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Ice Cream Man
Ice Cream Man, Volume 5: Other Confections
See here four more strange and sad stories of the critically lauded horror-adjacent anthology series, ICE CREAM MAN. See here a tetrad of atypical tales: a suppurating superhero satire; a lamentation of lost memory; a field guide for being a ghost; a rotten retelling of your favorite children's stories. See here some other confections, too. See here, see here!
Collects ICE CREAM MAN #17-20
Collects ICE CREAM MAN #17-20
128 pages, Paperback
First published September 8, 2020
12 people are currently reading
331 people want to read
About the author
W. Maxwell Prince
108 books186 followersW. Maxwell Prince writes in Brooklyn and lives with his wife, daughter, and two cats called Mischief and Mayhem. He is the author of One Week in the Library, The Electric Sublime, and Judas: The Last Days. When not writing, he tries to render all of human experience in chart form.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
September 22, 2020
"We all need stories, kids!"
How long can this go on?! A sort of one-joke idea of a great longstanding summertime favorite turned to nightmare--an Ice Cream Man who is really a monster--that is a foundation for a continual spin-off of ideas for a horror comic. So we know there are insane killer clowns, but now there is anothe image of childhood innocence turned to nightmare as an ice cream man as (also forever smiling, as well) becomes a demon in various guises (and whew, I also just read The Snowman by Jo Nesbo, a thriller that reconfigures a snowman as nightmare prop for a serial killer). This volume includes four unrelated stories, each trying a different idea Prince has not tried before in the series. And if you did not know it before, Prince is way clever, an entertaining horror storyteller matched by the sweet crazy confectionary magic of Martin Morazzo's colorfully creepy illustrations.
The first is okay, fun, a satire on Ice Cream Man as twisted superhero, sort of a spin-off of the Superman and Lois Lane story. In the end Prince wonders, jokingly, will this story "rescue" the series from its doldrums? I would say the answer is not quite, but it's a kinda fun opening.
The next is a story of the horror of Alzheimers, of an older man losing his mind to the disease. How, after the superhero silliness, can Prince accomplish taping into true feelings that many of us have for loved ones, in the true horror of watching a mind grdaually lost, but this is successfully touching, overall. Life is a continual series of losses, over time.
The third one I liked best. It's a How To, step by step, of how to be a ghost, in three stages as if written for kids, initially. In the first stage a kid wears a sheet and decides to become a ghost. Boo! Scary! He runs around, trying to become a ghost, but sees a man who is committing suicide, jumping off a bridge, landing right at his feet. He's dead, not just playing ghost, and the boy of course will never be the same. He in a sense becomes a kind of ghost, haunted himself by that death that is scarier than any pulp horror. As he grows up he gets married, gets a crappy job, and goes through the motions, losing his wife to an affair, just a ghost of a person. In the third segment, also a step-by-step story, he's an old man, moving toward death, then literally becoming that ghost, to meet up with the man who committed suicide in his youth! How does Prince do it? A terrific story.
The fourth story is so, so fun, Ice Cream Man as replacement Dad reading horror revisions of children's books such as Goodnight Moon and Green Eggs and Ham to two little kids that are not at all kid stories. We all need stories and storytime, Ice Cream Man says as now driven-insane Mom floats in and out of the room. Where is Dad? Don't ask, but the kids have some realization that ICM is not really Dad.
Fun stuff. So good.
How long can this go on?! A sort of one-joke idea of a great longstanding summertime favorite turned to nightmare--an Ice Cream Man who is really a monster--that is a foundation for a continual spin-off of ideas for a horror comic. So we know there are insane killer clowns, but now there is anothe image of childhood innocence turned to nightmare as an ice cream man as (also forever smiling, as well) becomes a demon in various guises (and whew, I also just read The Snowman by Jo Nesbo, a thriller that reconfigures a snowman as nightmare prop for a serial killer). This volume includes four unrelated stories, each trying a different idea Prince has not tried before in the series. And if you did not know it before, Prince is way clever, an entertaining horror storyteller matched by the sweet crazy confectionary magic of Martin Morazzo's colorfully creepy illustrations.
The first is okay, fun, a satire on Ice Cream Man as twisted superhero, sort of a spin-off of the Superman and Lois Lane story. In the end Prince wonders, jokingly, will this story "rescue" the series from its doldrums? I would say the answer is not quite, but it's a kinda fun opening.
The next is a story of the horror of Alzheimers, of an older man losing his mind to the disease. How, after the superhero silliness, can Prince accomplish taping into true feelings that many of us have for loved ones, in the true horror of watching a mind grdaually lost, but this is successfully touching, overall. Life is a continual series of losses, over time.
The third one I liked best. It's a How To, step by step, of how to be a ghost, in three stages as if written for kids, initially. In the first stage a kid wears a sheet and decides to become a ghost. Boo! Scary! He runs around, trying to become a ghost, but sees a man who is committing suicide, jumping off a bridge, landing right at his feet. He's dead, not just playing ghost, and the boy of course will never be the same. He in a sense becomes a kind of ghost, haunted himself by that death that is scarier than any pulp horror. As he grows up he gets married, gets a crappy job, and goes through the motions, losing his wife to an affair, just a ghost of a person. In the third segment, also a step-by-step story, he's an old man, moving toward death, then literally becoming that ghost, to meet up with the man who committed suicide in his youth! How does Prince do it? A terrific story.
The fourth story is so, so fun, Ice Cream Man as replacement Dad reading horror revisions of children's books such as Goodnight Moon and Green Eggs and Ham to two little kids that are not at all kid stories. We all need stories and storytime, Ice Cream Man says as now driven-insane Mom floats in and out of the room. Where is Dad? Don't ask, but the kids have some realization that ICM is not really Dad.
Fun stuff. So good.
Currently reading
September 15, 2022This volume is off to a solid start with a nice horror spin on an issue from All-Star Superman…
Chapter Seventeen: “Cape Fear” ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
I’m honestly shocked Prince didn’t start getting some superhero gigs from the Big 2 after this dropped. A Lois Lane-esque reporter digs deeper into the hero known as the Ice Cream Man when she is invited to his Isolation Palace in the Arctic Circle.
I don’t wanna spoil any specifics so I’ll just say, as mentioned earlier, this basically plays out like a horror version of All Star Superman #2.
Chapter Seventeen: “Cape Fear” ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
I’m honestly shocked Prince didn’t start getting some superhero gigs from the Big 2 after this dropped. A Lois Lane-esque reporter digs deeper into the hero known as the Ice Cream Man when she is invited to his Isolation Palace in the Arctic Circle.
I don’t wanna spoil any specifics so I’ll just say, as mentioned earlier, this basically plays out like a horror version of All Star Superman #2.
Read
May 2, 20212/5/21
Quite alright! Definitely not my favourite volume, but I can always appreciate the amount of experimentation that this series does. Would love to see more of a story line though.
The existential crisis hit hard in this one.
2/5/21
Been a fan of this comic for a couple of years, so excited to catch up with it :)
You can find me on
Youtube | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Website | The Storygraph
Quite alright! Definitely not my favourite volume, but I can always appreciate the amount of experimentation that this series does. Would love to see more of a story line though.
The existential crisis hit hard in this one.
2/5/21
Been a fan of this comic for a couple of years, so excited to catch up with it :)
You can find me on
Youtube | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Website | The Storygraph
February 13, 2021
Oproti poslednému volume, ktoré bolo trocha slabšie, sa toto znova ukazuje v plnej paráde. Stále sú tie príbehy nápadité, posledné dva mi prišli o niečo lepšie ako tie prvé. Som zvedavá, kedy sa im vyčerpajú možnosti do akého štýlu/paródie príbehy zasadia a kedy to stratí to svoje čaro. 4,5/5
February 13, 2024
Two standout stories:
A kind of weird nasty take on Superman.
ICM tells twisted bedtime stories to children.
A kind of weird nasty take on Superman.
ICM tells twisted bedtime stories to children.
September 27, 2020
3.5 Stars
I have come to really enjoy this graphic novel series of horror short stories. Each story is so unique and, often, quite creative. Some stories are funny or satirical or even emotional. My favourite story in this collection was a step-by-step instructional guide on how to be a ghost. It started out quite silly, but ended with quite a heavy emotional gutpunch. I also enjoyed the first story, which satirized the superhero tropes. The last story was also quite funny with the absolute worst children's bedtime stories! While some stories were stronger than others, this volume is definitely worth the read.
I have come to really enjoy this graphic novel series of horror short stories. Each story is so unique and, often, quite creative. Some stories are funny or satirical or even emotional. My favourite story in this collection was a step-by-step instructional guide on how to be a ghost. It started out quite silly, but ended with quite a heavy emotional gutpunch. I also enjoyed the first story, which satirized the superhero tropes. The last story was also quite funny with the absolute worst children's bedtime stories! While some stories were stronger than others, this volume is definitely worth the read.
February 18, 2023
We have four comics in volume five of Ice Cream Man. The first is a satirical stab at superhero’s, a bit cliche but okay. The second is brilliant in it’s gremlins who nit and pick and steal all the thoughts in your head. An excellent viewpoint of Alzheimer’s.
The third is long and certainly strange. I’m not altogether sure I liked it or even understood it’s range.
But lastly is the best of all; a comic that rewrites Goodnight Moon, The Giving Tree, and Green Eggs and Ham. Three classic stories, that I’ve read to countless children over twenty some years. I often both love and hate Goodnight Moon. But I’d gladly read this version again with the woman in the chair (wheelchair) who wrote a suicide note; instead of the little old lady who whispered ‘hush’.
If nothing else this volume is worth it for comic #20. Divine in all it’s rhyme.
The third is long and certainly strange. I’m not altogether sure I liked it or even understood it’s range.
But lastly is the best of all; a comic that rewrites Goodnight Moon, The Giving Tree, and Green Eggs and Ham. Three classic stories, that I’ve read to countless children over twenty some years. I often both love and hate Goodnight Moon. But I’d gladly read this version again with the woman in the chair (wheelchair) who wrote a suicide note; instead of the little old lady who whispered ‘hush’.
If nothing else this volume is worth it for comic #20. Divine in all it’s rhyme.
December 2, 2020
“See the dusty box of childhood mementos on the floor. See yourself as you were, all those years ago.”
I am impressed as these guys have managed to keep up the quality and originality for five issues, which isn’t as easy as many would think. There is much to enjoy in this fifth instalment, from a wonderful parody/tribute to Dr Seuss as well as a superhero satire with a sinister twist or two.
Overall this is a sumptuous offering, which successively marries traditional horror tropes with some highly refreshing angles and playful experimentation adding up to a hugely enjoyable collection, which could sit up there with the likes of work down by Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman or Grant Morrison.
September 16, 2020
Ice Cream Man returns to its former glory with this volume.
The first story ventures into a parody of a superman story but going into a very very very dark direction. This one was pretty solid, if not overly goofy at points. The next story is easily the best. A Man losing his memories due to a disease, or is it the goblin he keeps seeing in his mind? Every time he remembers the creatures takes it from him. This is a sad one but a really great one. The next is a weird story of a instructions like issue of a boy going through various stages of life. Pretty solid but weaker one. Last volume is another strong one of the ice cream man taking care of his "family" but the reveal is horrifying.
This is easily the best volume since 2. The sadness in each volume hits hard and with the exception of the first story each gives a very real feeling to life. I think the art keeps improving and works well for this series, hopefully he always stays on. Ice cream man delivers another satisfying volume and hope it continues to do well.
A 4 out of 5.
The first story ventures into a parody of a superman story but going into a very very very dark direction. This one was pretty solid, if not overly goofy at points. The next story is easily the best. A Man losing his memories due to a disease, or is it the goblin he keeps seeing in his mind? Every time he remembers the creatures takes it from him. This is a sad one but a really great one. The next is a weird story of a instructions like issue of a boy going through various stages of life. Pretty solid but weaker one. Last volume is another strong one of the ice cream man taking care of his "family" but the reveal is horrifying.
This is easily the best volume since 2. The sadness in each volume hits hard and with the exception of the first story each gives a very real feeling to life. I think the art keeps improving and works well for this series, hopefully he always stays on. Ice cream man delivers another satisfying volume and hope it continues to do well.
A 4 out of 5.
October 18, 2020
The only story I enjoyed was the last one. This just wasn't as good as the previous volumes, sadly.
July 3, 2022
Four more excellent helpings of Ice Cream Man in this twisted fifth volume.
We open with a pastiche on All-Star Superman through the ICM lens, which is both brutal and hilarious all at once. I like how a lot of the other issues are starting to be referenced in each other, even if it's just side characters appearing or a one-panel shot of an item we've seen before, it makes all the disparate stories feel more connected.
The second issue is the slow descent of a man into memory loss, which is in itself a horrifying idea, but Prince actually manages to play it both sadly and kind of hopeful, even if the ending is as predictable as you'd expect for a story like this.
Next up is an issue told through the lens of a How To manual, following the life and death of a man who witnesses a suicide when he is very young. This again is played for both the horror vibe and a kind of hopeful ending; it's a nice departure from the normal formula, and just goes to show that sick and twisted doesn't always have to mean bad (although it usually is).
And then finally, the Ice Cream Man invades a home and reads bedtime stories to children who are not his own. These childrens' classics are easily recognisable, and the horrible twists that the ICM puts on them will have you laughing and crying in equal measure. A wonderful end to the volume - plus check out the Doctor Seuss variant cover in the back of the trade for another laugh.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, when ICM is on, it's almost untouchable. This volume is again proof of that.
We open with a pastiche on All-Star Superman through the ICM lens, which is both brutal and hilarious all at once. I like how a lot of the other issues are starting to be referenced in each other, even if it's just side characters appearing or a one-panel shot of an item we've seen before, it makes all the disparate stories feel more connected.
The second issue is the slow descent of a man into memory loss, which is in itself a horrifying idea, but Prince actually manages to play it both sadly and kind of hopeful, even if the ending is as predictable as you'd expect for a story like this.
Next up is an issue told through the lens of a How To manual, following the life and death of a man who witnesses a suicide when he is very young. This again is played for both the horror vibe and a kind of hopeful ending; it's a nice departure from the normal formula, and just goes to show that sick and twisted doesn't always have to mean bad (although it usually is).
And then finally, the Ice Cream Man invades a home and reads bedtime stories to children who are not his own. These childrens' classics are easily recognisable, and the horrible twists that the ICM puts on them will have you laughing and crying in equal measure. A wonderful end to the volume - plus check out the Doctor Seuss variant cover in the back of the trade for another laugh.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, when ICM is on, it's almost untouchable. This volume is again proof of that.
April 9, 2024
3.9/5.0
The mind-bending hallucinatory world that Prince expands on with each edition is one of the more disturbing experiences in modern comics. Although this edition lacked a solid connection to the Ice Cream Man persona, it still has every element to make for a terrifying read.
The mind-bending hallucinatory world that Prince expands on with each edition is one of the more disturbing experiences in modern comics. Although this edition lacked a solid connection to the Ice Cream Man persona, it still has every element to make for a terrifying read.
Read
June 26, 2024This was another brilliant volume with parodies of superhero comics and children's books but still the creepy, unexpected horror stories I've come to expect from this series.
September 10, 2021
Yeah...I don't know. This series seems to be running out of gas. This time around, the stories are all incredibly depressing and dark without fail (though maybe a tiny ray of light in the story about the man losing his memories). The art continues to be strong, but the point of it all?
August 16, 2022
EASILY my favourite volume of Ice Cream Man so far, this one was wild.
December 11, 2022
Wasn't as huge of a fan on this installation. The stories were definitely more on the reflective side versus horror for me, and there wasn't any I was particularly interested in. Still love the artwork as always, and looking forward to the next volume.
December 7, 2020
Best volume since the first.
September 6, 2020
A very creepy and somewhat sad continuation to the series. Very curious to know where this is going.
January 19, 2023
Another mixed bag of an anthology that turns quite hard-hitting and poignant after a relatively lightweight opening offering of a suitably twisted Superman parody. Definitely a great series in terms of originality, themes, art and writing.
August 18, 2020
"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."
Great, I would like more of an overall arc, after 20 issues I would like the ongoing characters fleshed out more, and some more Lore added, but still enjoying, still creepy, and still thought provoking...
Great, I would like more of an overall arc, after 20 issues I would like the ongoing characters fleshed out more, and some more Lore added, but still enjoying, still creepy, and still thought provoking...
September 16, 2021
I have devoured this series over the last few weeks, and it is some of the most amazingly disturbing stories i have ever read. I have legitimately had nightmares after reading some these stories, for that reason alone i can't give this less than 5 stars, as it's very rare that a story haunts me.
October 1, 2021
One of the strengths of Ice Cream Man is the way it reinvents itself with each new issue. Playing constantly with form, genre, and content, each story is unique from what has come before.
Vol. 5 delivers 4 new stories, and with this volume, each deserves a brief mention of its own.
A dark and fascinating twist on superheroes, parodying Superman as only this series could, full of subtle jokes and comments as a familiar premise goes in oh, so unfamiliar directions.
Aging, loss, regret--an old man in his fading moments tries to remember what he once was as illness or something more sinister plucks away his memories. And when he is gone, will things look different for those he leaves behind?
As dark as much of it is, the "Haunting for Beginners" issue is one of the strongest entries in this series yet and a masterful comics short story in its own right. Unheard and unrecognized in his own life, one man seeks to process questions that often feel too large to be answered.
For most of this volume, the horror was somewhat subdued in favor of other thematic explorations. But it wouldn't be a volume of Ice Cream Man if it didn't drop something absolutely disturbing on you at least once. As our title character smashes his way back into the page, one family's terror weaves together with grotesque reimaginings of classic children's books as the monster monster with the smile inflicts his own strange will on the world around him.
Always dark and often unsettling, imaginative world manages to find glimmers of hope and beauty amidst the often nihilistic horror of the cosmic conflict stretched across its pages. Prince always delivers a fascinating story while the art from Morazzo and company is bold and frightening in equal measure.
Vol. 5 delivers 4 new stories, and with this volume, each deserves a brief mention of its own.
A dark and fascinating twist on superheroes, parodying Superman as only this series could, full of subtle jokes and comments as a familiar premise goes in oh, so unfamiliar directions.
Aging, loss, regret--an old man in his fading moments tries to remember what he once was as illness or something more sinister plucks away his memories. And when he is gone, will things look different for those he leaves behind?
As dark as much of it is, the "Haunting for Beginners" issue is one of the strongest entries in this series yet and a masterful comics short story in its own right. Unheard and unrecognized in his own life, one man seeks to process questions that often feel too large to be answered.
For most of this volume, the horror was somewhat subdued in favor of other thematic explorations. But it wouldn't be a volume of Ice Cream Man if it didn't drop something absolutely disturbing on you at least once. As our title character smashes his way back into the page, one family's terror weaves together with grotesque reimaginings of classic children's books as the monster monster with the smile inflicts his own strange will on the world around him.
Always dark and often unsettling, imaginative world manages to find glimmers of hope and beauty amidst the often nihilistic horror of the cosmic conflict stretched across its pages. Prince always delivers a fascinating story while the art from Morazzo and company is bold and frightening in equal measure.
September 11, 2020
Another 5 star review from me for this series, and as my past reviews have said...this series does just keep getting better.
Cape Fear: this was probably my least favourite of the collection but it’s hard to pick a least favourite 5 star story. The concept was smart and the theme of the issue seemed to continue throughout the rest of the volume! also i liked the little creature genocide story, that was fun
Watch as it all Recedes: FUN and SAD! i liked the gremlin’s design and i really liked the conclusion of this one as well as the way the story was being told.
Haunting for Beginners: Possibly my favourite of the collection, i loved how this was set up in a “step by step” format and i loved how the story unfolded.
For Kids: insanely creepy (arguably the scariest/creepiest of the collection) while also being SUPER fun. the artist clearly had a good time designing the scary versions of the classic kids books that we all know and love, and the story kept up to par with the art!
Cape Fear: this was probably my least favourite of the collection but it’s hard to pick a least favourite 5 star story. The concept was smart and the theme of the issue seemed to continue throughout the rest of the volume! also i liked the little creature genocide story, that was fun
Watch as it all Recedes: FUN and SAD! i liked the gremlin’s design and i really liked the conclusion of this one as well as the way the story was being told.
Haunting for Beginners: Possibly my favourite of the collection, i loved how this was set up in a “step by step” format and i loved how the story unfolded.
For Kids: insanely creepy (arguably the scariest/creepiest of the collection) while also being SUPER fun. the artist clearly had a good time designing the scary versions of the classic kids books that we all know and love, and the story kept up to par with the art!
March 15, 2021
Ugh. Ugh. I love this comic so damn much.
I bet when W. Maxwell Prince is going through an edit, he thinks, “Nah, this isn’t dark ENOUGH.” Because, phew. Issue 20...The Giving Tree parody hit me particularly hard 😅
“Listen close and you can hear another one being chopped down, screaming, ‘But I loved you! I loved you!’”
I bet when W. Maxwell Prince is going through an edit, he thinks, “Nah, this isn’t dark ENOUGH.” Because, phew. Issue 20...The Giving Tree parody hit me particularly hard 😅
“Listen close and you can hear another one being chopped down, screaming, ‘But I loved you! I loved you!’”
August 23, 2023
Never pointless in its melancholic, horrible and sad views of life lived, the stories in this one were particulary poignant, I thought, and maybe a little better than even I remember this series being. Late summer is a good time to visit the Ice Cream Man, and this volume gets progressively better and more outrageously genre-borrowing as it thumps along with you tied to the bumper.
October 22, 2024
A sufficiently creepy volume. It's been a while since I read the last one. It felt like the creators were trying something new with each issue. They all feel very distinct.
December 30, 2021
Bizarre start leads to a bizarre ending. Having said that, if you are a fan of childhood classics such as Goodnight Moon, Green Eggs and Ham, The giving tree... you'll enjoy the weird twists in this volume.
September 3, 2021
"Watch As It All Recedes" (#18) and "Haunting For Beginners" (#19) are two of the saddest yet somehow also most hopeful chapters in the series yet.
September 28, 2021
Best volume yet -- the third story, in particular, will stick with me a long time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews