Mississippi Macabre is the first ever horror anthology to feature tales of folklore and legends that herald from the American South.
Join us on a journey through snake infested swamps of boggy-bottomed bayous, over flat lands of the Mississippi Delta where the sky looms vast and infinite overhead, and quietly around the cabin in the woods where a lone figure stands in the window…
Myths, Legends and Folklore
In this first issue of this brand-new series, you’ll find four tales of terror that are all inspired by true events. And the best part is – each of our Southern Gothic stories have been written and illustrated by Mississippi writers and artists.
Written by Rod Mooney
Illustrated by Rick Harrison
The tale of the Witch of Yazoo can be traced back by nearly a century. 140 years ago, a sheriff that was investigating the strange disappearance of local fishermen soon discovered something only seen in nightmares. Looming over the horrific scene was the culprit – the Witch of Yazoo. Upon chasing the old crone into quicksand, she vowed to return in twenty years to burn the city of Yazoo to the ground.
And twenty years to the date, that’s exactly what happened.
The legend of the Witch of Yazoo lives on in infamy, now known around the world. Travelers can even go visit the grave of the Witch in Yazoo City, where the chains that had once surrounded her tombstone now lay mysteriously scattered and broken…
Written and illustrated by John Jennings
In the Mississippi Delta, where Robert Johnson was born, they said that if an aspiring bluesman waited by the side of a deserted crossroads in the dark of a moonless night, then the Devil himself might come and tune his guitar, sealing a pact for the bluesman’s soul and guaranteeing a lifetime of easy money, women, and fame. Robert Johnson, as the legend goes, must have waited by the crossroads and gotten his guitar fine-tuned.
Robert Johnson was a Mississippi blues singer and songwriter, who according to legend, sold his soul to Satan “at the crossroads” in exchange for his remarkable talent on the guitar. Some people claimed that Robert’s deal with the devil was evident as they had seen him on all fours, howling at the moon the night he died.
Undisputed facts about Johnson’s life are few and far between. More often than not, his legend has obscured the few grains of truth that can be discerned. According to the myth, the young bluesman desperately longed for fame and fortune, both of which he achieved in his short life.
Written and illustrated by Jason Turner
Ole Tavern on George Street is located in Jackson, just steps from the Mississippi State Capitol. In addition to being known for its unique culinary flair and active nightlife, the tavern has a reputation as a paranormal hot spot.
The tavern was built in 1910 and has served a variety of purposes over the years, from a grocery store to a brothel. Inexplicable occurrences have been known to happen for decades, which include everything from lights coming on by themselves to a phantom patron at the bar. Strange noises and disembodied voices have also been reported. One employee reported hearing the chairs and tables being moved on their own, while a paranormal investigator captured an EVP of the word “ghost” being repeated over and over again.
“The Terror at the Ole Tavern” is a tale told by Jason Turner inspired by an experience he himself had with the mysteries of that old, southern tavern.
Written by Blake Barnes
Illustrated by Steven Butler
Throughout 1942, residents of Pascagoula, Mississippi were terrorized by a “Phantom Barber.” He would break into homes late at night, but he wasn’t there to rob the home. Instead, he was there to give these young girls an unwanted, nocturnal haircut.
In mid-June of that year, he chopped the hair off three little girls in the space of just one week. The first two girls to fall victim to the Phantom Barber were 11-year-old Mary Evelyn Briggs as 12-year-old Edna Marie Hydel. The two girls had been fast asleep in their bedroom at the convent of Our Lady of Victories, when somebody crept into the room and snipped off their hair.
Bloodhounds were called to the convent the next day, and they were able to follow the trail of the man to the edge of woodland, where the mysterious man disappeared…
Rewards
COVER A – Illustrated by Steven Butler / Colored and designed by Lily Butler.
COVER B – Illustrated by Steven Butler / Painted by Brian LeBlanc / Designed by Lily Butler
COVER C – Illustrated and designed by Jason Turner
COVER D – Illustrated and designed by Jason Turner
COVER E – Illustrated by Steven Butler / Colored by Lily Butler
(To be printed as a silver metallic cover.)
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jacksoncomics/mississippi-macabre
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