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When you were a kid you were afraid of the dark because of monsters lurking in the shadows, well Irish illustrator Brian Coldrick has cast these creatures as the stars of his ongoing webcomic and book "Behind You: One-Shot horror stories." Each of the cool drawings is a beautiful and haunting one-panel illustration that shows a monster hiding just in arms reach, along with darkly humorous one-sentence captions. The London-based artist states that although none of his short scary stories are direct adaptations of existing narratives, they do touch on "well-worn horror tropes."
Coldrick told Bored Panda that his inspiration for the series of creepy stories sprung from his love for horror films, books, and spooky internet stories. "Just before I started the series I'd been reading through some Creepy Pastas, the internet's version of spooky folktales, and also lots of horror stories of 'real life' supernatural encounters on sites like Reddit."
An illustrator since 2003, he began 'Behind You' in April 2015 and confessed it was partly borne as an attempt to tackle his laziness. "I had wanted to do a continuing webcomic for a while, but I was worried I'd lose interest after starting a story I thought if each installment was a snippet of different scary stories I could start each time afresh. It also had the great side effect of leaving much of the story to be decided by the reader. It's probably the main reason people enjoy these scary drawings."
With a style all his own, these murky pictures have a charm you can't ignore. The artist said he uses a hand pencil to create his characters but works with Photoshop to create the backgrounds, add texture, and make the animations. Although he has many artistic influences, (such as horror comics Junji Ito and Emily Carroll), he said GIF illustrators Rebecca Mock and Sachin Teng had a direct impact on his attempts to make his own illustrations move.
When it comes to Coldrick's creative process, the order can vary. "I almost always start with the image first but once or twice a phrase has popped into my head, and I've worked back from there. Rather than a coherent story, the first step is usually one element. In the early days of the series it might have been a desire to draw a particular kind of creepy monster, but later on, it's been the setting. A kitchen at night illuminated by a fridge light, or an escalator on the Underground. Sometimes it can be something darker like the loneliness, doubts or anxieties that emerge once no one else is around."
In addition to "Behind You," Coldrick draws editorial pieces, posters, book covers, and character designs. Check out some of his short horror stories from this quirky webcomic series below!
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#1
Zenozenobee 7 years ago
Let me guess, you're also the kind of people who curse the teenagers spliting in groups when there's a killer around in movies? We should start a club ;p
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Random Panda 7 years ago
I work in an open space office like this and it definitely feels like there's something strange about, if you happen to be the last person left in the evening.
Daria B 7 years ago
It always feels like you're hearing someone typing on the keyboard. So you have to double-check to make sure you won't be locking somebody in...
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Just Curious 7 years ago
The flailing arms in the first couple of frames of this (extremely long) animation make me think "BLOOGA BLOOGA BLOOGA!"
Johnny Frostbite 7 years ago
Wow, thank you for that - I just actually laughed out loud!
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Blacksheep 7 years ago
Oh wow, this one made me way too anguish right now. For real, my heart is beating so fast I'm starting to sweat. I think I'll just save this article and look at it in the morning instead of right now, in the dark at my desk with the whole room empty and the door behind me.
Daria B 7 years ago
I once stayed last in the office because I had so much work to do, as it accumulated while I was on holidays and my colleague was left along with a workload that's too much even for just two people that would have been us. I reached the point when I get so tired I become mad and kinda lively. I found myself singing the Beatles as I was closing thw windows and turning the lights and air conditioning off. "IT'S BEEN A HAAAAAAAARD DAAAAAY'S NIGHT! AND I'VE BEEN WORKIIIIIIIIING LIKE A DO-OH-OG!" ♬♬
Carmen Elena 7 years ago
That´s why I leave 5 o´clock. Some people told me they have heard annoying noises late at night... so...
Polleekin 7 years ago
For a while in the store I work at there was a display that played a recording of "Ricola" every time someone walked past. One night, long after the store closed me and my manager were the only ones left in the store. We were in a other part of the store and out of the silence we heard "Ricola". There was no one but us left but something set of the motion sensor. Scared us half to death. I still have no idea what set it off.
Lena Hudson 7 years ago
Why did my brain insist that by closing one eye, it would make this less terrifying??
Mad Haberdasheress 7 years ago
LOL, mine insists that if I don't look directly at the screen - like just slightly off to one side - it won't be as bad.
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ツ_Itz_Your_Girl_ツ 5 years ago
I didn't even realize that the pic moved until I saw the black thing poke it's head out from the cubical next to him...
Jaded Queen 7 years ago
At first I thought he was all alone on the planet. That really is the most terrifying thing in the world.
SkyTheImaginer 7 years ago
I work late late in my office so I'm usually the last one, it sucks.
Just Curious 7 years ago
The flailing arms in the first couple of frames make me think "BOOGA BOOGA BOOGA!"
Thinairgal 7 years ago
It isn't there if you don't see it...don't turn around, don't turn around...
RELATED:
#8
Ladies and Gentlemen 7 years ago
I am always afraid of hidden creatures under my bed, after spending thousands of bucks on psychologists an no avail, my friend who is a carpenter too, simply cut down the legs of my bed and now it sits on floor. I won a little battle with monsters, though when I travel it again becomes hard, I cant sleep on floor too as I keep looking beneath nearby beds. It has rotten my whole life. I started keeping small portable LED lights with me which brighten up the underneath of beds and that gives me some consolation when sleeping on floor.
#15
Sora Lyra 7 years ago
I was a librarian before at school. One time, when I was on duty to look after the library, I was alone and I'm pretty sure no one was with me, since I lock the door, so I able to arrange the book to the bookshelf before any students come in. Then suddenly, I heard like someone was reading book at the table next to the bookshelf I'm arranging. Then I take a look, buy no one was there. I then the book at my back suddenly fall. I was shocked and at the same time I heard the same sounds again. I gradually get out of the library.
#17
Just Curious 7 years ago
Ah yes, the tree-spider-wolf that has haunted the nightmares of so many...
#22
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#32
Alexandru Bucur 7 years ago
Ah, so this is what the Wild Hunt is up to these days. Where's Ciri when you need her?
#35
Just Curious 7 years ago
The only passenger left? There's a little kid and Pinocchio there too...
#37
#52
#57
Just Curious 7 years ago
Clearly bad directions! The giant dog she's looking for is completely the other way!
#63
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What do you think ?
Alexandra Lewis 7 years ago
This is one of the most beautiful and fascinating pages I've ever seen on here.
Master Markus 7 years ago
I didn't really find any of these "scary" but maybe I've gotten tough to scare. However, I did enjoy them - the art is really nice.
Foxyloxylou 6 years ago
cause youll be scared out of your wits and probably have ghouls appear behind you
Load More Replies... Ben Smith 7 years ago
It's the same "scary" thing 94 times...over and over. The art is nice, but there is no real scare factor or originality.
Ladies and Gentlemen 7 years ago
I just stopped at I guess 5th or 6th one, I already will be sleeping with lights on tonight! Why even I opened this thread :(
Claire Cover 7 years ago
I didn’t listen, now I’m scared. But these are so goo! Superb artwork and chilling stories.
Johanna Kidd 7 years ago
Wonderful artwork but if I wanna see horror stories I just look at the News, thats scary enough!
weatherwitch 7 years ago
These are absolutely superb! Especially the animation ones some of which are incredibly subtle. You really have to watch and wait so you engage extremely well with each one, fantastic stuff of nightmares and awesome creativity 😱😍👍
João Ferreira 7 years ago
Great, now I won't be able to sleep. Which is a good thing because I'm at work.
Crouching_Penn_Hidden_Teller@yahoo.com 7 years ago
this is very creepy and fun in an Edward Gorey sort of way
Tom Servo 7 years ago
You know, the second time I read through these (they're so good :D), I started imagining some of the creatures as benign or at least neutral. Instead of horrible monsters, they're like protective guardians, or tricksters who turn off the lights, or cursed people just looking for someone to help them. I'll admit, some are more difficult than others, but it puts a nice twist on things :)
Tor Rolf Strøm 7 years ago
So VERY cool! I love the short sentences too, the writing style reminds me of the game Braid for some reason. Excellent work!
Petra Christovová 7 years ago
Great artwork and atmosphere. Also I like the feeling that there is a whole story behind every picture.
Grumble O'Pug 7 years ago
I think Charles Addams would be proud someone got him. Nice job. I can barely look. Guess who's sleeping with the lights on tonight???
Random Panda 7 years ago
These remind me of an exceedingly creepy dream I had a couple of years ago. I guess it was brought on by left alone for a few days in the unfamiliar rented apartment I shared with my boyfriend (I've never lived alone), having an overactive imagination and being generally afraid of the dark. The place was in an old building, in a remote part of town and I was a little on edge as I went to bed. When the dream began, it felt very realistic - it was as if I had simply woken up and something was inside the apartment. I saw odd glimpses of shadows. I got up and went to the bathroom where I saw a weird "sigil" thing on the wall, drawn in blood. I knew I had to remove it - the shadows were using it to call a scarier being to us. I somehow removed it and then went back to bed. The moment I laid down I woke up for real and I realized it was just a dream. I slept uneventfully for the rest of the night though. Needless to say I was very happy when bf finally returned home.
Daria Zotova 7 years ago
The atmosphere in these reminds me of the gothic victorian ghost stories, absolutely splendid! O.O
Alexandra Lewis 7 years ago
This is one of the most beautiful and fascinating pages I've ever seen on here.
Master Markus 7 years ago
I didn't really find any of these "scary" but maybe I've gotten tough to scare. However, I did enjoy them - the art is really nice.
Foxyloxylou 6 years ago
cause youll be scared out of your wits and probably have ghouls appear behind you
Load More Replies... Ben Smith 7 years ago
It's the same "scary" thing 94 times...over and over. The art is nice, but there is no real scare factor or originality.
Ladies and Gentlemen 7 years ago
I just stopped at I guess 5th or 6th one, I already will be sleeping with lights on tonight! Why even I opened this thread :(
Claire Cover 7 years ago
I didn’t listen, now I’m scared. But these are so goo! Superb artwork and chilling stories.
Johanna Kidd 7 years ago
Wonderful artwork but if I wanna see horror stories I just look at the News, thats scary enough!
weatherwitch 7 years ago
These are absolutely superb! Especially the animation ones some of which are incredibly subtle. You really have to watch and wait so you engage extremely well with each one, fantastic stuff of nightmares and awesome creativity 😱😍👍
João Ferreira 7 years ago
Great, now I won't be able to sleep. Which is a good thing because I'm at work.
Crouching_Penn_Hidden_Teller@yahoo.com 7 years ago
this is very creepy and fun in an Edward Gorey sort of way
Tom Servo 7 years ago
You know, the second time I read through these (they're so good :D), I started imagining some of the creatures as benign or at least neutral. Instead of horrible monsters, they're like protective guardians, or tricksters who turn off the lights, or cursed people just looking for someone to help them. I'll admit, some are more difficult than others, but it puts a nice twist on things :)
Tor Rolf Strøm 7 years ago
So VERY cool! I love the short sentences too, the writing style reminds me of the game Braid for some reason. Excellent work!
Petra Christovová 7 years ago
Great artwork and atmosphere. Also I like the feeling that there is a whole story behind every picture.
Grumble O'Pug 7 years ago
I think Charles Addams would be proud someone got him. Nice job. I can barely look. Guess who's sleeping with the lights on tonight???
Random Panda 7 years ago
These remind me of an exceedingly creepy dream I had a couple of years ago. I guess it was brought on by left alone for a few days in the unfamiliar rented apartment I shared with my boyfriend (I've never lived alone), having an overactive imagination and being generally afraid of the dark. The place was in an old building, in a remote part of town and I was a little on edge as I went to bed. When the dream began, it felt very realistic - it was as if I had simply woken up and something was inside the apartment. I saw odd glimpses of shadows. I got up and went to the bathroom where I saw a weird "sigil" thing on the wall, drawn in blood. I knew I had to remove it - the shadows were using it to call a scarier being to us. I somehow removed it and then went back to bed. The moment I laid down I woke up for real and I realized it was just a dream. I slept uneventfully for the rest of the night though. Needless to say I was very happy when bf finally returned home.
Daria Zotova 7 years ago
The atmosphere in these reminds me of the gothic victorian ghost stories, absolutely splendid! O.O
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