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Past Indiscretions: The Very Best of Splatterpunk Zine
Jack Bantry’s anthology ‘Past Indiscretions: The Very Best Of Splatterpunk Zine’ collects together some of the very best short stories from the eight issues of his highly-revered ‘Splatterpunk Zine’, which are now all long out of print. If you missed any of these highly sought after back issues, then here’s your chance to read some of the best hard-hitting short stories the DIY Zine had to offer.
Contents:
- Five Bullets Through The Skull: An Introduction by Chris Hall
- Brats by Tim Curran
- Fuck Shock by Brendan Vidito
- I’m On My by Shane McKenzie
- Reprising Her Role by Bracken MacLeod
- Wide Load by Kit Power
- Love At First Sting by Dave Benton & W.D. Gagliani
- This Is My Flesh by Monica J. O’Rourke
- Ginsu Gary by Ryan C. Thomas
- NSFW by Nathan Robinson
- Threesome by Ryan Harding
- Fair Trade by Jeff Strand
- So Bad by Adam Cesare
- Ricochet by J.F. Gonzalez
Contents:
- Five Bullets Through The Skull: An Introduction by Chris Hall
- Brats by Tim Curran
- Fuck Shock by Brendan Vidito
- I’m On My by Shane McKenzie
- Reprising Her Role by Bracken MacLeod
- Wide Load by Kit Power
- Love At First Sting by Dave Benton & W.D. Gagliani
- This Is My Flesh by Monica J. O’Rourke
- Ginsu Gary by Ryan C. Thomas
- NSFW by Nathan Robinson
- Threesome by Ryan Harding
- Fair Trade by Jeff Strand
- So Bad by Adam Cesare
- Ricochet by J.F. Gonzalez
162 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2019
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146 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 9, 2024
Nick reached for a light, flipped it on and recoiled from the sight.
The easy chair was toppled over. Books had been flung out of the bookcase, and there was broken glass and dishes on the floor. Pools of blood saturated the carpet. Nick gasped, heart lodged in his throat. A spike of fear rose through him, pulsing strongly.
The easy chair was toppled over. Books had been flung out of the bookcase, and there was broken glass and dishes on the floor. Pools of blood saturated the carpet. Nick gasped, heart lodged in his throat. A spike of fear rose through him, pulsing strongly.
May 24, 2025
PAST INDISCRETIONS: The Very Best of Splatterpunk Zine [2019] by Jack Bantry
My Review 3.92 Stars Rounded to 4 Stars
This popular anthology featured 13 stories of classic splatterpunk taken from the pages of the cult horror zine, featuring some of the best writers working in the field of horror fiction. In the case of anthologies, I rate the individual stories that comprise the collection and average the total number to arrive at a fair rating for the anthology.
The first story contribution by Pat Curran titled "Brats" is an explicitly violent entry which has an apocalyptic vibe. Five friends are gathered at a crowded train station and are shocked by children, naked and covered in blood, viciously tearing adults to pieces. They are nonverbal, crazed, and reminded me of Ladies Night (except kids slaughtering adults). I Rated the story 4 Stars.
"Fuck Shock" By Brendan DiVito is a story which answers the question "Does the most satisfying sexual experience you have ever had in your life render you susceptible to devastating " Fuck Shock"? The afflicted will be incapable of enjoying the product of any sexual act, such as masturbation and also sexual intercourse. DiVito's answer to the reader is an unabashed affirmative." I Rated the story 3 Stars.
"I'm On My" By Shane McKenzie is a horror story about life's cruel irony of a family man who finally gets a promotion at work only later to confront the Devil laughing when he is hurrying home to his pregnant wife for a celebration. He is running late getting home because of picking up flowers and take-out food prompting his waiting wife to bombard his phone with texts. He is texting "I'm on my---" and runs into hell." I am using Hell as a euphemism, but it certainly fits. This story was haunting in its own way. Rated 4 Stars.
"Reprising Her Role" By Bracken MacLeod is a story about Ignacio who filmed sordid video tapes for sale, but with the caveat that he was tasked with making authentic scenes of torture porn look fake enough to convince people it was only "almost real". He and his crew had accidentally filmed a snuff film one day. The point seemed to be that making real look fake could also result in fake appearing real when she returns." Rated 3 Stars.
"Wide Load" By Kit Power is a disgusting yet imaginative tale about a lazy, crude, do nothing co-worker named Richard. His favorite pastime was ogling female co-worker Becky and did not believe she paid attention or gave a shit what he did. He died to find out that Becky really DID give a shit about his sexual harassment in the office place." This smelled bad but was downright clever to be fair. Rated 4 Stars.
“Love At First Sting" By W.D. Gagliana & David Benton is the ironic story of the final days of an especially disgusting hit man. He made a couple of critical errors during his disposal of a beautiful woman whose husband wanted her dead. Failure to use a condom during his abuse of her corpse (he did SO love his f--kin' around in her guts and gore) and secondly committing murder on prehistoric Indian Burial Grounds." Rated 3 Stars.
"I read Monica O'Rourke's anticipated short work "This is My Flesh". It was twisted and savage, a story of a woman being relentlessly stalked by her abuser. She had learned to suffer in order to beat him and to prevail in the painful ordeals. The story's ending was not what I felt that I was being groomed to anticipate." Rated 4 Stars.
"Ginsu Garry” by Ryan C. Thomas is about innovation coming into the world of an organized crime figure who needs a cleaner after offing an unsatisfactory employee. Ginsu Gary unpacks his shining curved blade and while he begins to clean begins a sales pitch. Ginsu Gary unpacks his sweeper next never lifting his foot off the gas paddle with praise and bargain offers. The employee is left holding his new cleaning tools." I liked this story a lot. It was amusing and dark at the same time. Rated 5 Stars.
"NSFNW” by Nathan Robinson is a story which explores a whole different kind of "sex crazy" and certainly not for the workplace! Rated 4 Stars.
“THREESOME” by Ryan Harding is a twist on the idiom what "comes" around goes around, or in this case goes "down"! I had read this little gem before and really liked it."
Rated 5 Stars.
""Fair Trade" by Jeff Strand was a short tale of marital infidelity and how a cheating lecherous dude (of COURSE it was a guy) can balance the scale of marital justice by simply a little "fair trade". This contribution by Strand was original, funny with one LOL, and a wacky unexpected plot twist to seal the deal." Rated 5 Stars.
"So Bad" by Adam Cesare is the story of a young movie addict who spends his time collecting and hoarding bargain VHS tapes at a time when transition to digital DVDs was sweeping the country, Blockbuster Video and its ilk a fading memory. Our subject of the story is at heart a treasure hunter, buys a curious tape with no labeling and absent sleeve. He is fixated because the tape is showing impossible properties. It reminds me of Outer Limits. Rated 3.0 Stars.
"Ricochet” by J.F. Gonzalez is the tale of two men who find a magic bullet for their respective nightmare existence. This "answer man" is a search engine from the beyond. Both men put their trust in this "search engine from Hell" only to find their prayers being answered was only temporary. In the end it destroys them both. The plot was in the vein of genies, Wes Craven’s “Wishmaster", “Monkey’s Paw”. Rated 4.0 Stars.
My Review 3.92 Stars Rounded to 4 Stars
This popular anthology featured 13 stories of classic splatterpunk taken from the pages of the cult horror zine, featuring some of the best writers working in the field of horror fiction. In the case of anthologies, I rate the individual stories that comprise the collection and average the total number to arrive at a fair rating for the anthology.
The first story contribution by Pat Curran titled "Brats" is an explicitly violent entry which has an apocalyptic vibe. Five friends are gathered at a crowded train station and are shocked by children, naked and covered in blood, viciously tearing adults to pieces. They are nonverbal, crazed, and reminded me of Ladies Night (except kids slaughtering adults). I Rated the story 4 Stars.
"Fuck Shock" By Brendan DiVito is a story which answers the question "Does the most satisfying sexual experience you have ever had in your life render you susceptible to devastating " Fuck Shock"? The afflicted will be incapable of enjoying the product of any sexual act, such as masturbation and also sexual intercourse. DiVito's answer to the reader is an unabashed affirmative." I Rated the story 3 Stars.
"I'm On My" By Shane McKenzie is a horror story about life's cruel irony of a family man who finally gets a promotion at work only later to confront the Devil laughing when he is hurrying home to his pregnant wife for a celebration. He is running late getting home because of picking up flowers and take-out food prompting his waiting wife to bombard his phone with texts. He is texting "I'm on my---" and runs into hell." I am using Hell as a euphemism, but it certainly fits. This story was haunting in its own way. Rated 4 Stars.
"Reprising Her Role" By Bracken MacLeod is a story about Ignacio who filmed sordid video tapes for sale, but with the caveat that he was tasked with making authentic scenes of torture porn look fake enough to convince people it was only "almost real". He and his crew had accidentally filmed a snuff film one day. The point seemed to be that making real look fake could also result in fake appearing real when she returns." Rated 3 Stars.
"Wide Load" By Kit Power is a disgusting yet imaginative tale about a lazy, crude, do nothing co-worker named Richard. His favorite pastime was ogling female co-worker Becky and did not believe she paid attention or gave a shit what he did. He died to find out that Becky really DID give a shit about his sexual harassment in the office place." This smelled bad but was downright clever to be fair. Rated 4 Stars.
“Love At First Sting" By W.D. Gagliana & David Benton is the ironic story of the final days of an especially disgusting hit man. He made a couple of critical errors during his disposal of a beautiful woman whose husband wanted her dead. Failure to use a condom during his abuse of her corpse (he did SO love his f--kin' around in her guts and gore) and secondly committing murder on prehistoric Indian Burial Grounds." Rated 3 Stars.
"I read Monica O'Rourke's anticipated short work "This is My Flesh". It was twisted and savage, a story of a woman being relentlessly stalked by her abuser. She had learned to suffer in order to beat him and to prevail in the painful ordeals. The story's ending was not what I felt that I was being groomed to anticipate." Rated 4 Stars.
"Ginsu Garry” by Ryan C. Thomas is about innovation coming into the world of an organized crime figure who needs a cleaner after offing an unsatisfactory employee. Ginsu Gary unpacks his shining curved blade and while he begins to clean begins a sales pitch. Ginsu Gary unpacks his sweeper next never lifting his foot off the gas paddle with praise and bargain offers. The employee is left holding his new cleaning tools." I liked this story a lot. It was amusing and dark at the same time. Rated 5 Stars.
"NSFNW” by Nathan Robinson is a story which explores a whole different kind of "sex crazy" and certainly not for the workplace! Rated 4 Stars.
“THREESOME” by Ryan Harding is a twist on the idiom what "comes" around goes around, or in this case goes "down"! I had read this little gem before and really liked it."
Rated 5 Stars.
""Fair Trade" by Jeff Strand was a short tale of marital infidelity and how a cheating lecherous dude (of COURSE it was a guy) can balance the scale of marital justice by simply a little "fair trade". This contribution by Strand was original, funny with one LOL, and a wacky unexpected plot twist to seal the deal." Rated 5 Stars.
"So Bad" by Adam Cesare is the story of a young movie addict who spends his time collecting and hoarding bargain VHS tapes at a time when transition to digital DVDs was sweeping the country, Blockbuster Video and its ilk a fading memory. Our subject of the story is at heart a treasure hunter, buys a curious tape with no labeling and absent sleeve. He is fixated because the tape is showing impossible properties. It reminds me of Outer Limits. Rated 3.0 Stars.
"Ricochet” by J.F. Gonzalez is the tale of two men who find a magic bullet for their respective nightmare existence. This "answer man" is a search engine from the beyond. Both men put their trust in this "search engine from Hell" only to find their prayers being answered was only temporary. In the end it destroys them both. The plot was in the vein of genies, Wes Craven’s “Wishmaster", “Monkey’s Paw”. Rated 4.0 Stars.
October 28, 2019
Past Indiscretions is an extreme horror fest of epic proportions. Jack Bantry has collected classic tales from some of horror’s best minds. These tales previously appeared in Splatterpunk Zine, so if you are an aficionado of the zine, some of these may be familiar. If you are not yet an aficionado of the zine, this will make you want to be.
“Brats” by Tim Curran is the tale of an unthinkable apocalyptic event told without mercy for either characters or readers.
“Fuck Shock” by Brenan Vidito is a dark and graphic psychological horror.
“I’m On My” by Master of Mindfuck Shane McKenzie is mind violating. I felt this one in the pit of my stomach. For a long time, too.
“Reprising Her Role” by Bracken MacLeod is a gruesome and terrifying little tale that is definitely not for the squeamish.
“Wide Load” by Kit Power is pure Splatterpunk to turn both the mind and the stomach.
“Love at First Sting” by WD Gagliani and David Benton is a masterfully written, hardcore splatterpunk tale of choices and consequences with excellent imagery and foreshadowing.
“This is my Flesh” by Splatterpunk Queen Monica O’Rourke is a horrifying story of torture and things beyond reasonable thought, told as only Monica can.
“Ginsu Gary” by Ryan C Thomas is a mind-blowing bit of horror that defies reason and explanation. Upon reaching this story’s end, I verbally exclaimed, “Oh God!” to an empty room.
“NSFW” by Nathan Robinson is splatterpunk erotica to tease and torment the mind.
“Threesome” by Splatterpunk Award Winner Ryan Harding is a graphic and disturbing story about choices written in Harding’s impactful expert style.
“Fair Trade” by Master Storyteller Jeff Strand is a horrifying little mind-blower about truth and consequences.
“So Bad” by Adam Cesare is an ominous story with a traditional slow and steady buildup and very disturbing conclusion.
“Ricochet” by Extreme Horror Legend J.F. Gonzalez is a speculative piece about domestic abuse and the dark web that takes real world issues to a new level of horror.
This is a must-have collection for all Extreme Horror and Splatterpunk fans.
“Brats” by Tim Curran is the tale of an unthinkable apocalyptic event told without mercy for either characters or readers.
“Fuck Shock” by Brenan Vidito is a dark and graphic psychological horror.
“I’m On My” by Master of Mindfuck Shane McKenzie is mind violating. I felt this one in the pit of my stomach. For a long time, too.
“Reprising Her Role” by Bracken MacLeod is a gruesome and terrifying little tale that is definitely not for the squeamish.
“Wide Load” by Kit Power is pure Splatterpunk to turn both the mind and the stomach.
“Love at First Sting” by WD Gagliani and David Benton is a masterfully written, hardcore splatterpunk tale of choices and consequences with excellent imagery and foreshadowing.
“This is my Flesh” by Splatterpunk Queen Monica O’Rourke is a horrifying story of torture and things beyond reasonable thought, told as only Monica can.
“Ginsu Gary” by Ryan C Thomas is a mind-blowing bit of horror that defies reason and explanation. Upon reaching this story’s end, I verbally exclaimed, “Oh God!” to an empty room.
“NSFW” by Nathan Robinson is splatterpunk erotica to tease and torment the mind.
“Threesome” by Splatterpunk Award Winner Ryan Harding is a graphic and disturbing story about choices written in Harding’s impactful expert style.
“Fair Trade” by Master Storyteller Jeff Strand is a horrifying little mind-blower about truth and consequences.
“So Bad” by Adam Cesare is an ominous story with a traditional slow and steady buildup and very disturbing conclusion.
“Ricochet” by Extreme Horror Legend J.F. Gonzalez is a speculative piece about domestic abuse and the dark web that takes real world issues to a new level of horror.
This is a must-have collection for all Extreme Horror and Splatterpunk fans.
July 15, 2024
For those unfamiliar with the splatterpunk genre, this anthology is a pretty good starting point. The genre is certainly not for everyone, what with its extremely graphic and over-the-top depictions of violence, gore, abuse and depravity. Personally, I think I am drawn to splatterpunk for many of the same reasons I was drawn to black metal back in the 90's - it's raw, primal and uncompromising, offering a visceral escape from mainstream culture. It's a fist (or rather a chainsaw) in the face of civilized society. And since I'm now a boring, responsible adult and a member of aforementioned society, it feels nice to rebel a little by reading these kind of books :P
Splatterpunk first emerged in the 1980s as a revolt against "boring" mainstream horror (much like black metal was a rebellion against mainstream death metal). In addition, there was a lot of cultural backlash at the time against figures such as Tipper Gore and the PMRC, as well as Mary Whitehouse and her crusade against "video nasties". This atmosphere of moral panic and censorship just helped fuel the countercultures that celebrated the very content being suppressed, fostering a community of horror enthusiasts who sought out more and more extreme and shocking material, be it books, movies or music. So we actually have a lot to thank the moral crusaders of the 80s for, haha.
This anthology contains an essay and 13 short stories, showcasing what splatterpunk is all about. As with all anthologies there are a few duds here, but most of the stories are really quite good. And by "good" I mean gory, disgusting, offensive, filthy, hilarious, triggering, tasteless and completely f*cked up. 4 stars!
Splatterpunk first emerged in the 1980s as a revolt against "boring" mainstream horror (much like black metal was a rebellion against mainstream death metal). In addition, there was a lot of cultural backlash at the time against figures such as Tipper Gore and the PMRC, as well as Mary Whitehouse and her crusade against "video nasties". This atmosphere of moral panic and censorship just helped fuel the countercultures that celebrated the very content being suppressed, fostering a community of horror enthusiasts who sought out more and more extreme and shocking material, be it books, movies or music. So we actually have a lot to thank the moral crusaders of the 80s for, haha.
This anthology contains an essay and 13 short stories, showcasing what splatterpunk is all about. As with all anthologies there are a few duds here, but most of the stories are really quite good. And by "good" I mean gory, disgusting, offensive, filthy, hilarious, triggering, tasteless and completely f*cked up. 4 stars!
March 23, 2021
This is a fantastic collection of some brutal, twisted, inventive stories. Not a weak one in the bunch (though the J.F. Gonzalez piece didn't really have much gore it was still a great story). A couple of new authors for me, who I will have to check out more of in the future (Brendan Vidito, Kit Power, Nathan Robinson) and heavy hitters like Ryan Harding, Shane McKenzie, Ryan C Thomas, Monica J O'Rourke make this a must-read for fans of splatterpunk/extreme horror. I hope that editor Jack Bantry plans on releasing another one of these as his Splatterpunk zines are out-of-print and hard to find and if these stories are any indication, there are more great stories to be released from the pages of the Splatterpunk Zine. Would love to read more about Ginsu Gary lol
December 16, 2019
The greatest splatter/extreme horror anthology on the entire fucking planet. Every story rules. Best Anthology of 2019. Easy. Try it, tell me I’m wrong, I dare you.
5/5 Skulls
☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️
5/5 Skulls
☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️
January 11, 2022
A brilliant anthology! Jack Bantry has done an outstanding job: the stories are nasty and twisted, the writing is top notch and the blood flows freely. From the start, with Curran's "Brats", you know what you're getting yourself into, with monstrous children. This story has great impact, and then it gets even better with stories about snuff, perverted sex, splatter noir, orgies, violence, revenge, threesomes, and even a vacuum seller (ok, that story, Ryan C Thomas' Ginsu Gary, is my favorite!). I can't recommend it highly enough!
November 30, 2024
2.5/5
A middling collection of short stories that were less actual stories than a collection of grotesque scenes without context, setup, or characterization.
A middling collection of short stories that were less actual stories than a collection of grotesque scenes without context, setup, or characterization.
January 18, 2020
Solid 3.5 stars
Good collection of splattering , extreme style short stories . Some better than others but an overall good read if you enjoy the genre. Would recommend .
Good collection of splattering , extreme style short stories . Some better than others but an overall good read if you enjoy the genre. Would recommend .
March 23, 2024
Damn fine splatter stories by some real heavyweights of the genre.
Currently reading
July 31, 2025"Ricochet" by J. F. Gonzalez - Nick attempts to flee his abusive wife with his son after following the instructions of a search engine recommended to him by a coworker. After the coworker is imprisoned for murder Nick visits him in prison and the coworker advises against using the search engine because whatever you use it for appears to boomerang against you. Nick doesn't want Karen dead he just wants to flee her so he decides to take Billy and follow the search engine instructions but Karen tracks him down and stabs Billy and Nick's new girlfriend to death before attacking him.
"I’m On My" by Shane McKenzie - Morris strikes a boy riding a bicycle on his way home to his pregnant wife. Believing the child to be dead he digs a hole in the woods to dispose of the body. After realizing the child is still alive he bludgeons him to death with the shovel.
"This Is My Flesh" by Monica J. O'Rourke - Daniel cuts some skin off Rachael's thigh and forces her to eat it, then brings in six-year old Sarah and cuts off the tip of her nose although this act allows Rachael to assume mental control of him and he impales himself with the knife.
"I’m On My" by Shane McKenzie - Morris strikes a boy riding a bicycle on his way home to his pregnant wife. Believing the child to be dead he digs a hole in the woods to dispose of the body. After realizing the child is still alive he bludgeons him to death with the shovel.
"This Is My Flesh" by Monica J. O'Rourke - Daniel cuts some skin off Rachael's thigh and forces her to eat it, then brings in six-year old Sarah and cuts off the tip of her nose although this act allows Rachael to assume mental control of him and he impales himself with the knife.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews