ICE CREAM MAN #45 (IMAGE COMICS)

Finally, one of the best horror anthology series has returned! This issues story is entitled The Window in the Back of the Apartment and deals with a voyeuristic man who likes to spy on his neighbors. But what happens when the man witnesses a crime and can’t prove it?

ICE CREAM MAN #43 - Written By W. Maxwell Prince – Art By Martìn Morazzo - Colors By Chris O’Halloran – Letters By Good Old Neon - Published By Image Comics

Credit: Image Comics

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

STORY OVERVIEW:

Jimmy Stewart lives in an apartment complex; he passes the time by watching his neighbors through a high-powered lens on his camera. He is in a wheelchair because he broke his leg getting a photo of a robber. His girlfriend Joan comes to visit him and take care of him, but he is so infatuated with his voyeurism that he also dismisses her. Late at night, he can’t sleep so he takes his camera to spy on his neighbors. This night he witnesses an argument between Mr. & Mrs. Daniels, which is nothing new, but on this night, Mrs. Daniels kills her husband. Now Jimmy is trying to convince the police of the crime, and because of lack of evidence they don’t believe him. Unfortunately for Jimmy this is going to be the least of his worries.

WRITING:

The return issue delivers and picks up where the anthology series left off. W. Maxwell Prince pays homage to the classic Alferd Hitchcock film Rear Window. Not just with the storyline, but also by naming the main character after the star of the film as well. The voyeuristic nature of the story taps into the fear of being watched well also showing the madness of obsession. Prince shows us the unraveling of Jimmy and how his mental condition affects everything that is going on around him. What starts out as a true-crime murder story, morphs into a psychological thriller with a crazy and over the top ending. Just when you think you know what’s going on in the story, Prince changes direction making the reader feel uneasy all the way through. The crazy and uneasy story could be a detriment in some stories, but in this story, it really makes the whole plot tick.

ARTWORK:

The artwork in this issue matches the story perfectly and gives the reader a front row seat to the madness. Martìn Morazzo nails the Hitchcock aesthetic and pays homage to that style with the artwork. The art much like the story is heavily inspired by Rear Window, and just like the story Morazzo nails the look with the artwork. Where Morazzo’s artwork really shines is when the story takes a turn and becomes more psychological and the art shows this by becoming unhinged. That crazy unhinged artwork is sure to haunt any reader of this book.

Of course, the aesthetic of the book wouldn’t be complete without some coloring. Chris O’Halloran uses a very Hitchcock inspired color pallet which completes the aesthetic perfectly. The colors match the vibe and time period of the source material impeccably. This art team did an amazing job of making the reader feel like they were transported back to an old Alfred Hitchcock movie with this issue.

CHECK OUT MY REVIEW OF D’ORC #3

Final Thoughts:

Ice Cream Man #45 brings this series back in a big way and is sure to make more fans of this series. The homage to Alfred Hitchcock was a nice touch in this issue, but the way the team makes it their own is what truly stands out. This has consistently been one of my favorite anthology series, and this return issue only solidifies that. Since it is an anthology series any issue is a great jumping on point. With that said, if you are looking for a good, short, thriller story this issue is for you. Furthermore, if you are looking for a series that delivers every issue, add this to your Pull List when you are at the shop this week.

FINAL GRADE: 9.5/10

Let me know your thoughts on Ice Cream Man #45 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!