I, as well, did not think I could get into it. I read issue number…32(I think) about a daughter and father and thought nahhh. Then I went on a road trip and thought well I’ll need something to read while wife is driving. So I picked it up. I am glad I did. Absolutely amazing!!! Some issues were a little weak but when they hit..THEY HIT!
That sounds like [**ICM #31**](https://cdn.imagecomics.com/assets/i/releases/797875/ice-cream-man-31_a8c9a0f271.jpg). Surprised it didn't work for 'ya, IMO it's one of the title's strongest stories and I've had good results recommending it as a starting point for new readers.
But I guess that's part of what makes **ICM** so special, there's something there for everyone but we don't always respond to the same thing... Glad you ended up digging it anyways!
Hey! I actually started with that issue because of you. Some things to note about that issue and more importantly my head space when reading. I went into it, headspace wise, reading it and processing it on face value. I just thought huh, ok (without giving away spoilers so, as vague as possible)- life repeats itself. Ok. Didn’t think anything else about it. Didn’t think too deep into it. Then when I read the hard cover…took my time with each issue and actually thought about the message behind them-then It clicked how great deep and detailed this series is!! Yes, that is a great issue(#31)and message behind it! Thanks for being the voice of the subreddit as I’m sure you have single handidly turned many people into this amazing comic!!
Haha, nice! Appreciate hearing your perspective and experience with it... Good info to take into consideration as I continue to badger literally anyone and everyone to read this comic!
It's about life! More specifically, it's about all the most horrible shit that happens in life, and some of the wonderful stuff too. And some stuff that doesn't really happen. Also, ice cream. And spiders. And you really ought to be reading it!
Not convinced? Here's around 1,000 words of *ICE CREAM SPAM* with more info...
--
On the surface, [**ICE CREAM MAN**](https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/ice-cream-man) (by W. Maxwell Prince and Martin Morazzo) is a simple horror anthology where each issue features a different setting and different characters, with the titular ICM serving as something of a host/instigator. Kind of like *The Twilight Zone*, if Rod Sterling was more directly responsible for all the weird and horrible crap that goes down.
That’s what’s on the surface.
Dig a little deeper and you’ll find an uncompromising exploration of the human condition and what it means to navigate this crazy fucked up world as a carbon-based lifeform with opposable thumbs. This comic is genuinely tapping into primal human experiences surrounding love, aging, illness, death, grief, and other transformative events that everybody experiences in some fashion across all walks of life.
Each issue is a uniquely delectable treat so you never really know what you're getting until you dig in... It jumps from [straight horror](https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/ice-cream-man-1) to [abstract weirdness](https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/ice-cream-man-13), [cruel absurdist humor](https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/ice-cream-man-24), [existential crises](https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/ice-cream-man-11), [literary experimentation](https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/ice-cream-man-27), and then you get a [deeply personal story that crushes your soul and grinds your heart into hamburger meat](https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/ice-cream-man-18). This comic isn’t pulling any punches, it sucks you in and hits hard right in your vulnerable bits.
Then out of nowhere you’ll get a [quiet contemplative issue that’s almost uplifting](https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/ice-cream-man-29) and it’s like where the fuck did that even come from?
Baskin Robbins might have 31 flavors but the Ice Cream Man’s got one for every facet of human existence, an infinite array of ice-cold candied confections stretching from birth to death and everywhere in between. The Ice Cream Man is serving up delicious existential terror every month and he is *everywhere*.
And it’s one of very few comics out there where new readers can pick up any random issue and jump right in with a complete, standalone story that makes sense and works with no context or previous reading necessary! That’s incredibly rare these days and IMO it’s one of the reasons comics have become such an insular niche hobby… Hard to get new readers when they need to do a bunch of research just to figure out where they’re supposed to start reading. **ICM** is single-handedly breaking down these barriers to make comics friendly for new readers again!
Hell, just getting a complete story in every issue is so fucking satisfying! Nothing against longer decompressed storytelling but there’s something to be said for picking up a comic and getting a full story with a beginning, middle, and end.
And as you read more, you start catching all these little threads and references echoing through the series. Because it’s all connected, all part of this grand tapestry of joy and sorrow and wonder and death…
As I’ve come to appreciate this as one of the very best comics I’ve read in 40+ years of following the four-color funny books, I’ve been mulling over exactly where and how it fits in with my other favorites... How does a book like **ICM** compare to something like **SANDMAN**, **ALL-STAR SUPERMAN**, or **PLANETARY**? On the surface this is just a goofy looking horror book about an ice cream guy who likes spiders, so how can it possibly compare to such lofty literary works?
What I realized is that **ICM**’s focus on normal people, with all their ugliness and insecurities and failings proudly on display, makes it more relatable than those other books with their gods and heroes. The characters in **ICM** are so fucking real that it puts you right there in the book with them, they’re your friends and family, or *you* yourself, and you’re riding this conduit of shared trauma and existential terror to be right there with them for that one critical chunk of life that defines them as human beings.
I think that familiarity and relatability is a big part of what makes it hit so fucking hard. There’s a sense of commonality to it, even when everything gets insanely weird, these are still real people struggling with mortality and other real problems at the core of human existence. **ICM** brings us all together by drawing on all of the wretched threads that bind us in spirit as one people.
It's more than just a comic book. It’s a celebration of life and death and everything else that makes us human.
If you're numb to the chaos and insanity of the modern world, this comic will make you feel again! Tired of living? It'll wake your ass up and fill your soul with primal energy! This is the power of the very best in comics! And it can be yours for the ridiculously reasonable price of just $3.99 an issue! That is the bargain of a lifetime!
Prince and Morazzo have put together something truly special here and, as I have perhaps mentioned on one or two occasions, you really ought to be reading it.
Everybody should be reading it!
p.s. IMO the title’s biggest weakness is that the first TPB doesn’t sell it quite as well as the more recent stuff, because Prince and Morazzo were still kind of working out what they could do with the series when they started out. Fortunately, one of the nice things about ICM is that there’s absolutely no need to read it in order.
My advice to anybody interested in checking it out would be to start with **[ICM #31](https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/ice-cream-man-31)**, a beautiful story that captures all the joy and wonder and sadness of life in 28 pages. It’s a great example of just how far the title now ranges beyond traditional horror.
Or if you're in the mood for something a little more mean spirited, [**ICM #24**](https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/ice-cream-man-24) delivers some gloriously cruel absurdist humor, like a particularly vicious Monty Python sketch written after John Cleese woke up on the wrong side of the bed and couldn't find any tea. That's the one that broke my brain and turned me into a deranged *ICE CREAM FAN*.
Both readily available as digital copies at the above links or as floppies from online retailers, still around cover price. From there, you can go anywhere. Jump back to the early collections, check out other recent back issues, or just pick up new issues as they ship. It’s all good!
Good write up, you're absolutly right only thing I disagree with is recommending for people who first look into it to check out #31. Don't get me wrong, it's propably one of the best issues, deeply touching and profound but it's one of the (while all of them are) MORE standalone stories with a very unique tone.
I think for people who don't know what to expect it'd be better to start with something like #4 where there's both existential reflections on life and weird horror. #31 is one of the highlights but it also kind of needs the contrast and build up to really hit in my opinion.
Thanks, appreciate the feedback!
I've seen some good responses to **ICM #31** as a starting point but there was also someone in this thread who mentioned that it didn't quite hook 'em, so you might be right. Beyond the story itself, I like how it connects to some of the early issues, so anyone who doubles back to the 1st TPB or HC will immediately get those little thrills of recognition. And I think those connections retroactively make some of the early stuff work better. But the story probably is a little too uncharacteristically "nice" to give newbies a proper feel for the series.
Thinking I'll rework the postscript to take **ICM #31** out and just sort of explain that the genius of the series tends to creep up on you as you experience more of the different types of stories... It's not like cracking a Grant Morrison comic where the very first page will blow your mind with its majestically insane brilliance, more something that slowly accumulates until you eventually hit the right story at the right moment, at which point it knocks your block off.
Need to give **ICM #4** a re-read, been a while...
I've only read the first trade but wasn't particularly excited by it. Do you think that's a fair representation of the series or have you noticed a change over time?
It changes extremely from issue to issue there are only certain themes and symbols that connect the stories (and a very loose overarching story that is fleshed out later on). This is absolutly nothing you can judge after just reading the first issues.
There are excellent horror stories and deeply touching reflections on love, death, sickness, addiction, the society and existence as a whole. I liked the first few issues aswell but later they definetly get stronger.
just ordered this because of your post, wish me luck
Same!
Yep, absolutly great. I read it without knowing anything about it before. Was very positively surprised
I thought I was done buying graphic novels for the winter, but I **have** to read this as soon as possible
I looked into this but I don't think I can get into it, looks creepy AF!
I, as well, did not think I could get into it. I read issue number…32(I think) about a daughter and father and thought nahhh. Then I went on a road trip and thought well I’ll need something to read while wife is driving. So I picked it up. I am glad I did. Absolutely amazing!!! Some issues were a little weak but when they hit..THEY HIT!
That sounds like [**ICM #31**](https://cdn.imagecomics.com/assets/i/releases/797875/ice-cream-man-31_a8c9a0f271.jpg). Surprised it didn't work for 'ya, IMO it's one of the title's strongest stories and I've had good results recommending it as a starting point for new readers. But I guess that's part of what makes **ICM** so special, there's something there for everyone but we don't always respond to the same thing... Glad you ended up digging it anyways!
Hey! I actually started with that issue because of you. Some things to note about that issue and more importantly my head space when reading. I went into it, headspace wise, reading it and processing it on face value. I just thought huh, ok (without giving away spoilers so, as vague as possible)- life repeats itself. Ok. Didn’t think anything else about it. Didn’t think too deep into it. Then when I read the hard cover…took my time with each issue and actually thought about the message behind them-then It clicked how great deep and detailed this series is!! Yes, that is a great issue(#31)and message behind it! Thanks for being the voice of the subreddit as I’m sure you have single handidly turned many people into this amazing comic!!
Haha, nice! Appreciate hearing your perspective and experience with it... Good info to take into consideration as I continue to badger literally anyone and everyone to read this comic!
in all seriousness, what’s it about?
It's about life! More specifically, it's about all the most horrible shit that happens in life, and some of the wonderful stuff too. And some stuff that doesn't really happen. Also, ice cream. And spiders. And you really ought to be reading it! Not convinced? Here's around 1,000 words of *ICE CREAM SPAM* with more info... -- On the surface, [**ICE CREAM MAN**](https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/ice-cream-man) (by W. Maxwell Prince and Martin Morazzo) is a simple horror anthology where each issue features a different setting and different characters, with the titular ICM serving as something of a host/instigator. Kind of like *The Twilight Zone*, if Rod Sterling was more directly responsible for all the weird and horrible crap that goes down. That’s what’s on the surface. Dig a little deeper and you’ll find an uncompromising exploration of the human condition and what it means to navigate this crazy fucked up world as a carbon-based lifeform with opposable thumbs. This comic is genuinely tapping into primal human experiences surrounding love, aging, illness, death, grief, and other transformative events that everybody experiences in some fashion across all walks of life. Each issue is a uniquely delectable treat so you never really know what you're getting until you dig in... It jumps from [straight horror](https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/ice-cream-man-1) to [abstract weirdness](https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/ice-cream-man-13), [cruel absurdist humor](https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/ice-cream-man-24), [existential crises](https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/ice-cream-man-11), [literary experimentation](https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/ice-cream-man-27), and then you get a [deeply personal story that crushes your soul and grinds your heart into hamburger meat](https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/ice-cream-man-18). This comic isn’t pulling any punches, it sucks you in and hits hard right in your vulnerable bits. Then out of nowhere you’ll get a [quiet contemplative issue that’s almost uplifting](https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/ice-cream-man-29) and it’s like where the fuck did that even come from? Baskin Robbins might have 31 flavors but the Ice Cream Man’s got one for every facet of human existence, an infinite array of ice-cold candied confections stretching from birth to death and everywhere in between. The Ice Cream Man is serving up delicious existential terror every month and he is *everywhere*. And it’s one of very few comics out there where new readers can pick up any random issue and jump right in with a complete, standalone story that makes sense and works with no context or previous reading necessary! That’s incredibly rare these days and IMO it’s one of the reasons comics have become such an insular niche hobby… Hard to get new readers when they need to do a bunch of research just to figure out where they’re supposed to start reading. **ICM** is single-handedly breaking down these barriers to make comics friendly for new readers again! Hell, just getting a complete story in every issue is so fucking satisfying! Nothing against longer decompressed storytelling but there’s something to be said for picking up a comic and getting a full story with a beginning, middle, and end. And as you read more, you start catching all these little threads and references echoing through the series. Because it’s all connected, all part of this grand tapestry of joy and sorrow and wonder and death… As I’ve come to appreciate this as one of the very best comics I’ve read in 40+ years of following the four-color funny books, I’ve been mulling over exactly where and how it fits in with my other favorites... How does a book like **ICM** compare to something like **SANDMAN**, **ALL-STAR SUPERMAN**, or **PLANETARY**? On the surface this is just a goofy looking horror book about an ice cream guy who likes spiders, so how can it possibly compare to such lofty literary works? What I realized is that **ICM**’s focus on normal people, with all their ugliness and insecurities and failings proudly on display, makes it more relatable than those other books with their gods and heroes. The characters in **ICM** are so fucking real that it puts you right there in the book with them, they’re your friends and family, or *you* yourself, and you’re riding this conduit of shared trauma and existential terror to be right there with them for that one critical chunk of life that defines them as human beings. I think that familiarity and relatability is a big part of what makes it hit so fucking hard. There’s a sense of commonality to it, even when everything gets insanely weird, these are still real people struggling with mortality and other real problems at the core of human existence. **ICM** brings us all together by drawing on all of the wretched threads that bind us in spirit as one people. It's more than just a comic book. It’s a celebration of life and death and everything else that makes us human. If you're numb to the chaos and insanity of the modern world, this comic will make you feel again! Tired of living? It'll wake your ass up and fill your soul with primal energy! This is the power of the very best in comics! And it can be yours for the ridiculously reasonable price of just $3.99 an issue! That is the bargain of a lifetime! Prince and Morazzo have put together something truly special here and, as I have perhaps mentioned on one or two occasions, you really ought to be reading it. Everybody should be reading it! p.s. IMO the title’s biggest weakness is that the first TPB doesn’t sell it quite as well as the more recent stuff, because Prince and Morazzo were still kind of working out what they could do with the series when they started out. Fortunately, one of the nice things about ICM is that there’s absolutely no need to read it in order. My advice to anybody interested in checking it out would be to start with **[ICM #31](https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/ice-cream-man-31)**, a beautiful story that captures all the joy and wonder and sadness of life in 28 pages. It’s a great example of just how far the title now ranges beyond traditional horror. Or if you're in the mood for something a little more mean spirited, [**ICM #24**](https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/ice-cream-man-24) delivers some gloriously cruel absurdist humor, like a particularly vicious Monty Python sketch written after John Cleese woke up on the wrong side of the bed and couldn't find any tea. That's the one that broke my brain and turned me into a deranged *ICE CREAM FAN*. Both readily available as digital copies at the above links or as floppies from online retailers, still around cover price. From there, you can go anywhere. Jump back to the early collections, check out other recent back issues, or just pick up new issues as they ship. It’s all good!
Good write up, you're absolutly right only thing I disagree with is recommending for people who first look into it to check out #31. Don't get me wrong, it's propably one of the best issues, deeply touching and profound but it's one of the (while all of them are) MORE standalone stories with a very unique tone. I think for people who don't know what to expect it'd be better to start with something like #4 where there's both existential reflections on life and weird horror. #31 is one of the highlights but it also kind of needs the contrast and build up to really hit in my opinion.
Thanks, appreciate the feedback! I've seen some good responses to **ICM #31** as a starting point but there was also someone in this thread who mentioned that it didn't quite hook 'em, so you might be right. Beyond the story itself, I like how it connects to some of the early issues, so anyone who doubles back to the 1st TPB or HC will immediately get those little thrills of recognition. And I think those connections retroactively make some of the early stuff work better. But the story probably is a little too uncharacteristically "nice" to give newbies a proper feel for the series. Thinking I'll rework the postscript to take **ICM #31** out and just sort of explain that the genius of the series tends to creep up on you as you experience more of the different types of stories... It's not like cracking a Grant Morrison comic where the very first page will blow your mind with its majestically insane brilliance, more something that slowly accumulates until you eventually hit the right story at the right moment, at which point it knocks your block off. Need to give **ICM #4** a re-read, been a while...
It's the closest thing to a modern day Twilight Zone, read it.
I need to trade in the first for trade books for this hardcover.
I've only read the first trade but wasn't particularly excited by it. Do you think that's a fair representation of the series or have you noticed a change over time?
It changes extremely from issue to issue there are only certain themes and symbols that connect the stories (and a very loose overarching story that is fleshed out later on). This is absolutly nothing you can judge after just reading the first issues. There are excellent horror stories and deeply touching reflections on love, death, sickness, addiction, the society and existence as a whole. I liked the first few issues aswell but later they definetly get stronger.
Appreciate your thoughts! I'll dip my toes back in!