Splatterpunk #13 (10th Anniversary Issue) edited by Jack Bantry
Reviewed by David Niall Wilson
When I received this for review, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I’d never seen an issue, but I’d seen author’s names associated with it that I was familiar. When it arrived, and I pulled it out, it felt as if I’d stepped into a time capsule.
My own writing career started in the mid to late eighties. Magazines like Deathrealm and Thin Ice were everywhere. Since then, the feel of those old small press markets has sort of slipped away. With print on demand available, and design software more affordable and accessible, the hand-made-feel has nearly been lost. SPLATTERPUNK would have been right at home then and is a lot of fun now.
The magazine itself is black and white, saddle stapled, with paper covers. The interior is laid out in columns, pretty small print, but I managed. There is a very open, friendly, and short editorial in the front from editor Jack Bantry, and then it’s on to the contents. This issue features: There is art by Jim Agpalza, Denis Privezentsev, Robert Elroy and Dan Henk, who is the cover artist.
“Of the Worms,” by Ryan Harding, “Blood, Guts and Gore,” by Sean Leonard, an essay on good old blood and guts horror, low-budget, balls to the wall films — and it’s a deep dive with some serious gems. “Gutted,” by Bracken MacLeod, a very long and thorough interview with horror legend David J. Schow, conducted by Bantry himself, “Last Day of Work,” by Ryan C. Thomas, the #PromoteHorror review section and is concluded with a piece titled “Things Remembered,” by Brian Keene.
The stories are varied in theme and flow, all unique takes… all disturbing in different ways. My favorite would be Bracken MacLeod’s story, because of the way he handled the reverse action timeline. A very close second would be Brian Keene’s “Things Remembered,” but for different reasons. Very, very different stories, and that is what makes magazines and anthologies magic. It’s also set in a time and a mindset people will relate too. Ryan Harding sends a human up against The Worm and things get very dark.
Ryan C. Thomas’ “Last Day of Work” is a dark, gore-filled tale where a respected Employer and mentor shares a very dark vision of life, and death. This one is visceral and slimy… you can almost feel that on your brain as you read.
The final tale is Brian Keene’s “Things Remembered,” and as many of his recent works, it’s personal. You can feel yourself in the rooms he’s standing in, and the pain he feels, the loss, is palpable. Those are the good memories. What brings this story to this magazine are the memories he never shared. Powerful piece.
Highly recommended for lovers of extreme horror, and those of you who remember the magazines mentioned above, you should really check this out. Some things are timeless.
