Peculia and the Groon Grove Vampires

Peculia #2

by Richard Sala

by Richard Sala
The book follows five college students, survivors of the dark force of a powerful evil, when they are summoned by someone seven years after a dastardly event, to defeat the evil again. Sala has gained a devoted following over the years as a master of a unique brand of quirky horror and dark humor. This book features several characters from his Peculia tales - stories which revolve around a mysterious waif-like girl, her very strange acquaintances, and her tendency, through no fault of her own, to find herself facing a variety of awful creatures and ghastly goings-on. For years, Sala has promised his readers a full-length Peculia novel that would shed some light on the background of the intrepid young wanderer, and they won't be disappointed. No previous exposure to any of Sala's stories is necessary, however. In fact, anyone who likes a little chuckle with their chills, anyone who enjoys curling up with tales of vampires and other things that go bump in the night, will want to get their claws on this book.

Genres: Comics, Horror, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Halloween, Graphic Novels Comics, Vampires

80 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2005

About the author

Richard Sala grew up with a fascination for musty old museums, dusty old libraries, cluttered antique shops, narrow alleyways, hidden truths, double meanings, sinister secrets and spooky old houses. He has written and drawn a number of unusual graphic novels which often combine elements of classic mystery and horror stories and which have been known to cause readers to emit chuckles as well as gasps. Although most of his books are written with teens and older readers in mind, his book, CAT BURGLAR BLACK, can be enjoyed by younger readers as well.

To view current art and activity, please visit: http://richardsala.tumblr.com

Note: I am new to GoodReads ~ and I am happy to have a place dedicated to sharing my love of books with other book lovers. Please be patient with me if I seem rather slow and clumsy! Thanks to all my readers over the years!

Reviews

[Orrin Grey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never quite liked anything by Richard Sala as much as I would have expected, but I keep trying. Part of it is how very close everything seems to come, part of it is that I like his art, especially in his more recent work. This one was middle of the road for me, as Sala works go. I liked it better than his earlier stuff, but not as much as his later stuff.

I'm still looking forward to The Hidden, which both looks great and is his most recent piece, and so far I've liked each new thing he's done better than the one before.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new family moves into the old Groon Grove house and immediately begins inviting visitors over to stay the night. One of whom is Peculia, the carefree waif from Richard Sala's book Peculia, a collection of short stories featuring her. But why are the mirrors in the house covered? The girls are soon going to find out... but will Peculia escape?

The first lengthy adventure for Richard Sala's Peculia is an interesting take on the vampire story of olde. Familiar tropes emerge aligned with a more laconic flavour in line with Peculia's nature, but Sala does a good job ratcheting up the horror to a satisfying level, and overall the story is a success. Sala's artwork is as always a pleasure to see. One of his better comic books by far.

[Kathryn Grace Loves Horror · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve raved about Richard Sala enough on here the past few weeks. If you’ve seen any my previous reviews of his works, you’ll know I’ve loved all of them. This is no exception.

Peculia of the same-titled previous collection returns here for more hijinks, this time facing off against a family of vampires. It’s a delight to spend time with Peculia again, and I only wish that Sala’s untimely death hadn’t deprived us of more of her adventures. I would have loved to see her team up with Judy Drood who also features in several of Sala’s works.

Can’t go wrong with Richard Sala and this book is another example of his wonderful art!

[ISMOTU · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered Richard Sala's work at the Fantagraphics Store in Seattle and went a little crazy. His manic art and creepy stories are excellent at leaving you feeling uneasy. I think I kind of overdosed on his stuff back then and it's taken me quite a long time to get back to his stuff.

This second graphic novel of the pixie-haired Peculia was well done. Her vampire antagonists were set up in an interesting way and overall the story was entertaining. This was good little horror story that didn't leave me feeling too ick-ed out. It struck the right balance.

[Diz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short comic sets up an eerie mood with its fantastically dark woodblock print art style. Unfortunately, the story itself is a bit cliché, so there aren't any surprises. What you expect to happen, ends up happening.

[nour ༉‧₊˚✧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

found this cute gothic graphic novel in the bookstore i’m interning in and read it in one sitting, kinda modern carmilla vibes

[valu · Rating 3 out of 5]

vampiras<3

[David Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're some one who appreciates the subtle, refined pleasures of pretty young women getting picked off one-by-one by undead creatures of the night, this book is aimed directly at your most sophisticated interests. The atmosphere is spooky, the setting is gothic, and the heroine is as resourceful in escaping and dispatching vampires as the artist is at discovering the right poses for showing off her bare legs. Peculia wins you over with winking humor and naughty thrills.

It is unfortunate that the art leans so heavily into "gypsy" stereotyping. I think it bears repeating at every opportunity that Roma people are real people with a living culture, and are neither a backwards underclass of criminals nor mere stock characters for vampire fiction, as they are depicted here. The Groon Grove Vampires is an enjoyable pastiche, but that is one element that could have been toned down without sacrificing its core appeal.

[Fugo Feedback · Rating 3 out of 5]

"y las vampiras del Bosque Siniestro" quizás sería un título más adecuado. A nivel guion me gustó más el primer tomo con historias cortas que este con una sola larga, pero el dibujo está un poco más bonito y mejor definido acá, así que promedian lo mismo. Lástima, eso sí, que sale una variedad de monstruos mucho menor; aunque un poquito lo compensan con la galería de ilustraciones del final.

[Nigel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I suddenly remembered Richard Sala died last year, then had to go check I hadn't dreamed it and no, I didn't, so I went and dug out some of his brilliant, funny, spooky, scary books, like this vampiric treat.

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shorter story featuring the Peculia character taking on a family of vampires. Love the artwork and the offbeat sense of humor.

More Peculia please!

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute gothic short read

[Constanza Bandeo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Entretenido y cortito. Me gustó el estilo del dibujo pero la historia fue bastante meh.

[StrictlySequential · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun!

(it didn't hurt my rating but I wish it was in color)

[LordSlaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peculia And The Groon Grove Vampires is an excellent horror adventure, wonderfully written and illustrated. Sort of a Babysitter's Club for the Edward Gorey set. Fabulous.

[Chad Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a bit of fun. I love the humor and the stark art. It gave me some Edward Gorey vibes.

The binding on the book, however, is awful. Very stiff and hard to read.

[chrstphre campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally; A Coherent Story… ( ! )

Simplicity Wins, just like a faery tale or a coherent shopping list.
+ The artwork & delightful compositions.
: - - - - - : o

[Dony Grayman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tomo sin numeración pero con subtítulo que resultaría ser 2 de 2. Publicado dentro de la colección Horrorama de Recerca. Aparentemente, ambos tomos conforman todo lo compilado del personaje.

[Luke Shea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sala does vampires! Kinda exactly what you'd imagine that looks like. Couple of great beats, but not as weird or wonderful as some of his stranger works.

[Artur Coelho · Rating 3 out of 5]

Richard Sala tem um estilo gráfico muito próprio, que mistura a expressividade do traço com um forte carácter ingénuo e admiração pela iconografia do horror clássico. Esse gosto por monstros do cinema a preto e branco e elementos assombrados das casas que rangem na noite também é explícito nas histórias que congemina para os seus livros. Neste, é o mito do Vampiro que é colocado em destaque. Sala pega na clássica visão pop da cidezinha burguesa americana que é assolada por uma família de vampiros especializada em sugar o sangue virginal de babysitters. O estilo gráfico está mais na linha do traço gótico de Edward Gorey do que no pop colorido de Buffy The Vampire Slayer, onde claramente Sala vai buscar a base para este livro. Sublinhado o seu gosto pelo lado tenebroso da cultura pop o ilustrador ainda vai buscar elementos decalcados dos clássicos filmes de terror da Universal, particularmente no toque dos ciganos conhecedores dos mistérios das trevas, que parecem saídos do clássico The Wolfman. E, claro, como falamos de vampiros, quando estes realmente atacam a iconografia vem do Nosferatu de Murnau. Como um bom cineasta, Sala conta a história fazendo a câmara seguir um perosnagem, um miúdo intrigado com vampiros que se vê arrastado para uma orgia vampírica do qual se safa graças a uma baby-sitter desenrascada e à intervenção atempada de uma velha cigana certeira com o arcabuz. É curioso que este personagem se destaca pro ser desenhado num estilo de cartoon, muito diferente do registo do autor, e por não dizer uma palavra. Será que representa o espectador, curioso voyeur levado a mergulhar nos horrores pelo braço do autor, ou será referência aos Peanuts?

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This strange little book is a weird blend of horror and humor, with a fairly high body count. Using cliches from a dozen slasher movies and abusing them all horribly, Sala sets a tale in motion where a group of babysitters (think of the ones from the Babysitter's Club books and you won't be far off) are lured to a strange place to supposedly babysit for a family. Unfortunately for them, the family are all vampires, and so doom awaits.
If the deaths weren't so gruesome it would be easier to laugh at the cliches and the not-very-bright babysitters. On the other hand, the horror is so over-the-top that it's hard to take seriously. Other humor comes from Peculia's slapstick vampire slaying, as well as certain other things I don't want to spoil.
If you want something like Emily the Strange but with more bloodshed, this might be for you.

[Matti Karjalainen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Richard Salan "Peculia and the Groon Grove Vampires" (Fantagraphics, 2005) on pieni, koominen ja kauhugenren kliseisiin turvautuva tai ehkä pikemminkin niillä tietoisesti leikittelevä sarjakuva neljästä nuoresta tytöstä ja heidän hiljaisesta ystävästään Georgesta, joiden lapsenvahtikeikka kylään vastikään muuttaneen perheen luokse ei muodostu ihan odotetun kaltaiseksi. Salan piirrosjälki on ilo silmälle.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it was nice to see a longer story dedicated to Peculia, there wasn't much more substance to it than Sala's vignettes. The book was fun, and the art is as jaw dropping as usual (especially the Peculia/old woman fight). What I'd love to see is more story surrounding Obscurus, yet he was only in a photo in the background of this. Not essential, but fun.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sala is one of the most underrated creators in comics. I can't heap, heave, dump or plop enough praise upon this book, so let me distill it to this one, inarticulate sentence: If Mario Bava did comics this is what he'd do; spooky and sexy.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

More sexy gothic nightmares starring my girl Peculia. Richard Sala's artwork is slightly on the Edward Gorey side, but I like him more than Gorey. This book is short and breezy and can be read in an hour like a good TV show. Fantagraphics scores again!

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story's too short to really make an impact. Had it been paired with at least one other or included as a part of an anthology, it would rate higher. Not that there's anything wrong with the story; it's just over too fast.

[Jesse Bullington · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this on remainder form the Harvard bookstore only to realize a chunk of about 20 pages is missing from the rear portion of the book. Shit.

[chris · Rating 1 out of 5]

Feh.

[Dave-O · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quickly read, no-frills vampire story.

[Juan Fuentes · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 en realidad.

Me encanta el dibujo fresco y el humor gamberro dentro de unas historias que se ríen de los tópicos.