By Mike Donachie —  A young man arriving at a big, spooky house to work as a handyman for an older lady sounds like somebody combined the tropes of horror movies and adult films. But, if you let yourself get a few pages into It Eats What Feeds It, this book will seduce you, much like what happens to its protagonist.

Here's the concept: Kenny, a teenager who’s remarkably difficult to like, lands himself a summer job with adult overtones. His beautiful new employer, Francois lives in a huge mansion deep in Louisiana swamplands, has certain appetites and it’s Kenny’s job to satisfy them. Yes, that means sex, but it also means meat.

None of this should work, and the main character even hangs a metaphorical lampshade on that during the first few pages, joking about how amusingly creepy it all is. “Come on,” he says to himself. “This is so cliché.”

It is, to be fair, but also it’s not. Writers Max Hoven and Aaron Crow have a refreshing awareness built into their story, and they use it well, layering on the mystery and making sure to keep us limited to Kenny’s point-of-view. The pacing is perfect; you’ll flip through the pages with some interest, finding yourself drawn in deeper and deeper until you realize: “Huh. I’m reading this thing. It’s good.”

Meanwhile, artist Greg Iumazark’s style lands somewhere near Disney animation, but the darker parts that you suspect are damaging the more sensitive kids, before lurching into full-on horror in a really satisfying way. Let’s make special mention of his color palette: based on smoke and shadows much of the time, then switching to washed-out light when needed. All the while, Francois – and certain other aspects of the story – are slapping your face, wet and blood red.

It's tough to come up with something new in this genre, and it’s not clear if these creators have managed it. But they have made an entertaining, well-crafted book that’s simultaneously exploitative and intelligent, and they deserve praise for that.

Overall: It might be horror porn or porn horror, and it’s surprisingly good. 8/10

It Eats What Feeds It #1

It Eats What Feeds It #1
Writers: Max Hoven, Aaron Crow
Artist: Gabriel Iumazark
Publisher: Scout Comics
Price: $3.99
In this grimy horror romp, Francois, a stunning middle-aged woman, has developed a worsening affliction and seeks a young caretaker to upkeep her lavish creole mansion deep in the mystic bayou of Louisiana.  Kenny, a teenage halfwit looking for a summer job, stumbles right to her doorstep. Free rent, free meals, high pay, easy work, and a provocative boss... what's there for Kenny to refuse? Well, there's the blood-covered kitchen spilling over with raw meat and the bolt-locked steel-plated attic door he's restricted access to. Are these red flags worth the risk of missing out on a wild summer romance?
Release Date: July 15, 2020
Buy It: Click here.

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Mike Donachie is a communications professional and newspaper columnist who takes delight in having a thick Scottish accent nobody can understand. You can find him at @Mike_Donachie.