So, those kiddies over at Legion are back at it again. They’re out with another book filled with five classic, Twisted Tales of Terror (which is conveniently the title of this comic book). These aren’t about Lillith or stories which show how you will be punished, these are straight forward, old school visions of random horrory goodness filled with monsters and things that go bump, or more often than not, gurgle, in the night.
Each piece was written or drawn by a different creature…er, I mean artist. One piece, Terror in Sugarland, by artist and writer Grant Gutzner, is even being offered up post humously…and if anyone can have artists creating from the beyond, it’s Legion Studios. Every story has its own distinctive artist feel to it, and each new title page offers up the doorway to new imagery.
Unlike a majority of past comics from this company, this book is not a double-sided front cover, nor does it have as many letters from the folks bringing you the good stuff. There is only one which offers up a bit of insight (and homage) to the artist who is no longer available for comment. It is short but sweet, indeed…and then it’s right back to the stories that compelled you picked the book up for in the first place.
What I liked most about this collection of stories, (other than the fact that they easily integrate works of Poe with t&a), is how so many of them seem, to me, to be a nod to other classic tales and monsters, from the Creature of the Black Lagoon, to Rosemary’s Baby, with a mix of everything in between. The cover alone gives hints to a few of the stores enclosed using their title page art work as poster art.
This book left me smiling because it was fun, bummed than an artist I enjoyed is no longer around, and curious if the names in the first story were intentional, and if so, do the people in the story resemble their namesakes.
Oh, and on the back cover they are advertising a movie in the works about of those sinister group of ladies from some of their earlier comic books…live action, ass-kickin’, barely clothed ladies who look good in red lookin’ will be showing up in 2010.
