The Fall of the House of Usher #1 – Review

By: Richard Corben (story adaptation & art)

The Story: An all-time great adapts Edgar Allan Poe’s classic story for comics.

Review (with little SPOILERS): To share a little secret, this wasn’t even a comic I planned to review this week.  There was another comic that was supposed to fill this “slot” in my schedule, but it was so boring and lousy that I couldn’t even finish it (and it was an extra-long ~50 pages–ugh).  Thankfully, I still had The Fall of the House of Usher #1 lying in my stack of books.

Honestly, I had forgotten that this comic was even coming out.  When the guy at my LCS handed it to me, I kinda looked at it funny because I almost never buy comic adaptations of well-known books.  My thought is, “If I want to read about a work of literature, I’ll just read the book itself….”   I immediately noticed, “Oh–it has a nice Richard Corben cover.”  And then I noticed that Richard Corben had done the entire book – words and all – and it suddenly made sense why I’d put it on my pull list months ago.

Creepy #10 – Review

By: Doug Moench, Dan Braun, Peter Bagge, Matt Weinhold, Jim & Ruth Keegan, Bob Jenney & John Arcudi (writers), Kelley Jones, Bagge, Darick Robertson, Richard P. Clark, the Keegans, Jenney and Richard Corban (art), Nate Piekos, Bagge & Keegans (letters)

The Story: Creepy goes all Lovecraftian

Review: There is a segment of the comic readership that goes ga-ga over Lovecraft.  Personally, I’ve never really gotten it; I’ve read some Lovecraft recently and just thought it was “okay”–not “bad”, not “great”–just “okay and I never need to read more of that.”  The other thing I’ve observed about Lovecraft as an outsider is that his fans have the most hardcore fringe that I can think of online.  Seriously, these people put comic fans who fight about old versions of the Captain America uniform to shame.  They put Republicans and Democrats fighting about gay marriage to shame.  They put sports fans to shame.  So, I will candidly say that when I open Creepy #10 and see that it is an all-Lovecraft issue, my brain says, “SHIELDS UP!  ARM PHOTON TORPEDOES AND READY THE PHASER BANKS!”

Eerie #1 – Quick Review

By: David Lapham, Bill Dubay, Christopher A. Taylor, Bruce Jones (writers), Lapham, Dubay, Rafa Garres & Richard Corben (artists), Nate Piekos (letters)

The Story: Eerie is back (after a long time).  Does Dark Horse have enough original material to justify publishing this AND Creepy?

Quick Review: All right…what the heck is going on here?  This first issue of Eerie in decades isn’t “bad”, but one does wonder at the publication strategy that Dark Horse is employing with Eerie and its sister publication, Creepy.

The problem with Eerie #1 is reprint material.  There are four short stories in this issue and two of them are reprints from the old Warren Publishing Eerie magazine.  That is not an appealing strategy.  Dark Horse publishes outstanding quality archival reprints of both Creepy and Eerie.  Or…..if you’re a traditionalist, through the magic of eBay you can track down almost any issue of the old magazines for $15-20/each (although that ashcan Eerie #1 will set you back a pretty penny).  There would even be some merit in reprinting some of the old stories in floppy, single-issue comic format for folks who don’t want to plunk down the bigger bucks for the archival hardcover collections.

Dark Horse Presents #2 – Review

By: Paul Chadwick, Robert Love, David Walker, Michelle Davies, Diego Simone, Thomas Mauer, Neal Adams, Moose, Carla Speed McNeil, Jenn Manley Lee, Bill Mudron, Howard Chaykin, Jesus Aburto, Ken Bruzenak, Michael T. Gilbert, Patrick Alexander, Sanford Greene, Chuck Brown, Tyson Hesse, Steve Dutro, Richard Corben, Clem Robins, David Chelsea

The Story: Another round of Dark Horse’s reborn anthology series.

Review: Honestly, this issue was a real slog to get through.  Part of the problem is that there was no singular story that was just electric in this short format.  Some of them might mature into great stories, but anthologies are hard. You have to grab the reader right away!  If the issue starts with 3 stories that fail to capture the attention, the remaining part of the issue might be doomed.

Another problem with this issue was editorial.  By having most of the first half of the issue filled with stories that began in last month’s issue, we got a lot of second chapters.  All told, we got a second chapter of Concrete (Paul Chadwick), Blood (Neal Adams), Finder (Carla Speed McNeil), Marked Man (Howard Chaykin), Mr. Monster (Michael T. Gilbert), Murky World (Richard Corben) & Snow Angel (David Chelsea).  That is just waaaayyyy too many second chapters.  Second chapters don’t have as much novelty, but they also don’t finish stories, so they can be pretty boring.  And this issue was pretty drab.

The few new stories in this issue were the high points.  Robert Love and David Walker give us “Number 13” which is about a post-apocalyptic wasteland, Patrick Alexander gives us The Wraith which is a silly kinda spoof of an evil Batman and Sanford Greene and Chuck Brown trot out Rotten Apple which had an interesting twist on a zombie overrun world.  I really enjoyed all three of these new stories because they were fresh.

Editorial could have helped this issue out a bit by putting the new stories at the front to build some more excitement for the rest of the issue.  It also might be good to stagger the ongoing stories so that we don’t get a whole pile of Chapter 2’s again.

Dark Horse Presents #1 – Review

By: Paul Chadwick, Howard Chaykin, Jesus Alburto, Ken Bruzenak, Neal Adams, Moose, Carla Speed McNeil, Jenn Manley Lee, Bill Mudron, Michael T. Gilbert, Frank Miller, Richard Corben, Clem Robins, Randy Stadley, Paul Gulacy, Michael Bartolo, Michael Heisler, David Chelsea, John Schork (assistant editor), Scott Allie, Rachel Edidin, Sierra Hahn & Diana Schultz (editors)

The Story: A great name in anthology comics comes back with pretty hot list of creators (see above) tossing a few pages each at the effort.

Anthologies: When I read an anthology, I am looking for something very specific: I just want one electric story that grabs me and makes me want to see more material from that creator NOW.  Other than that, I’m just looking for few nice stories, some nice art, etc.  And, I really don’t care that much if a few of the stories suck.  Just turn the page!  I think you score anthologies based on the high points, rather than the average of all the stories combined.

What’s Good: We have a winner!  In a comic that has a lot of pretty strong efforts from some creators who know a thing or two about creating comics, the best short-story is that of Michael T. Gilbert as he gives us a story of his character, Mr. Monster, fighting with a giant tree-alien calling himself Oooak (get it?).  This story has a very retro vibe both in terms of the language and the art, but it is just zany fun as Mr. Monster tries one thing after another to kill Oooak before he finally resorts to throwing a jar of “Acme Termites” at the bad guy.  This is the awesome sauce that made the whole comic worth buying.

There were a few other nice little stories in here too.  Paul Chadwick contributes a very nice story of his character Concrete.  I don’t even know the last time we got a new Concrete story, but this is some vintage stuff as we get to see the protagonist’s humanity filtered through this character that couldn’t look more different if he tried.  Neal Adams also tosses in a teaser for a new concept he has called Blood.  We get a singular image of the anti-hero Blood, but the rest of the story is recounted via a torture scene as some bad guys sweat the details out of one of Blood’s buddies.  It’s a very original way to lay out a story and Adams is on his A-game with the art too.

I’d absolutely like to see more of those three stories either in future editions of DHP or on their own.

What’s Not So Good: Considering the teaser on the cover for “Frank Miller’s Xerxes!”, it might be nice to have gotten more than 4 splash pages of art/story.  What we see is good, but it was a little disappointing when the name “Frank Miller” was one of the large attractions for the issue.  As if to compensate for the lack of story, we are treated to an interview with Mr. Miller.  I don’t know about you, but I have less than zero interest in reading an interview in my comic book.  For one thing, I pretty much don’t read interviews about upcoming projects; I’ll just look at the work when you get it done, thank you.  For another, in the year 2011, there are a bajillion places to find interviews online without having a few pages of a $7.99 comic devoted to them.

Hellboy in Mexico (Or, A Drunken Blur) – Review

by Mike Mignola (writer), Richard Corben (art), Dave Stewart (colors), and Clem Robins

The Story: Hellboy teams up with a trio of luchadores to fight vampires in 1950s Mexico.

What’s Good: Believe me when I say that Mignola definitely delivers on the insanity of that hook I typed out above.  With all the big powers and heavy talk of destiny that’s been going on in Hellboy lately, it’s sort of satisfying to get a Hellboy issue that kicks back and brings the sort of “out there” nuttiness that’s always been at least a small part of the comic’s appeal.

For the most part, this is a rollicking good time.  Seeing Hellboy party and fight alongside a group of luchadores (who stay in costume at all times) is a blast and when he has a full-on match with a vampire luchador, it’s all kinds of fun.  It’s about as much fun as writing “vampire luchador.”

I also found Mignola’s dialogue between Hellboy and his new friend, Esteban, the youngest of the three luchadors, to be particularly amusing.  Mignola effectively uses the old trick of having two characters converse with each of them exclusively speaking a different language, yet oddly being able to understand each other perfectly.  When Esteban says that Hellboy is his best friend in Spanish, only for Hellboy to respond in kind in English, it’s a guaranteed grin for all by the most stone-hearted of readers.

Despite all the comedy, the ending of the issue is beautifully tragic and a sharp, surprising bit of poignancy after an issue of vampire-wrestling and vampire-slaying.  The fact that such a wacky issue could have such a sad, but honest, ending and still feel completely organic is proof of Mignola’s skill as a writer.

Conan the Cimmerian #5 – Review

By Timothy Truman (writer) Tomas Giorello and Rochard Corben (art), Jose Villarrubia (colorist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I was actually quite hesitant to pick this one up. While I have enjoyed the series for the most part, my interest is definitely beginning to fade. Conan’s “trip back home” arc has gone on long enough in my opinion, but seeing as though it is going to run through issue seven, I figured I might as well just stick it with it a bit longer.

The Story: Conan and Caollan find themselves on the defensive, as Horsa’s group moves in for the woman. Luckily, a recent acquaintance shows up just in time to provide some support so Conan can continue on the path back home. As for Connacht, he finds himself on board a slaver’s ship in a situation ripe for a revolt.

What’s Good: While I have little doubt that this story arc will read much better as a collection, each installment is still entertaining and visually pleasing enough. Conan’s journey has a weight and urgency to it that allows for some nice character work among all the action. Connacht’s tale also proves worthwhile, as events and decisions made in his time continue to be subtly reflected in the present. Also good is the fact that the ending of the issue means that the next will bring a very welcome change to the somewhat stale proceedings.

What’s Not So Good: Some of the action in the book is marred by awkward or confusing direction. While the artwork is strong as a whole, I found myself a bit confused on the flow of events on more than one occasion. Also, it is worth mentioning that Timothy Truman’s storytelling structure is probably better suited for a collected format. I consider this “not so good” because, while the bigger picture improves every month, the chapters ultimately feel as though they are lacking the instant gratification that most people read monthly comics for. Conan The Cimmerian #5 is no exception.

Conclusion: The latest chapter in the Conan the Cimmerian series is entertaining, but I can’t say that it is necessarily worth the cash. If you have been enjoying watching the bigger picture come together, then by all means pick it up. But if you, like me, have been a bit frustrated by the arc’s pacing, you may want to skip it.

Grade: C

-Kyle Posluszny

A Second Opinion

I agree with Kyle that this story will probably read better as a collection. I get the sense that once the second half of the story starts, all the previous issues will feel like filler. Everything is entertaining, beautifully written and drawn, but it feels like these five issues could have been cut down to two or three. Nevertheless, I respect the meticulous setup of Cimmeria and the reintroduction of Conan. Mission accomplished. Now I’m ready for things to get started and to move away from all the walking and little battles.

After seeing these little glimpses of his life, anyone else really want a Connacht series?

Grade: B

-Ben Berger

Hellboy: The Crooked Man #3 – Review

By Mike Mignola (writer) Richard Corben (art) Dave Stewart (colors) Clem Robins (letters)

I can’t say enough about Mike Mignola’s work. Not only are his characters among the best in comics today, but the world they live in is so rich, and deep. Something that always impresses me about Mignola’s writing is his word-choice. The characters’ dialogue sound unique, and their words reflect their personality, showcasing the kind of writing that executes character development at its finest. Furthermore, Mignola’s storytelling is solid as usual, as he provides a lot of really engaging history that many can easily love.

With such unique writing to follow, the art is required to deliver just as well. Richard Corben proves once again, without a doubt that he’s up to the task. It’s a treat to see his work since he and Mignola compliment each other so well. Each panel shines, slick with detail,the Crooked Man in particular. He’s a man of a thousand faces, and Corben does a good job showing that by providing a different look for each phase of his temptation. When appealing to fairness, he looks sympathetic, hiding his nastier features. When making a point or threat, you see every awful detail. He’s always thinking, and changing his approach physically and verbally.

It’s rare in comics to have an arc maintain such high quality from start to finish. Initially, I was expecting more of a direct confrontation with Hellboy, Tom and The Crooked Man. I’m glad I didn’t get it, this isn’t that kind of story, and that is enough reason to pick this up.(Grade: A)

– Ben Berger

Conan the Cimmerian #3 – Review

By Timothy Truman (Writer), Tomas Giorello & Richard Corben (Art), and Jose’ Villarubia (Colors)

Now this is more like it! While I enjoyed the first two issues of this series, I was a bit let down by the way in which Conan was sort of pushed by the wayside in favor of the extremely compelling, horror-tinged tale of Conacht. While (somewhat surprisingly) Conacht returns this month to star in another tale, Conan is featured much more prominently and does, well, what I always figured Conan was supposed to do.

While traveling through icy, dangerous terrain on the way back to Cimmeria, Conan has a chance-encounter with a childhood friend, Caollan. The reunion doesn’t exactly go as Conan had hoped and the two quickly find themselves fighting off an angry band of Aesir that was hunting down Caollan for abandoning a wedding arrangement. Some action and a daring escape later, the two find themselves taking refuge in a cave where Conan tells a tale about Conacht while the Aesir prepare to escalate the hunt.

I really can’t say enough about the creative team working on this series, as they provide us a compelling issue that manages to find a nice balance between the main Conan story and the adventures of Connacht. Timothy Truman’s writing is spot on for this type of book and it delivers just what I had hoped for when I decided to start reading about Conan. The storytelling has a classic feel to it, the darkly humorous dialogue is entertaining, and the introduction of Conacht helps to keep things from getting stale. As for the art, both distinct styles (one for Conan and one for Conacht) do a fantastic job elevating the stories being told. Tomas Giorella really brings Conan’s gritty environment to life, while Richard Corben gives Conacht’s story a surreal, unnerving tone that makes me think that his tale may once again dabble in the horror genre. Both artists are complimented by some fantastic color work by Jose’ Villarubia.

What else can I say? I really enjoyed the latest issue of Conan the Cimmerian, and I think you will too. While I wish there was a bit more substance to the overall plot at this point, I can’t act as though I have not been thoroughly entertained. Another strong issue from what looks to be a strong series. (Grade: B+)

– Kyle Posluszny

A Second Opinion

This book is definitely worth checking out simply because it stands out from other comics. It’s one of the few good sword and sorcery books, and it somehow manages to carry a horror tone as well– thus making it a distinguishable book of its genre. From swords and barbarians to blood rituals, you might want to consider peeking through this book.

My only complaint is that it’s still tough to see where things are going. Conan’s returning home to Cimmeria, but why? Conan’s fought raiders, saved a childhood friend and presses on deeper into his homeland. But so far there’s no villain, no Thulsa Doom, or the like with an evil plot to foil. Conan the drifter is fine, and definitely works in the context of this story. But sooner or later I think I’ll want to see him pushing towards a goal rather than killing raider after raider. And for the record, Conan, Conacht, and Caollan– just because you’re a god-dang Cimmerian, it doesn’t mean your name has to start with the letter “C.” (Grade: B+)

-Ben Berger

Conan The Cimmerian #2 – Review

By Tim Truman (story), Tomas Giorelo & Richard Corben (art), and Jose Villarrubia (colors)

The story of Connacht and the two orphaned boys continues as the trio tirelessly journeys out of hostile territory and into more friendly kingdoms. Here, they encounter a threat that could not only hamper their travel, but end their lives as well. To tell any more would spoil the story’s climax (though I’ll admit it’s a bit predictable). What did surprise me, however, is that the story of Connacht concludes this issue. And it wraps up quite nicely, leaving Conan once again on his own.

There’s some excellent art in this issue by Tomas Giorelo who works on Conan’s story and Richard Corben on Connacht’s story. Because this is Connacht’s story, a bulk of the work is done by Corben who  draws heavily on mood to get the story across. Colorist Jose Villarrubia’s colors effortlessly evoke emotions out of the reader and out of Corben’s artwork. There’s a genuine feeling of dread during the night time sequences that jumps off the pages. Unfortunately, some of this eeriness is lost when the story is thrusted into a fight scene that’s clumsily orchestrated. Villarrubia does his best to save it, but there’s a couple of panels that come out a bit awkward.

Tm Truman is settling in nicely with this new run. Connacht’s story definitely took me off-guard when first introduced, but seeing it completed makes a lot of sense. I give Truman and Dark Horse credit because it’s quite unorthodox to have a new series do little with its main character for the first two issues. But Connacht’s story touches on two important pieces of criteria: it sets the tone for the entire series, and gives the reader insight into Conan’s ancestry. This is not the fun-filled, jovial adventures (and sometimes creepy) adventures that Kurt Busiek and Cary Nord brought us five years ago. Conan’s world is colder, more brutal, and mature. It’ll be great to see how these series of tales unravel. (Grade: B)

– J. Montes

Hellboy The Crooked Man #2 – Review

By Mike Mignola (writer), Richard Corben (art), Dave Stewart (colors), Clem Robins (letters)

It’s almost a shock to go from the Hellboy movies to the comics. It’s not that it’s bad or anything, just different. At the core, he’s the same character, but it’s the little frills that make it different. The Crooked Man has been great so far, and truth be told, I’m really bummed that it’s ending so soon.

Mike Mignola is brilliant, we all know this, but it’s nice to get a reminder now and then. I love The Crooked Man. The idea of a guy who’s “crooked” because he was hung hundreds of years ago and is now working for the devil is a pretty scary thought. I’d love to get more detail on him which will hopefully happen in the next issue. My only complaint about the issue is that it feels a little light on story details. The Crooked Man is the best part and he’s not seen till the end. Even so, I’d like to know more about the witches and the history for the area, which is a credit to the world Mignola’s setup. Instead of getting backstory it’s more of Tom’s trip to bury his Pa.

Richard Corben’s art is amazing. Every panel has just the right mix of horror, fantasy, and mythology. There’s a very clear difference in the pencils between those who are good (or alive) and those who are evil (and dead). This sounds like something easy to do, but Corben renders the evil in a more subtle way than most. At one point Cora refers to the witches as “a special kinda evil” and that’s how each villain is drawn, special. The Crooked Man is the best example of this. He’s that perfect mix of clown creepy, crazy homeless man, and a touch of warped Jim Henson.

Hellboy and his world are amongst the most rich of any comic universe. I’m always left wanting more in a good way. I know Mignola has a long term plan for the character, and I know it’s selfish for me to never want him to get there. If you’re a Hellboy fan, or ever wanted to be, this is a must have book. (Grade: A)

-Ben Berger

A Second Opinion

The second chapter of The Crooked Man continues telling the story of Tom Ferrell’s creepy, supernatural homecoming. It picks up with Hellboy, Tom (carrying his dead father), and Cora making their way to a church so Tom’s father can be put to rest within holy grounds, safe from witchcraft and other dark things. The journey is (as expected) far from smooth as Cora tells of a mining legend that turns out to be not only true, but quite deadly! They eventually make it to the church and the stage is set for Tom to confront The Crooked Man, whether he wants to or not!

Simply put, I’m loving this Hellboy story. The writing and artwork come together to tell a tale of rural horror that is simply top notch. Mignola’s storytelling is extremely tight and his dialogue oozes personality and Appalachian flavor. As for the artwork, Corben and Stewart create some grotesquely beautiful visuals that make a great story even better.

If you are a fan of Hellboy, horror, or just good storytelling (written or visual) make sure to check out Hellboy: The Crooked Man. (Grade: A)

-Kyle Posluszny

Conan The Cimmerian #1 – Review

By Tim Truman (writer), Tomàs Giorello, Richard Corben (artists), Jose Villarrubia (colors)

I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this relaunch of sorts, but so far, it’s pretty good. If you read the #0 issue that came out last month, you’ll find a minor connection between that story and this one. Conan’s still up in the northern territories and he’s got more “dwarven” like vermin to deal with. The first few pages seem to go through the motions of obligatory violence and set up before making a sharp left turn.

The surprise here is that there isn’t much of a Conan story in this issue at all! Instead, we’re taken aback a couple of generations with Conan’s grandfather, Connacht. The story centers around Connacht’s journey to the north and his rescuing of two young boys from being sacrificed (or just killed) by a deranged cult. The art for this flashback by Richard Corben is very cinematic in nature, and his strong use of blacks (matched with Jose Villarrubia’s colors), paints a haunting haunting tale. I found myself being completely absorbed into the story and the art played a huge role in making that happen. So much did I enjoy this tale, that I actually forgot that I was reading a book about Conan.

Now, if Dark Horse wants to end this series now and just make a book about Connacht, I’m all for it. It’s great to have something completely different, yet somewhat familiar. Nothing against Conan mainstay artist, Tomas Giorello, who has the Conan formula down to a science, but the “non-Conan” art and story was far superior. It’s a bit of a risk to stray from the main character in the first issue, but Tim Truman gets high marks for pulling it off. I’m sure this is all just a primer for Conan’s tale up north, but damn if it isn’t fun to read. And the best part is Connacht’s story isn’t over yet.

In the end, part of me was yearning for a strong Conan debut, and its a little disappointing that we don’t get one. But on the other hand, we an excellent story marking the debut of Conan’s grandfather. So, take it as you will. Me? I know the Conan stories will come. In the meantime, I’m going to sit back and get lost in Connacht’s adventure. (Grade: A-)

– J. Montes

A Second Opinion

Thanks to this new series, I finally feel comfortable jumping into a Conan ongoing. I have read issues of Conan stories here and there, but never felt I had a grasp on the larger picture of things. The last Dark Horse run was pretty far along when I became interested in it, so I figured I would just wait until I found a clear jump-on point. The Conan the Cimmerian series is that point. Issue #0 did a nice job setting the story up and I looked forward to what the debut issue would have to offer.

While it wasn’t really what I was expecting, I have very few complaints about this first issue. Having Conan merely there to set the stage for another character could have easily rubbed me the wrong way considering that this is the first time I’ve jumped into a Conan series, but Connacht’s story is so compelling that I hardly cared about the change. Jason pretty much nailed it all with his review, so let me just say that this would be a great place for anyone interested in Conan to jump on.

While you won’t get much Conan, trust me when I say that Connacht is still very much worth reading about.  (Grade A-)

– Kyle Posluszny

Hellboy: The Crooked Man #1

By Mike Mignola (Writer), Richard Corben (Artist) and Dave Stewart (Colorist)

In the ilk of the rural American supernatural stories like American Gods or Pigeons from Hell, HellBoy: The Crooked Man tells the story of a man’s homecoming after 20 years abroad and how the pacts he sought to escape still wait for his blood. In the green and misty mountains of Virginia, Hellboy responds to a dying woman who’s been witched. Enter: Tom Ferrell. Suddenly, the story shifts and Hellboy finds himself on a journey with a man who seeks to recall the devil and reclaim his loved ones.

Richard Corben’s art is creepy and beautiful. The rough and rather unpleasant design of his characters makes Hellboy appear normal looking in comparison. Moreover, the story of the “crooked man” and his appearance in the book is frightful and lingeringly so.  Yet, Corben’s style makes these unsettling images very attractive and full of depth. Ferrell’s stoic reaction to everything from seeing his childhood friend shed her skin to a presumably deceased woman riding a dead horse leaves the reader with the understanding that he’s not only accustomed to the supernatural, but is naturally cool and collected.

The Crooked Man # 1 is the scariest Hellboy story I read so far. If you’re not afraid of the dark or the crack of a twig in the forest, you’ll enjoy this book. I would caution, however, that unlike Hellboy related titles this may be a little more risqué and harrowing. There is nudity and some really disturbing scenes of human mutilation. You’ve been warned! (Grade: A)

-Steven M. Bari

Haunt of Horror: Lovecraft #1 (of 3) – Review

Richard Corben (writer, artist)

This is the beginning of the second Haunt of Horror mini-series (the first featured the tales of Edgar Alan Poe) by Richard Corben for Marvel’s Max line. It’s an attractive package with a heavy cardstock cover and featuring some gorgeous black and white art (with gray wash-tones). The collection contains three stories: Dagon, based on a Lovecraft short story, The Scar (after Lovecraft’s Recognition) and A Memory, both based on poems. As a nice touch is the text of the original source material which is included after each story; they serve as a story divider.

The typical features of Lovecraft’s milieu are well represented here: The unmentionable, ancient creeping horrors in remote corners of the globe that drive the mind from rational thought to madness. As a true Lovecraft aficionado, I tend to look at this work with a more critical eye. The more general comics reader can enjoy this work as either an intro to Lovecraft or as an appreciation of the work of Richard Corben – one of the true legends still working in the field.

In The Scar, Corben makes great use of the black and white printing and proves himself a master of light and shadow. A torch plays a significant role in the story and the stark contrast of torchlight highlighting facial features against black backgrounds is beautifully rendered throughout the story – a joy to behold if you like that sort of thing. At the risk of sounding silly, I’ll admit that A Memory is almost entirely worth it just for the rendering of the gloves on the second page of the story. Go ahead, take a look, and tell me they don’t look plush; you’re in the hand of a master craftsman here.

While The Memory involves more blood and guts than the other two stories it’s a more understated use of gore. It’s there but it doesn’t overpower. The focus is on the emotional content as revealed through the facial features of the characters involved. All in all a very effective story with a bit of a twist ending not unlike an old Marvel monster story.

I enjoyed this issue a good deal. Lately I’ve been into the old black and white magazines, like Creepy and Eerie that weren’t quite my cup of tea when I was younger. This comic very much has the feel of those books, and I do believe Corben did work for those titles back in the 70’s. While I regret missing the Haunt of Horror series dedicated to Poe I will be looking to pick it up in trade. And I am definitely looking forward to the next issue of this three part miniseries. (Grade: A)

– Arthur Cooke