Snowed In (one-shot)
Publisher: Action Lab Comics
Writer: Shawn Gabborin
Artist: Rick Lundeen
40 Pages, B & W
When two couples go to a remote cabin in the woods for a little rest and relaxation, you think they’d get it. Well, not in this story, not by a long shot. We have four young people that are trying to get away from stress and the everyday rigors of life. At first, it seems like they will, but that’s before they hear a knock at the door. The sound catches all of them off guard, because there is a horrendous snow storm going on outside that seems unfit for even the most hardened creature. One occupant moves to open the door, but the others beg him not to. He hears a voice begging him to open the door, so he does. Another man enters, and tells them a story of an unbelievable incident that has most of the others thinking he’s crazy. One by one, though, they’ll find out that they’re dead wrong with their assumptions.
All I can say is wow! This isn’t a story that no one has ever heard before, but the way it was presented and the unknown force that terrorizes the people in the cabin is second to none. Shawn Gabborin does a great job at giving the reader a different take on a story that has been told before, and that’s why this is a good book. Any time a writer can take a story that’s been told before and put a new wrinkle in it and make his own thing, I’m impressed. And not only that, but doing it for a small publisher as well. Hey, let’s be honest, Marvel and DC can afford to take big risks with recycling stories, but small publishers can’t, so this book was a big risk for these guys, but they nailed it!
The artwork by Rick Lundeen is solid from cover to cover. The black and white format is perfect and really gives this book that creepy feel to it. I honestly think color would have been a mistake. The characters are slightly cartoony, so I think color would have diminished the book’s charm. I honestly can’t think of anything that didn’t jive in this great one-shot. Hopefully Action Lab Comics will throw some more great books like this one out there for anybody looking for a great book from a smaller publisher. Job well done! Rating 4/5
Billy Dunleavy
billy@comicattack.net
