One of Image Comics' most buzzworthy new comics over the past few years has been the unconventional horror anthology Ice Cream Man, written by W. Maxwell Prince and with art by Martin Morazzo and Chris O'Halloran. The series is a genre-bending take on the horror anthology that offers a pick-your-flavor variety of horrifying one-off tales that form an overarching abouta seriously creepy Ice Cream Man.
The series centers around a simple, open-ended premise. The sinister Ice Cream Man somehow works his way into each issue, being more involved in some of the horrors than others, while each story remains wholly separate tales. This formally bold series that flexes between genres, in tales that veer from high fantasy and science fiction story to a more traditional horror format.
Each genre swapping issue follows a seemingly normal ice cream man as he narrates a selection of tragedies, as his frequent involvement in the horrific tales he recounts raises questions about the sinister character. The shady actions of the character offer a reminder that sometimes there is more than meets eye.
Along the way, we are introduced to a varied cast of characters, each of whom is subject to the suspicious series of tragedies that occur throughout the series. Each tale is progressively eerier than the last, and they all explore the dark side of a seemingly normal suburban community and consistently pushing the boundaries of each genre it adapts.
For instance, the first issue of the series shows the quiet carnage of a poisonous spider on one suburban family before veering into supernatural territory with a were-creature and some unsettling moments with the series' titular Ice Cream Man. Meanwhile, Ice Cream Man #13 was constructed as a palindrome issue with a story that could be read backward or forwards.
Following in the footsteps of shows and comics like The Walking Dead, Ice Cream Man is also set to be adapted as live-action series. The streaming service Quibi has ordered a full season of the unpredictable series, which promises to bring its distinctive flavor of horror into a new medium. While the short run-times of Quibi programming could also for the show to carry over the comic's spirit of formal invention, Ice Cream Man is serving up a deeply unsettling brand of horror that would stand out in any medium.