Chin Music 1 Phantom variant cover by Tony Harris

A very VERY creepy cover by an artist not always immediately associated with the horror genre and yet who can do it very effectively as exemplified here.

Chin Music was to be a limited series from modern horror writer Steve Niles and Tony Harris that remains unfinished, another professional series to which Mr Harris has been attached that falls in that limbo category we all love 😉

I bought it directly from Tony during a European tour after many hesitations. But the price was certainly right and I’m glad I did.

I find the piece highly disturbing visually as it convokes Lovecraft and the myth of the ancient ones. The impassibility of the man shown here as a disgusting (on its own) slimy tentacle creeps into his orbit and goes out his ear is truly creepy. His face full of scars gives us the impression that he has seen (too) much like a mirror ready to break from reality.

In terms of technique, the ID card delineated in delicious cross-hatching in the background is an element I particularly love as it harkens back to Tony’s Gaijin studios days.

The use of light seemingly coming from a slowly moving light bulb coming from above in an interrogation room type of setting truly adds to the eeriness.

Lastly, everything is expertly drawn here, including the logo and the stamp and Tony’s inks are as impressive as ever.

Happy Halloween to all!