The Final Fear-filled Phantasm from Richard Sala

2022 is coming to an end, as is Terror Titan's year-long celebration of the works of the great Richard Sala. We're here with a few of Richard's phantasms, getting ready to party our way into the new year, and we toast and thank you for joining us!

Fear-filled Phantasms by Richard Sala

Richard Sala is back with Christmas Among the Creatures. 

In this drawing, he gives us a look at some of Santa's Helpers that are rarely seen, because they're not as pretty as ones we feature over at the Shades of Gray blog.

Fear-filled Phantasms by Richard Sala

 In the Spirit of the Season, we bring you "Krampus vs. Santa's Helpers"!

And if Krampus wins, then last Christmas will have been the last Christmas!

Fear-filled Phantasms by Richard Sala

 It's The Nightmare Before Halloween!

'The Hidden' is a fine horror genre mash-up from Richard Sala

The Hidden (Fantagraphics Books, 2011)
Story and Art: Richard Sala
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

Strange creatures, most consisting of stitched-together body parts, have overrun the world, destroyed all civlizations and societies, and are driving humanity toward extinction. A group of survivors, keeping just ahead of the monstrous wave of horrors, are on their way to a location in the desert where they will either find salvation or doom.

There are some books and movies and comic books/graphic novels where too much talk about what's in it will spoil the enjoyment that can be gained from it. The main element of those works is the mystery at their core, and the excitement and chills readers and/or viewers derive from those come in large part from watching that mystery unfold as it's revealed piece by horrific piece.

"The Hidden" is one such work. It's a mixture of elements taken from the very foundation of the horror genre (such as divine, end-of-the-world prophecy and 19th century Gothic literature) and modern horror (such as post-Dawn of the Dead zombie tales and demonic secret societies that are manipulating the course of history and driving the world toward destruction as they gain more wealth and power), and as the plot comes together and the mystery is revealed, Sala's main sources of inspiration likewise come into focus. In the final analysis, this is a tale that mixes end-of-the-world zombie survival horror with themes from Mary Shelley's novel "Frankenstein, A Modern Prometeus". Along the way, Sala puts his always unique spin on the story and the material, with his artwork being simultaneously cartoony and creepy... and very, very gory at times. It is, however, always dynamic and clear and the story keeps moving swiftly towards its dark conclusion.

If you're looking for some light Halloween reading that is still spooky and dark, "The Hidden" is well worth your time. I don't think it's the best thing that Sala did--that honor is the tied books "The Chuckling Whatsit" and "Mad Night"--but if you've liked any of the works that have been reviewed at Shades of Gray, or any of the art that has been featured here at Terror Titans, this is a book you need to read.

The bad news is that the physical book is out-of-print, and those who have copies for sale are asking ridiculous prices. Fortunately, "The Hidden" can be had at ComiXology or for the Kindle as a digital download, for about 2/3rds the price of what I paid for my hard copy a few years ago -- or even free if you're a subscriber. 

Fear-filled Phantasms by Richard Sala

After their secret civilization is exposed to the humans, the Cat People find themselves facing threats to their survival on all sides and perhaps even from within. Can it truly be one of the Cat People who are abducting and subjecting their own kind to twisted experiments intended to make them "human" but leave them mutilated and hideously malformed? Who will be emerge victorious from The War of the Cat People?

The Cat People have enjoyed the spotlight at two RPG-related posts at our sister blog, Shades of Gray. You can read them by clicking here and here.

Fear-filled Phantasms by Richard Sala

For thousands of years, the shape-shifting Cat People have walked among us, secretly co-existing with us... and sometimes preying upon us. But now, one catman's lust for a human woman is threatening their secret world during The Night of the Cat People!

The Cat People have enjoyed the spotlight at two RPG-related posts at our sister blog, Shades of Gray. You can read them by clicking here and here.

Fear-filled Phantasms by Richard Sala

Then there's that time Peculia encountered an especially handsy monster...

Fear-filled Phantasms of Richard Sala

 After her twelfth cup of coffee, Rennie would begin to have psychic flashes. Usually, it was small things--like what route to take to work tomorrow to avoid bad traffic, or what checkout lane would be the fast one when she was next at the grocery store. But this time... this time was different. This time, she saw that an ancient evil was about rise and that an entire city might well be doomed.

Fear-filled Phantasms by Richard Sala

They thought their daughters would be safe and well-educated at the elite boarding school... but they did not count on Vampires in the Girls Dormitory!

School's out... forever!

Fear-filled Phantasms by Richard Sala

 On the Summer Solstice, the light of the longest day of the year burns away illusions and facades in the Garden of Masks. This year, two young women come face to face with hidden secrets that are exposed in the light of day... 

Fear-filled Phantasms by Richard Sala

The Night of the Dolls: In the sorrow-filled aftermath of her Grannie's passing, Emily discovered that the many antique dolls she inherited along with the mansion were indeed alive. But would they protect her or kill her?

A Fear-filled Phantasm by Richard Sala

"The Sacrifice"

Fear-filled Phantasms by Richard Sala

She was a good at dancing as she was at killing monsters. Wherever the dance troupe's touring schedule took it, the Creatures of the Night and other beings of evil turned from being the hunters and into the hunted.

This Fear-filled Phantasm is brought to you as a warm-up for International Dance Day, which is one week from today, on April 29. You can see many more pictures of more daring dancers (and a few related films and reviews) at the Shades of Gray blog by clicking here.

Fear-filled Phantasms by Richard Sala

They followed the old map deep into the woods, hoping they would bring back evidence that the Green Man is real. But he found them first!

A Fear-filled Phantasm from Richard Sala

 As a little girl, the Thing in the Closet terrified her, but she outgrew the silly fears. Now a high school senior, and the hostess of a slumber party, she jokingly convinced her friends to use a Quijiboard to communicate with it...

Fear-filled Phantasms by Richard Sala

She expected the rainbow to lead her to the heist that would put all others to shame... but she didn't expect there to be that many leprechauns!

It's Cat Burglar X vs. The Little People in "The Saint Patrick Day's Heist"!

Fear-filled Phantasms by Richard Sala

Celebrating Mardi Gras.

Fear-filled Phatasms by Richard Sala

 This week's vision from Richard Sala: Her Blue Haven.

But is she safe from the nightmares crowding around her, or are they being created by what she thinks is a safe space? Is she in Heaven or Hell? 

The Fear-filled Phantasms of Richard Sala

We continue our year-long celebration of artist Richard Sala with his vision of the moment right before a young environmentalist is reclaimed by Nature.

You can see some of Richard Sala's black-and-white art, read some of his comics, as well as reviews of books collecting his work at the Shades of Gray blog, by clicking here.