Warning: Potential Spoilers Ahead
Well now, its been a few (2022) years since I last read anything from Chuck Suffel and it seems only appropriate that I would read something of his again with October now here and Halloween almost upon us. Renfield Pest Control is the story of young Lucas, a kid that’s stuck between some creepiness going on in his area and his mom. Who, in my view, is a little too controlling and unwilling to listen to anything her son says. Boy, talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place and I think I’d rather deal with the creepy going on then be around her. To further add to the Creep Factor, you got a Pest Control guy hanging around the house and somehow, someway, Lucas’ momma just can’t see how unnerving the guy is. Whether that’s denial, her thinking he was born that way, or Renfield himself doing something to make himself look normal in her view is all things that’s essentially unknown.
Something Chuck more than likely intended as a way to make us readers think a bit on things. And Renfield himself, is just about as legendary as his Master is in the world of Vampires. And while Renfield is handling Pest Control, Lucas is trying to figure things out but sadly, he’s just a kid with no one to turn too. Making things even more difficult than anyone would prefer for them to be. Bit like a dream where things just keep getting worse and worse til you finally wake up but there’s a chance you’re still in that dream and the Hell keeps going. Case in point, Dracula himself popping up and like with Renfield, is potentially doing something to pull the wool over Lucas’ mom’s eyes.
And for me, you really, really hope there’s a twist coming that’s going to essentially save the day. RPC is one of those examples where a happy ending (tho that perspective may depend on who you ask) isn’t a 100 percent guaranteed. Happy endings being something we all like to see given that that and Romance are two things we see a lot of in Media growing up. RPC, like Sherlock Holmes and the Wonderland Conundrum from 2022, is masterfully done done by Chuck to make you think about what is and what isn’t real.
Is all a dream? Or is it all very, very real? If real, will anyone catch on to what Renfield and Dracula are doing? If a dream, is it something Lucas’ll keep to himself? Not that I’d blame him with a mom like that! Only Chuck himself knows for certain on those things! I’ll also admit that I don’t have a lot of exposure to the character of Renfield himself so RPC was an interesting one for me that filled me a plenty with dread. Something Alex Cormack and Matt James both did incredibly well with in their respective duties.
So if you’re after something that’s Twilight Zone meets Are You Afraid Of The Dark… Renfield Pest Control (available in both print and digital) will be for you!
Renfield Pest Control (One-Shot)
What’Cha Reading Press
Written and Created by: Chuck Suffel
Pencils and Inks by: Alex Cormack
Colors by: Matt James
Letters and Logos by: Micah Myers
Reviewer: Rob Wrecks
Summary: Summertiiiiiiiime! And living is easy. But not for Lucas. The neighborhood is quiet, too quiet. All his friends seem to be gone for the summer, and it’s starting to feel a little creepy. Then one afternoon the doorbell rings. The man who arrives that afternoon brings the creepiness to a whole other level. Can Lucas solve the mystery of Mr Renfield and the dark secret he brings into their home?
Part Twilight Zone and part Are You Afraid of The Dark Renfield Pest Control is a 24 page full color one-shot suitable for ages 12 and up.
