Sabbath of the Fox-Devils (Goosebumps Went Splatterpunk)

 

I had the pleasure of meeting Sam Richard, and others, at VoidCon 2024 in WV, and was particularly drawn to Sabbath of the Fox-Devils, as well as other titles by Weirdpunk Books, which he’s a part of. Don’t judge a book by its cover? Lol fuck that, you can totally judge something by its cover, because it’s what we do here for everything we review! If the art sucks, perhaps you weren’t willing to put enough time into your product as a whole to make me want to read it (or listen, or watch)? But damn, I must have dropped over $100 or something on the wares this guy was peddling, because they just looked so damn awesome sitting there. Sabbath of the Fox-Devils was probably the first one I picked up, and even if it wasn’t, it was destined to be in mine hands.

 

A new warmth filled Joe’s cold body as he started to regain consciousness. Opening his eyes, he was surrounded by the fox-devils; the smallest of them was standing on his chest. Its wounds and scars getting more tattered as it stared down at him with deep, black eyes. A path of ivory bone got bigger on its snout, exposing red gums and shimmering teeth.

 

A curious combination of a few things including mini-creature movies of the 1980s (such as Ghoulies) and the Goosebumps series, with splatterpunk elements utilized for the general aesthetic, Sabbath of the Fox-Devils takes place during the “Satanic Panic.” The primary character, Joe, is navigating his path through young adulthood while simultaneously trying to understand the disappearance of his brother. In his despair, and perhaps boredom due to an overbearing Christian upbringing, he comes across an ancient grimoire that gives him the ability to summon a band of supernatural foxes with a taste for violence (to put it lightly), fueled by a little anti-Christian revenge. Richard’s usage of what at first seem esoteric letters, leads the reader through Joe’s journey quite artfully, and in a matter-of-fact style slightly above YA that provides an easy read so the juicy, graphic details stand out bright red like an HG Lewis film. The pacing is fast, and other than some minor typos (expected with an indie press publication), a drawn-out development until the appearance of our favorite fox friends, and expected plot direction, Sabbath of the Fox-Devils is a fairly quick, and gory read that, with its spectacular art (not to mention touching personal details you’ll read inside), weird fiction readers should find a simple treat.

 

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Written by Stanley, Devourer of Souls

Sabbath of the Fox-Devils (2024)
Sam Richard
Weirdpunk Books
Cover Art: Michael Bukowski (Illustro Obscurum)
4.1 / 5