The Upturned Stone

by Scott Hampton

Genres: Horror, Comics, Graphic Novels, Halloween

48 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1993

About the author

A freelance comic book artist known for his diversity, Hampton has illustrated such iconic properties as Batman, Sandman, Black Widow, Hellraiser, and Star Trek in addition to work on his creator-owned projects such as The Upturned Stone.

He began his career following in the footsteps of brother and fellow comic book creator Bo Hampton. Both Scott and Bo studied under Will Eisner in 1976. Scott's first professional comics work was the three-page story "Victims" published in Warren Publishing's Vampirella #101 in 1981. Scott's work on Silverheels from Pacific Comics in 1983 is regarded as the first continuing painted comic. His latest works include "Spookhouse," released in 2004 by IDW Publishing, in which he adapted his favorite ghost stories into sequential form, and Batman: Gotham County line from DC comics in 2005. Scott is currently working full time on the creator-owned series "Simon Dark" with writer Steve Niles for DC Comics.

"The Upturned Stone" was optioned in Summer of 2005 for film production by David Foster, but the studio lost the option and the story was recently optioned by another producer. Scott is also pursuing a passion outside of comics: film making. He completed his first short independent film "The Tontine" in April, 2006. It's his loose adaptation of a 21 page comic piece that he worked on and appeared by the same name in the Hellraiser comic series. The 29 minute film was shot at the same cabin used in Eli Roth's "Cabin Fever (film)". There are versions of it available to view on Myspace (partial), Google Video (full), and Youtube (split into 3 parts).

Scott lives with his wife Letitia in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Reviews

[StrictlySequential · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in Heavy Metal September 1993

Story: ****
It's perfectly creepy but there are holes in it. I would have made the kids mid-teenagers instead of ten years old. "Nearing the edge of adulthood"? At ten? C'mon. And how did one drive a car at that size? There were other cloudy plot hiccups but it was still great. It's totally recommended for Halloween style reading.

Art: *****
It's the work of a Hampton. AMAZING. Scott is slightly better and the master of painting creepy stories- even better than John Bolton which is really saying something. It's flawless.

[Jacobi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the perfect comic to read during Halloween season. The Upturned Stone follows 4 young boys who each are being haunted by similar dreams. I won't say more than that because the less you know the better, but if you like Stephen King style horror (the kind that features horror alongside small town USA and adolescence) this comic is for you.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A creepy little gem of graphic art in the same vein of Stephen King of a group of kids on the cusp of adulthood confronting ultimate evil.

Evocative artwork that sets the perfect tone of the autumnal season and lurking fear.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

You shouldn't be afraid of ghosts. You should be afraid of the living.

[Sonic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exquisite artwork and a seriously creepy story that is perfect for Halloween,... though I read it a little late,... left an mild impression though perhaps I need to wait longer to see how the story sits with me,... I felt the pacing was a little sketchy, and I never really cared for the characters, but it was mostly good.

[Apothekari Peel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful ghost story that would make a truly spooky film if handled correctly.
I've met Scott Hampton a couple of times and found him to be a prince of a man, truly generous, and kind.

[Chuck Pee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really scary book about some kids that accidentally eat the spirit of a slain kid by eating a giant pumpkin near his shallow grave, a cool tale of revenge from beyond!!!!

[Concertina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Los dibujos, una chulada.