By Benjamin Morin — Ice Cream Man’s heinous brand of horror continues to know no bounds. This series has made a name for itself through clever writing and excellent art, and Ice Cream Man #20 continues this trend. It seems with each issue writer W. Maxwell Prince and Co. find new and unique ways to unsettle readers, which has worked wondrously to the series’ advantage. And issue #20 sets the vile Ice Cream Man’s sights on classic children’s books.

Only in a series like Ice Cream Man could one get away with twisting beloved children’s novels into horrific tales of hopelessness and death. The narrative throughline follows our wicked narrator as he reads bedtime stories to a pair of children. Prince uses well known works by authors such as Shel Silverstein, Margaret Wise Brown, and Dr. Seuss to craft deeply unsettling stories. His use of these books adds an extra layer of eeriness to the overall tone and allows him to flex his writing chops.

Prince deftly mimics the writing styles Silverstein and Seuss. He is able to capture the lyrical and rhythmic nature of Seuss while also tapping into the heart of Silverstein’s poetry. I believe this speaks to the Prince’s talent as a storyteller. The genius on display here lies not only in the mimicry but in how he uses different writing styles to convey the series’ overarching dichotomy between light and dark. The attention to detail throughout the issue astounded me and fully engrossed me in its twisted tale.

Artist Martin Morazzo and colorist Chris O’Halloran also deliver one of their best collaborations yet as they riff on the aforementioned literary styles. Morazzo’s linework captures this simplicity of Silverstein’s style alongside the hazy and dream-like nature of Hurd’s art in Goodnight Moon. O’Halloran also delivers striking colors throughout especially as he mimics the contrasting palette that defines Dr. Seuss’ works.

This issue encapsulates everything that is great about Ice Cream Man. It takes the comforting reality of children’s tales and perverts them into something truly unsettling. Personally, it felt like this issue was written expressly to me as I grew up loving all the works referenced here. So to see the Ice Cream Man come in to warp them into something truly terrifying thoroughly creeped me out.

Overall: The creative team behind Ice Cream Man delivers another standout issue. This time using their particular brand of existential dread to craft devilishly clever bedtime stories. 9/10

Ice Cream Man #20 - REVIEW

Ice Cream Man #20
Writer: W. Maxwell Prince
Artist: Martin Morazzo
Colorist: Chris O’Halloran
Letterer: Good Old Neon
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $3.99
“FOR KIDS” One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish. Three fish, four fish, have some more fish. Five fish, six fish—are you sickish? Seven fish, eight fish...it’s getting late fish. Nine fish, ten fish, everyone you love will die and life is pointless so why even get out of bed you little worm you sick little insect with your sad flailing arms and creepy-crawly legs my god I’ve never seen such a pathetic specimen how sad how truly tragic...red fish, blue fish.
Release Date: August 5, 2020
Buy It Digitally: Ice Cream Man #20

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Benjamin Morin currently studies Journalism/Mass Media at Johnson University. He is a comic book enthusiast and aspiring filmmaker.