Basketful of Heads – Graphic Novel Review

Basketfull of Heads, by author Joe Hill and illustrators Leomacs and Riccardo La Bella

Joe Hill has been pumping out new books at a pace that only an obsessive fan could keep up with. I’ve read quite a few of his works but haven’t fully been able to keep up. He writes faster than I can even read! Basketful of Heads in another graphic novel of his that is part of the Hill House line of spooky and spine tingling comic books.

He’s written long novels, short story collections, and a bunch of comic books now. I honestly think his short stories might be the best of the bunch. Graphic novels would be a second because he does well in shorter form stories than bloated 1,000 page novels like his father Stephen King.

I love horror but I have realized more and more lately that I don’t necessarily like supernatural horror. This graphic novel definitely is supernatural and I would even say involves magic. I usually kind of hate magic. I think it’s lazy. It’s a way to make something happen without having it make any sense. Luckily, Hill is a good writer so it’s at least entertaining.

The magic in question is a special axe. When this viking axe is used to chop off heads the heads continue to live. But the bodies don’t I guess? Why? Magic! The answer to all of your non-answers! Magic can be whatever you need it to be, all for plot reasons.

We have a strong female protagonist in Basketful of Heads. She gets involved in some shady doings that are… way over her head. But she triumphs through general badassery.

She’s a young woman who hasn’t even had so much as her first job but she does have her first love and is ready to spend the summer with him. That is, until his secrets are revealed and her small town life is completely shattered. Typical of naiive young people but I do appreciate that this trope is used because it rings true.

The characters are interesting and not totally cliched. The story is fairly simple and the horror is a little diluted. But once again, it is entertaining. It’s a good read and that’s really what matters in the end. It could be suitable for a young adult audience that is geared more toward monsters than sparkly vampires. Might be particularly good for the college aged crowd.

I would recommend Basketful of Heads more for people who really enjoy supernatural horror. If you’re not turned off by magic like I am then you’ll be much more likely to enjoy this one.

4/5 heads 👩‍🦰👩🧓🧑‍🦱

Single originally reviewing this horror comic a sequel, Refrigerator Full of Heads, has been released.

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Buy it here: Basketful of Heads (Hill House Comics)