Written by: Sam Santiago
We’re comic book nerds. No shame in that. If anything, we wear it like a badge. There’s something about flipping through ink-soaked pages, watching heroes and monsters tear into each other panel by panel, that hits different if you grew up on it.
That obsession led us down a late-night scroll through Whatnot, bouncing between auctions stacked with everything from dollar bin beaters to collector-grade grails. That’s where we landed on Rizo Comics, the indie outfit run by husband and wife duo Aaron Rizo and Elle Rizo, and yeah… this is where things got interesting.
Rizo isn’t just putting out comics. He’s deeply rooted in the scene through the Comic Book Fiend Club, a global network of collectors and creators that started small and has since grown into a multi-chapter community connecting fans across conventions, social media, and even charity work. That DIY energy bleeds directly into what they’re producing, and we have a feeling we will be submitting our membership form soon.
Their flagship title, "The Terrifying Crimson Bat", dropped its first issue in late 2023 and immediately carved out its own lane. Written by Rizo and brought to life by artist Tam Sugayan Jr., the book leans hard into a raw, punk rock aesthetic, black and white interiors, jagged energy, and a story that reads like it was scribbled in the margins of a Slayer lyric sheet. Rage Against The Machine is another nod in the book, and right from the get-go we knew we were reading a book we would be enjoying again and again.
The premise is simple in the best way. A Comic Book Fiend Club member gets brutally killed by something not of this world, only to claw his way back from the grave with a mission. Become the Crimson Bat. Fight back against creatures slipping through broken portals. Save whatever’s left of reality before it tears itself apart. Sounds simple, right?
What makes this thing stand out isn’t just the story; it’s the collaboration. Multiple artists have already left their fingerprints on the book through variant covers and visual contributions, including Tam Sugayan Jr. handling interiors and main covers, with variants from names like Tyler Kirkham and Rob Broussard, each bringing their own style into the chaos. It gives the book that old school collector feel, where every version has its own personality.
Now, the second issue has officially dropped, and if the first was any indication, this thing is only going to get nastier, louder, and way more unhinged from here. As you can see below, the pre-orders over at RIZO Comics have been sold out for a while, and we have a feeling this comic will be a must-have for serious horror collectors.
We’ve got a few pages from the new issue below, and if you’re into indie horror comics that feel like they were made in a garage with too much caffeine and not enough sleep, this is one you’re going to want on your radar.
We're excited to see where the folks at Rizo Comics go with this story and look forward to more from the team.
THE TERRIFYING CRIMSON BAT is 100% TrulyDisturbing approved and recommended!
