Review: ‘The Nasty’ #3 — More Video Nasty Inspired Horrors With A Twist

More video nasty delights as John Less and Adam Cahoon take us deeper into the craziness of The Nasty as the madness begins to take hold – but hey, it’s still only a movie, right? It’s all just imaginary. Isn’t it?

I’ve previewed The Nasty issues 1 and 2 already, saying this:

“I immediately recognised it as one of those great books that I wanted to really get behind, wanted to shout from the rooftops that you need to be buying it. It’s proper comics horror, great writing, great artwork.”

And although there’s a change of artist this time around – as Adam Cahoon takes over from George Kambadais after being involved in the art in some fashion for issues 1 & 2, there’s no change in tone as John Lees’ great story keeps on driving forwards in all its bizarre glory.

So expect more of the horrors coming out, expect Lees’ excellent storytelling to keep things tight as we have equal parts ridiculous and horrific, tongue-in-cheek stuff, perfectly mirroring some of the best of the video nasties of the era that Lees’ is writing about.

After being introduced to the whole cast in issues 1 and 2, we’re deep into the tale here, as horror-film obsessed Thumper Connell and his Murder Club, the video group at his local video rental shop, are all involved in making a horror movie.

But of course, Thumper’s life is a little stranger than the rest, thanks both to the haunted/possessed copy of a video nasty and the small matter of his childhood imaginary friend still being around. The thing is, Thumper’s childhood friend is slightly different, being Red Ennis, the masked killer from his favourite slasher film, the one he first saw as a young kid. Yes, Thumper’s world has always been strange. And it’s getting stranger – the possessed video nasty is making sure of that.

So, first of all in issue 3, time to go back to learn just how Thumper met Meera, the writer of their little horror movie, a fellow horror movie nut, another one who got into them at an inappropriately young age and the closest thing young Thumper had back then to anyone who loved him. They’re both in love with horror for all it gives them… giving Lees this chance to make the case for horror fans around the world…

And then we’re straight into filming, where the cast are having to deal with the fact that Red Ennis is real – sort of – they can see him, he can slash and maim and kill them and they can (and do) feel the terror of that, but once the scene’s done, all returns to normal. Blood’s no longer pouring out of arteries, ripped- off arms are back where they were, deaths are nothing of the sort.

It’s all a bit strange and perplexing for cast and crew – and at this stage, for the reader too. Lees has been very careful not to spell it all out for us here, rather that we should buy into it the same way that Thumper does, or just have to accept it because it’s happening the way the cast and crew are having to. It’s a smart way of doing things, bringing you into the story, questioning but immersed.

But all the while, even as things seem to be settling down somewhat, now that Lees has introduced the cast and the twist, we have twin threats to our little gang here, first with the focus shifting to the other side of the video nasties saga – with a little bit more on the Mary Whitehouse-style self-appointed morality crusader.

But even there, things are not quite as they seem…

And then, of course, there’s the effect of the possessed video nasty, or whatever Lees will eventually reveal it is. Right now though, it doesn’t matter, it’s just the story driver, the thing that’s pushing things forward, leading to moments like this…

Yes, issue 3 just carries on the fun of this one. It’s a great little series from Lees, the art from Cahoon follows along nicely from Kambadais’ work on the first two issues, keeping the tone already established going really well. It’s spectacularly great reading all the way through, one of those books you just can’t help but devour each new issue and then head back to re-read the previous issues to really give yourself the whole story once more. Definitely a book you should be reading.

The Nasty #3 is out now from Published by Vault Comics

Now, because I really, really want you all to see just how damned great The Nasty is… a belated preview of the issue and the first few pages: