Ice Cream Man

Ice cream is the perfect symbol of innocence and youth, which is probably why author Prince decided to make his neighborhood's Ice Cream Man into a wish-fulfilling demon terrorizing a small town. In this first volume, each short story usually revolves around a flawed character either directly or indirectly making some sort of choice or wish to the Ice Cream Man to ease their lives, like the washed-up singer who wants a second chance at a hit song. While some might expect an ironic consequence or punchline to these vignettes, to its detriment or its benefit this series starter resists such an impulse, which will either leave some readers confused or give existential-horror fans something to ponder. The end seems to point at a deeper mythology surrounding the Ice Cream Man, so hopefully future installments delve more into that, since there are some evocative hints of a wider story here. Morazzo's jittery-lined artwork definitely adds to the surreal feel, as every face and panel is eerie and haunting. Thought-provoking, twisted stuff for horror fans.--Peter Blenski Copyright 2018 Booklist

Summer looms and the suburban air is filled with the cheery jingle of the approaching ice cream man in this caustic, ongoing multigenre anthology of single-issue stories by the same creative team. The purveyor of frosty treats is eagerly anticipated by all, but his friendly demeanor masks miraculous powers and a sinister omnipresence that links the tales. The lives of a young boy with a dark secret and a lethal "friend," a desperate heroin addict, a washed-up one-hit wonder from the dawn of rock 'n' roll, and a young man wrestling with the fears and uncertainty of impending fatherhood all intersect with Rick, the ice cream man, on his route. As the stories progress, hints are dropped that there is more to Rick than simply serving as a Rod Serling for this contemporary Twilight Zone. Prince's work ups the ante from his earlier efforts (One Week in the Library) with a precisely-crafted page-turner, sporting crisp line work by Morazzo (The Electric Sublime) and the dreamlike colors of O'Halloran (Magnus). This is a perfectly bitter confection for those with a taste for short-form shockers, accented by adult language and content. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.