One of the most captivating anthology horror comic series in recent memory is Image comics‘ Game Ice Cream ManAs it takes the reader on a different horror experience with each issue, and no story is directly connected to another – except the Ice Cream Man himself. And now, the series that has mastered the art of short-form horror will deliver even faster-hitting terrifying tales in the upcoming special: Ice Cream Man: One-Page Horror Stories – and the creative team is star-studded.
Gamesradar Shared the first look at Image Comics’ Ice Cream Man: One-Page Horror StoriesComplete with the entire list of guest writers and the cover art for this special issue. The series writer II. Maxwell Prince will be joined by the super-star writing team of Grant Morrison, Patton Oswalt, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Matt Fraction, Jeff Lemire, Geoff Johns, Zoe Thorogood, Denise Camp and Frank Barbiere. Each writer will contribute a one-page horror story to the special issue, and each story will be drawn by series (and cover) artists MartÃn Morazzo and Chris O’Halloran.
Ice Cream Man: One-Page Horror Stories is the 43rd issue of the ongoing Image Comics series, and it’s sure to be one to remember, especially for W. Maxwell Prince. In a statement released by Image Comics in the announcement for this special issue, Prince talks about how lucky they feel to be telling these short-form horror stories with such a stellar team of writing talent.
W. Maxwell Prince: How Lucky Are We? That some of the most beloved writers of comics have agreed (or you could say they were tricked) to contribute to our issue of one-page horror stories. Our MO has always been compression – get a full story to fit on one floppy. But this is a whole new level, and a whole new challenge. We hope you like our little stories, and hope even more that you appreciate our guests and their amazing intelligence.
Ice Cream Man: One-Page Horror Stories Will also feature a variant cover by artist Maria Llovet.
Who is the ice cream man? Image Comics’ Most Terrifying ‘Horror Host’, Explained
On the surface, the Ice Cream Man is just that: an ice cream man. He wears a classic white suit and hat, he drives an ice cream truck, and he provides the residents of his community with his signature tasty treat. However, it’s clear from the start that there’s something supernaturally sinister about the Ice Cream Man, as he’s not only present during the terrifying events of every Ice Cream Man issue (acting as a ‘boss’, of sorts), he’s usually the One behind the horror.
It is unclear exactly what the Ice Cream Man is. Maybe he is a demon, a twisted god, or even the devil himself – there is no clear explanation. The only thing that is certain is that the ice cream man is evil, and he uses his other powers to taint the ice cream he sells to his community with the evil, exposing them to unspeakable horrors beyond comprehension. Usually this comes in the form of psychological torture, and more often than not it leads to a horrible death.
Our take on Ice Cream Man: One-Page Horror Stories
There is no limit to what these creative masterminds can bring to their one-page horror stories
On reading these Game Ice Cream Man Comic series, you will see that each story ranges from literal danger (like a venomous spider or a werewolf) to abstract horrors (like the experience of a soul rising in hell). That means the guest writers have complete freedom with their one-page horror stories. Maybe one page will show a city being torn apart by demons, or another that shows someone buried alive, or another that is purely surreal and abstract. Apart from the ice cream man, who makes his regular appearances, there is no real structure to this anthology.
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So, what can readers expect from Ice Cream Man: One-Page Horror Stories? Simply: the unexpected. And that’s something any horror fan should be extremely excited about, especially given the high level of creative talent in this upcoming Game Ice Cream Man Especially from Image comics.
Ice Cream Man #43: One-Page Horror Stories From Image Comics is available January 2025.
Source: Gamesradar