Broken Frontier

The Tingler brings to life the proverbial “spine-tingling fear” in a very literal interpretation. Dr. Warren Chapin, Vincent Price's character in the film and the comic sequel, is the typical driven scientist type madly devoted to unlocking the secrets of fear. He discovers an insect-like beast that lives on the spine of every person and grows when the host is subjected to terrifying experiences. If subjected to enough fear, the Tingler can actually kill the person, literally dying of fright. Chapin was able to isolate the Tingler and remove it from the body where it lived as a vicious predator whose only weakness is the scream, the cry of terror that releases fear's hold on us. If it sounds silly, don't worry, it is. But it's the very absurdity of the concept that makes it so compelling.

Writer Mark Miller brings the story from one 1950s sub-genre to another. Where the film was a weird science type thriller, Miller delves into the jungle mystery using The Tingler concept as a springboard. A lost jungle tribe seems to worship the Tingler, as their art and idols indicate. Chapin and his party, consisting of a lab assistant, the attractive Lucy, and a hired guide, trek into the deepest, darkest jungle in search of the natives. Miller's characterizations are well done, with Dr. Chapin's character and his addictions receiving the most attention and bringing to life the fiercely determined doctor with a bit of a cruel streak. His dialogue is not naturalistic, but rather captures the feel of the original character and deliberate melodrama of 1950s cinema.

The story is very simple and straightforward, even predictable, but it is the nostalgic feel and camp that carry this series. Cinema historians will be pleased with the nice homage to the original movie at the end. The love for not only the subject material, but older style storytelling is evident in this comic, and anyone with an interest in old films and even classic horror comics will get a kick out of this.

The art chores are performed adequately by Alex Lopez. Some sequences are a little confusing, specifically the attack by the panther, but for the most part the story is clear. Lopez's caricature of Price is very good, and he particularly excels in his depiction of the natives. The artwork is surprisingly bright for a horror comic, but given its setting it works. I appreciate his bold lines and slightly cartoony characters. This book doesn't take itself too seriously and the artwork reflects the dedication to the campy nature of the material.

I would very much recommend watching The Tingler film before reading this comic. Not that the story is unclear or doesn't stand on its own, but getting a feel for the acting and voice of Vincent Price adds so much to the final product. He is such an icon and had such a presence that it is helpful to have him in your mind while reading this series. Overall a great job by Bluewater Productions and the creators of keeping the thrills of 1950s horror alive and well.