Book Review: Knock 'Em Dead

Eliot Rahal, Knock 'Em Dead. Dallas, TX: Aftershock Comics, 2021. ISBN: 9781949028683

Genre: comics

Subgenre: comedy, horror

Format: e-book galley

Source: Edelweiss Plus

 

Pryor Brice is an aspiring comedian, but he is pretty bad at it. He lives with his overbearing sister who wishes he would get a real job. One night, Pryor decides to take a chance and do his first stand up gig at an amateur comedy night. He bombs, but that is not the worse of it. On the way home, he almost dies in an automobile accident. When he is brought back to life in the hospital, he learns dying may not be the worse thing to happen to him. 

Pryor's story combines horror in the tradition of works about spirit possessions and a bit from The Twilight Zone. The twist at the very end is reminiscent of the series. It also brings in a bit of comedy and dark humor.

The story can be a bit inconsistent, or rather it may stretch the fiction a little bit. For example, I thought the part with the exorcist for hire was funny. When Pryor and her sister want to just do the exorcisms themselves, it seemed a bit too easy. Granted, this is fiction, but that briefly interrupted the suspension of disbelief. Still, the idea of Pryor and his sister getting spirits of comedians to possess him is humorous, and it takes a dark turn as well. As Pryor and his sister get deeper into their scam soon they end up way over their heads.

The comic overall is a good read. If you like a bit of horror with a bit of humor, this is a good selection. It is well paced and engaging. The art is good and in full color. The art of the covers is great. In addition, for folks who want to learn more, the extras in the volume include a series of interviews with the creators and others. In the end, you may see stand up comedy in a whole new light. I really liked it, and I would recommend it.

4.5 out of 5 stars. 

This book qualifies for the following 2023 Reading Challenge: