Rodriguez,
Pedro. Chilling
Tales of Horror. Enslow
96p
$25.26 978-0-7660-4085-4 ms/hs Series: Dark
Graphic Novels (Enslow) VG-BN Graphic novel
Chilling Tales of Horror is a blend of graphic novel and a collection of classic 19th-century horror
stories. The anthology includes seven
stories from the early days of modern horror tales, with authors ranging from
the readily recognizable Poe and DeMaupassant, to obscure Catherine Crowe. Each story leads with a quotation from the
original manuscript, then segues into the graphic novel adaptation. The wordier style of 19th-century writers results in more narrative
than dialogue, which slows the plot’s action in graphic format.
Contemporary readers like horror stories. They also like graphic novels. The book is sure to be signed out often. However, the dated tales will not deliver the slasher gore content common to modern horror fiction, although murder, rage, and twisted characters abound. Each story delivers the expected thrill, but much of this can be credited to the illustrations. The pictures convey the moody atmosphere of eerie stories told in an ill-lit, cavernous room. The muted palate adds to the impact, as do the emotion-filled faces that distinguish each character concisely from the others.
Although tales of black cats, ghosts, and disembodied limbs are a cliche today, the interpretation of Poe’s “The Black Cat” will linger in the readers’ minds. “The Vampire” by Polidori was the first story to introduce vampires to the genre. “The Body Snatcher” by Stevenson is a cautionary tale about evil that is prompted by a desire to do good, a theme still relevant today. Middle-school and high-school readers, maybe even some adults, will find this a solid addition to the horror and graphic novel collections of any public or school library.
-- Hilary Welliver
Contemporary readers like horror stories. They also like graphic novels. The book is sure to be signed out often. However, the dated tales will not deliver the slasher gore content common to modern horror fiction, although murder, rage, and twisted characters abound. Each story delivers the expected thrill, but much of this can be credited to the illustrations. The pictures convey the moody atmosphere of eerie stories told in an ill-lit, cavernous room. The muted palate adds to the impact, as do the emotion-filled faces that distinguish each character concisely from the others.
Although tales of black cats, ghosts, and disembodied limbs are a cliche today, the interpretation of Poe’s “The Black Cat” will linger in the readers’ minds. “The Vampire” by Polidori was the first story to introduce vampires to the genre. “The Body Snatcher” by Stevenson is a cautionary tale about evil that is prompted by a desire to do good, a theme still relevant today. Middle-school and high-school readers, maybe even some adults, will find this a solid addition to the horror and graphic novel collections of any public or school library.
-- Hilary Welliver
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