Some may stumble upon DC Horror’s Soul Plumber, either during a wander through the most cryptic section of their favourite comic book store, or you may know of the series through the ten year strong podcast: The Last Podcast on the Left.

Comprised of Ben Kissel, a once upon a time Fox News contributor, Marcus Parks, podcast host of the better part of the Last Podcast Network, and the familiar face of Henry Zebrowski, from Wolf of Wall Street and Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell. 

The trio comprises a long running narrative series of improv bits and in depth perspectives of serial killers, ufology, and the paranormal speaking on “horrors both real and imagined”. The group prides themselves on reducing con artists, cult leaders, and serial killers to the lowest pits they came from through dark comedy and highly researched storytelling. 

After completing their first publication – The Last Book on the Left, hailed quickly on to New York Time’s Bestsellers List – the launch of Soul Plumber is the second installment in the newly created series from comic legends DC with DC Horror. 

The tale follows Edgar Wiggins, formerly disgraced from seminary school after leaving his alternative family in Portland, Oregon. After he attends a seminar in a hotel from a strange group known as the Soul Plumbers, he steals the blueprints to one of their exorcism devices with the full belief that he can begin to save souls. What comes through after its creation is an entity of inter-stellar origins, and yet, there is some abysmal form of loyalty to the creature as it enters our realm and meets Wiggins. Edgar juggles the challenges of finally meeting the edge of the universe through his religious devotion, and on his journey to salvation, he leads his regulars from his gas station job at the Qum and Go while being threatened by the Soul Plumbers. 

Collaborating with artist John McCrea, what feels like scribbled caricatures of chewed up desperates and losers paints the portrait of a world in absurd joy. The movement from panel to panel feels like an adult animated cartoon that shows us glimpses of the realm beyond our mortality. It gives the feel of being back in a nostalgic place and time – reading Mad TV comics while the cartoon version of Tales From The Crypt plays in the background, whilst you air-guitar between brutal punch lines. Voices of each character are distinct; they’re paralleled by writing rough next to meek, demon next to addict, cult leader next to streamer – and the detailing for the sketched out theme brings movement to still images to create an animated experience for the reader. 

Soul Plumber is 17+; characters come with no boundaries, but speak clearly to the modern media horror fan. DC Comics have made the intelligent decision to indulge comic readers for darker needs in this new division of their franchises, and we could not be more grateful that the Last Podcast on the Left is part of the launch of the new series. The mixture of shocking comedy, nostalgic-esque tones, and eager characters creates a rich realm, ideal for bleak characters with cult obsessions. 

The six part series is available at your local comic shop, as pushed by The Last Podcast Network to get out there and support the locals – or it’s available for DC Universe subscribers. Be prepared to request this in store or order online, as each issue often sells out very quickly. 

You can listen to Last Podcast on the Left on any of your usual streaming platforms, as well as on Twitch weekly for their Last Stream on the Left for social commentary videos.