It's the middle of October and Halloween is sneaking up on us like the skulking, terrifying, bad boy of a holiday it is. You know what it means when Halloween is just around the corner? (Aside from the increased likelihood of egging and TP-ing, that is.) It means spooky comics, of course! There is no better way to spend a creepy October evening than curled up in a comfy chair with an eerie comic or two.
DC is here to help keep you frightened with their October debuting Tales of the Unexpected limited series. This book is an anthology title, headlined by The Spectre and backed up by Dr. 13. The Spectre tale, by David Lapham and Eric Battle, is the star of the show and gets the lion's share of the page count. The story stars dead Detective Crispus Allen, the current Spectre, observing and uncovering some seriously creepy goings-on in a run-down slumland building called the Granville Towers. The tenants are weird, the landlord is dead, and something is going on that even a ghostly detective can't figure out.
The Dr. 13 backup story is an interesting take on the "investigator of the unknown" formula. Terry Thirteen is a paranormal investigator, but he is also the ultimate sceptic. He doesn't believe in ghosts, monsters, aliens, or any other unexplained phenomenon. He seems compelled to explore these subjects because he is desperate to prove that they simply don't exist. The story is written by Brian Azzarello, with art by Cliff Chiang. In a very small number of pages, this story manages to incorporate cavemen, dinosaurs, yeti, cannibalism, freaky Freudian dreams, and a vampire. You can't ask for much more out of your entertainment dollar!
Both stories are well-told and well-drawn. The subject matter is perfect for the season, and the first issue is topped off with an excellent cover from Mike "Hellboy" Mignola. Pick up this comic, dig in to that bag of cheap candy you bought for the trick-or-treaters, and have yourself an early Halloween party.
No need to be scared, because Tales of the Unexpected #1 is Four Color Fantasies guaranteed Book of the Week!
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