P M Buchan’s Hangover is a compilation of both horror, and black comedy. There is no set order to which stories are horror and which ones are comedies. As such it can sometimes feel a bit eclectic, as the mood jumps from page to page.

Stories in this anthology include monsters under the bed, demon rituals, and a very lonely Noah. There are original stories on offer, and new twists on old tales. The book is strengthened by this variety. Most of the stories stand out from the installments that follow and precede them. This means that they each make individual impressions. It also means that if a reader finds one story that doesn’t work for them for whatever reason they still might find something to enjoy in the following strips. 

P M Buchan wrote all of the stories but he collaborated with a variety of artists. One result of this is the stark difference between stories that are meant to elicit horror, and tales that are meant to be read as funny.

While this isn’t true of all of them most of the horror stories are typically more detailed. The scenes and characters are usually drawn in a way that allows for maximum expressiveness. The strips that are meant to be darkly funny on the other hand are drawn in a simpler style. This contrast not only adds to the varied nature of the book, it serves as a visual clue to the reader as to what sort of comic they are about to read when they turn to any particular page.

P M Buchan’s Hangover is a book of simple, creative stories. It serves as a way for the author to showcase his talents to varying degrees of success. Thanks to the multiple artists that have contributed to the comic, it also offers insight into some of the various ways that dark subject matter can be approached in a visual medium. This is an eclectic little anthology that offers some surprises, and is worth looking into for fans of such comics.

P M BUCHAN’S HANGOVER / AUTHOR: P M BUCHAN / ARTISTS: VARIOUS / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW