KILL SHAKESPEARE, the comics series just collected in graphic-novel form by IDW Publishing, features an eclectic array of literary icons rolled into an epic supernatural adventure. The Bard’s greatest heroes take on his most menacing villains in this original tale woven from his classic works.

Comic books have been a secret love for me since my teenage years, but they became a very expensive hobby, and given that combined with the stories just not being as good anymore, it faded as time went on. Radical Entertainment’s THE RISING is the first comic I’ve read in maybe six years, and it looks like the problem with the medium is the same as I remember—great artwork but lousy writing. At least the introductory issue for the upcoming miniseries only costs $1!

FANGORIA already did an in-depth profile of multihyphenate talent Terrence Zdunich (of REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA) in issue #294, specifically targeting his dark American Gothic comic-book series THE MOLTING, so if you really want to get into the guts of both the man and his work, go back into the vault and dig that issue up. Those already familiar with Zdunich’s eerie, slow-burning, four-colored, panel-framed nightmare should be advised that the fifth issue is available now, and it’s another dark, quiet slice of domestic horror and another stellar entry in this serpentine graphic serial.

Crime novelist Denise Mina’s graphic novel A SICKNESS IN THE FAMILY (Vertigo) is a haunting tale of a dysfunctional family, struggling during harsh economic times. Each member gradually turns on the other as bitter secrets and vindictive jealousy creep into their haunted house.

Vertigo Comics’ THE GREEN WOMAN is the first graphic novel from best-selling author Peter Straub. With co-writer Michael Easton and artist John Bolton, the GHOST STORY author creates a mesmerizing tale of unrelenting suspense accompanied by eerie illustrations. Readers will discover two types of narratives combined here: a police procedural and a character study that delves into the mind of a serial killer.

Radical Comics’ AFTER DARK takes readers to a postapocalyptic future where hideous creatures live in the shadows. Earth lies in a state of neverending darkness, and civilization is just about ready to lose hope.

Using buried Nazi secrets, the government’s plans to create a race of supersoldiers backfires when the experiment unleashes hell on earth. In Studio 407’s new sci-fi/horror comic series NIGHT & FOG, author Alex Leung creates a nonstop, action-packed franchise that aims to appeal to a wide spectrum of genre fans—from those seeking old-school creature-invasion stories to gore enthusiasts craving pure adrenaline-soaked mayhem—but falls short on all counts.