numerous work for HBO and all of the major studios, and Oceano Ranscord, who does the lettering, Zdunich has developed this series as an 100% independent release. He claimed by going this self-financing route, he can focus squarely on the title, as the writer and illustrator, and to speak directly to us, his fans.

So what is The Molting?

This 12-part series is what he calls “a portrait of a dysfunctional American family” set in the early 1990s. Each issue, and as of this writing, only two have been released so far (“every six weeks a new issue” Zdunich promises), focuses on an aspect of one family. In issue one, “Guilty Susie” follows Susie and her brother, Tony as the court award them to their aunt and uncle, after the untimely death of their mother. Soon they find that their next of kin didn’t take them out of love, but out of greed. The story is for mature readers, and Zdunich takes full advantage of that. The story is seemingly sparse, yet is a deeply rich experience. While not much dialogue, Zdunich fills the near 30 pages with ambiance in the simple artwork and minor little audio clues to fill the void. Susie is about to lose her sanity, and Zdunich methodically handles this. Issue one opens The Molting with a silent bang. It’s effective and engrossing, a perfect intro to what we might expect from future issues.

Issue 2 follows Susie into the 1990s, where she is married and has two boys. Sunny Anaheim is the backdrop to further Zdunich’s story and this issue is as bleak as the last. The story puts Susie in the background, and follows her two boys, yet we get a nice mirror being held up to what her relationship was with her brother, who had a small part in issue one. By the end of this issue, Zdunich has fully roped us into the eroding American Dream for this family, and furthering his exploration of the title’s meaning.

Each issue is filled with what looks like seemingly simple drawings. There’s not a lot of detail, if at all, and background are largely devoid of any defined attention, yet that’s doesn’t hurt the series look. In fact, it creates this world we are going to follow, and the attention to some story details are highlighted within this approach. If you have seen Repo!, I’d say his style is like that from those comic interludes. Each issue has a defined color scheme, that helps to invoke the themes and mood of the issue. It’s going to be interesting to see where he continues to take us and the characters. Maybe only the cockroaches know? A Zdunich trademark, the ‘roach, has numerous appearances in these two issues, as they act like a guide into The Molting‘s world.

Violent, unique, and wholly independent, Zdunich has craft a great new horror comic series, recommended for more than just his Repo! fans, but for horror comic fans looking for something a bit more original, and quirky, to go along with the macabre. Seek out The Molting here for ordering information. You can follow Zdunich on his frequent blogs on his new series and more here. Pictures printed with permission.

Have you checked out his series? Got anything to add? Feel free to leave a comment!