TRS2 puts its fine reputation at stake by negligence of quick reviewing of this collection by Shane Chebsey & Andrew Richmond. However dfense : this squarebound compilation sells itself : by its high print and design values and the creators attached to it : Jeremy Dennis, Nigel Auchterlounie, Martin Eden, Willie Hewes, Anthony Whittaker etc

This reader admits to preconceived bias against horror stories; its a genre boring and derivative. Psychobabble and troll poetry, dismemberment of character's bodies by meathook and chain snarl. Just get me to an ice cream with cherry syrup swirl thanks.

My passive prejudices aside, all the traditional horror cliches (characteristics if you like) are here. Those ordinarily competent and whom make horror familiarity their selves adepts such as Martin Eden and Willie Hewes lose their characteristic sparkle either virtually or as literature. Black inks and paintes pervade with enough McKean-isms as you'd expect, though several such as Chris Wisnia work this advantageously. Others bring a discordian element in and succeed with different effects , remaining thematially relevant. Dennis' piece utilising Richmond's characters Kempble and Faraday is consistent in presentation (of the characters). I initially encountered it as an awkward, jarring read which lost me , suceeding in a coax of several re-reads to 'find' the story journey through decoding by the reader. Ali Graham and Richard Starzecki four page contribs stand out in their full-on deaalings with subject matters the banal of daytime teevee and antiquated sound equipment. Both serve to bring some light heartedness to the proceedings and both have very distinctive styles pleasing my senses immensely.

Favourite piece here is Mary Rhoda's 'Fright Knight' for its European exemplar qualities, attention to detail and clean shine of research. Paul O'Connell and James Hodgkins' have works in here too. I like that !

I still hate the horror genre. The trite tale tales are boosted as being part of the flow of the compilation and there is a sad tendency in the better works to close with some amateur staple such as hack and slash. Talk to folk though, and you'll find the the majority of people who've read it loved it. Dead by Dawn is the head and shoulders of UK comics and as such is recommended. Issue Two has been released and can be ordered from here.