Curse of Dark Shadows - an original Dark Shadows Graphic Novel

Sixty years ago, a new soap opera premiered on daytime television, and while it only lasted five years for a total of 1,225 episodes, the show has had a legacy that has far surpassed that of pretty much any other soap that has ever aired.  Sure, General Hospital is still on the air; but let's face reality - despite being on the air for 63 years, that show did not spawn a series of books; it did not have board games and models; it did not see various comic book series published over the years; it did not generate enough fandom to warrant audio stories to continue the tales of its characters; it did not generate not one, not two, but three feature films based on the show; and it did not give rise to a fan base that 55 years after the show ended is not only still going strong, but getting stronger with every generation.  Dark Shadows has done that and so much more.  A Gothic soap opera that struggled its first year, it hit its stride when it introduced the reluctant vampire, Barnabas Collins - and from that moment on, history was made.  The show went off the air in April 1971, leaving viewers wondering just what happened to all of the characters on the show.  There have been various continuations, both in book and audio form, that have given fans a taste of what could have been and how the stories might have continued.  Sadly, neither the films nor the updated television shows continued the stories; rather, they simply retold or reimagined the tales already told in the original soap.  So, it is only fitting that with this 60th anniversary, fans should have a special treat - and it's my hope this is only the first of many to come out this year!

 

Curse of Dark Shadows is a graphic novel published by Hermes Press that brings the Collins family and their hometown into the present time.  It's been over 50 years since we last saw the Collins clan, and a lot has changed.  Roger Collins is dead, his ghost now haunting his son, David.  Elizabeth Collins Stoddard is also dead, having left her daughter, Carolyn, with a revelation and request - Victoria Winters, the former governess who was called back in time, truly was Elizabeth's daughter (and Carolyn's sister!), and Carolyn is given the task of finding her and bringing her back home.  Maggie Evans is a grandmother.  And Barnabas Collins ... our ill-fated vampire ... well, it seems he took off back to Europe with Dr. Julia Hoffman, where they finally married and lived out the remaining years of her life.  The only thing that remains the same is the dark shadows that always seem to linger over Collinwood, infecting its inhabitants with terrors that never seem to end.  But Carolyn is working on that.  She has spent half a century trying to find a way to bring Victoria Winters back from the past, and in so doing, putting an end to the curse that has held the family in its sway for centuries...

 

The graphic novel is written by Craig Hurd-McKenney, who has been writing comics since 2000, including a story in the first issue of the the recent revival of Gold Key comics' Boris Karloff Gold Key Mysteries.  This book appears to be his first foray into the world of Dark Shadows, and it is clear he has a love for the show, its characters, and its rich history.  While the story is set in the present, it definitely builds upon everything that has come before - Hurd-McKenney even makes a number of references to events in the television series, citing the actual episodes where they took place.  And the simple fact that he brings Victoria Winters back from the past - well, that puts him right on the top of my list of favorite writers!  Victoria, as portrayed by actress Alexandra Moltke, has always been my favorite character on the show, and it truly disappointed me that they wrote her out of the show the way they did.  Lara Parker (who portrayed Angelique in the show) wrote a Dark Shadows novel that brought Victoria back to the present; and while I enjoyed that story, I have to say, I love the way Hurd-McKenney did it so much better.  I can't say I'm overly thrilled with the characterization of Carolyn Stoddard-Hawkes in her old age; however, having spent the last half-century inside Collinwood, I can't begin to imagine what that would do to a person.  I did, however, like the fact that David was still being haunted by his father's presence - a man he never really got along with when he was alive, so it only makes sense that Roger would still haunt him after he died.  While Barnabas does come into the story, we see very little, if any, of the other supporting cast.  Hallie works in the Blue Whale with her son;  Maggie Evans is a grandmother, and she owns the Collinsport Inn.  But I would love to know what happened to Amy Jennings ... and Quentin Collins ... and Angelique ... and so many others ... perhaps Hurd-McKenney has some more stories rolling around in his head, and we'll get further graphic novels that continue the story (considering the number of sub-plots hinted at throughout the book, he darned-well better have more in the works!).

 

The interior art is provided by "Jok with Gervasio." This is a team of artists that I was completely unfamiliar with prior to buying this book.  It appears they have collaborated on a number of other graphic novels and illustrated books.  Jok is an Argentine artist who has had work published in a number of countries since 1993.  Gervasio is also an Argentine artist, who has worked with Jok in producing some of the "I Survived" graphic novels for Scholastic, as well as some other works.  Their art has a distinctive style to it, and while I can definitely see it as being conducive to darker stories, such as vampire, ghost, and supernatural tales, I must admit that I did not find myself enjoying it much for the Dark Shadows story.  None of the characters bore any resemblance whatsoever to their television counterparts, and perhaps that was their intention.  Thankfully, Hurd-McKenney's story was strong enough to carry me past the art, and it was ultimately still a thoroughly enjoyable read.

 

An added bonus to this book are the character profiles that appear after the story - seventeen pages detailing some of Dark Shadows' greatest characters over the years.  From Adam to Judah Zachary ... from Nicholas Blair to Count Petofi ... from Roxanne Drew to Janet Findley ... from Sarah Collins to Peter Bradford ... and so many more!  Each character is drawn by a different artist - including one by Luciano Vecchio, a wonderful artist that I have the pleasure of knowing through his work on Drumfish Productions' Sentinels books some years back.  And I love that the Victoria Winters depicted in these bios is a much stronger resemblance to the Alexandra Moltke that I so loved from the show.

 

There are a couple of things about the graphic novel that did leave me somewhat perplexed.  For unexplained reasons, page 3 of the story repeats itself (it appears on both pages 7 and 8 of the book).  Then, just a few pages later, page 10 of the story appears a second time, appearing first on page 15 (right after page 9 of the story), and that again on page 17 (right after page 11 of the story).  And if that were not confusing enough, after page 22 of the story, the page numbering reverts back to page 1, even though the story continues without any break (in fact, page 22 and page 1 thereafter contains a 2-page spread of Victoria Winters fighting the Leviathan on Widow's Hill in the past).  I can only assume there was some production issues when the book was put together, because I can't image the creators intended these mis-matched pages on purpose.  Finally, there's the curious misspelling of Quentin's name in the character bios - he is listed as Quentin "Collin," without the "s" at the end of his last name.  This was likely a simple editing snafu.

 

These gaffes, though, did not in any way spoil the story for me.  I still highly recommend the book for any Dark Shadows fan, as it not only brings the show and its characters and mythos into the 21st century, but it gives us fans a long-awaited continuation of the original series.  Big Finish Productions filled that void for a number of years with their audio dramas; now Hermes Press is picking up where Big Finish left off and giving us even more Gothic horror to fill our insatiable need for more Barnabas ... more Victoria ... more Carolyn and David ... more stories of those people who may at times be only shadows in our mind, but who continue to fill the days and nights of our every tomorrow!

 

RATING:  9 empty baby cribs out of 10 for taking the Dark Shadows' lore far beyond that of the original series and crafting a new tale of mystery, suspense, and horror in the tradition set by Dan Curtis some 60 years ago...

The World of General Hospital - Six Decades of Drama in Port Charles

Back in the late '70s and early '80s, I watched the daytime drama, General Hospital, with my mom each afternoon.  I remember the whole Cassadine island / Ice Princess story, the romance and wedding of Luke and Laura (and yes, I watched that episode when it aired!), the death and later resurrection of Laura Spencer, and so many other great stories of that era.  But I fell away from the show, and it was not until decades later, when ABC cancelled its other soaps (All My Children and One Life to Live), that I picked up on the show, as I loved the idea of Todd Manning, Starr Manning, and John McBain coming over from One Life to Live to continue their stories on General Hospital.  Thirteen years later, and I'm still watching the show, even though those three characters (and the actors who played them) have been long gone.  I've been very fortunate in recent years to meet in person a number of the actors who have been on the show, and so when I saw this book listed on Amazon, I picked it up, thinking it would offer up a great history about a television drama that has aired daily for more than 60 years!  Sadly, I could not have been more wrong...

The World of General Hospital offers very little when it comes to any specific history of the show.   Written by Jesse Shanks, whose biography on Amazon indicates he has "shown talents for writing, genealogy, programming, and research," this book reads like a fluff piece that provides general information about a show that has been on television for more than six decades.  While I was hoping for some decade by decade look at the various stories and characters, as well as, perhaps, some cast listings and character profiles, and maybe even some synopses of various major stories over the years, I instead got a book that repeats itself often about the importance of Steve Hardy and Jesse Brewer, the revitalization of the show with Luke and Laura, and the current emphasis on Sonny Corinthos.  We get some brief mentions of the different families that have appeared on the show (the Hardys, the Quartermaines, the Conrinthos, and the Spencers) and some quick references to some of the locations on the show; but there is very little in-depth look at either the characters or the locations.

 

This show has been on the air continuously for more than 60 years!  While I do realize a full, in-depth look at the show for that length of time could very well take up 600 pages or more, I do think Shanks could have spent some more time on some of the major highlights.  As he indicates in the book (more than one, I might add), the wedding of Luke and Laura was a major network event that garnered more viewers than the royal wedding around that same time!  One would think he would spend some time looking at the relationship of these characters, and how they evolved over the years - from Luke's vicious rape of Laura, to their unconventional love on the run story, to their magnificent wedding, to Luke's loss when Laura disappeared in the fog, to her shocking return (and with it the beginning of the life-long conflict with the Cassadine clan), to their children, their divorce and various other loves (Luke with Tracy and Laura with Kevin).  I mean, for years, "Luke and Laura" truly defined the show!  So, why was their story given only a few pages scattered throughout the book?

 

I have to wonder if the author even watched the show prior to the 2000s (or, possibly, the '90s).  Many of the more lengthy descriptions of stories (such as the text-message killer) are from the more modern era; however, there were plenty of great stories back in the day:  the murder of Diana Taylor; the Prometheus disc / Grant Putnam story (talk about a revelation when viewers found out he was really a Russian spy!); the murder of Phil Brewer; Heather Webber accidentally injecting herself with LSD; even the outrageously crazy Ice Princess story and the Cassadine weather-control device.  These, and so many more, deserved some attention and some details; instead, most do not even get mentioned, and when they do, it is only in one or two sentences before moving on to something else.

 

I do give Shanks credit for giving at least a brief look at the various changes the show has undergone over the years - from one-half hour to one hour in 1976 (I did not realize it had become an hour show only a couple of years before I started watching it!); from medical drama to adventure stories with the hiring of Gloria Monty in 1978; the inclusion of more social issues when head writer Claire Labine came on board in 1993; and even how the show has been filmed (from black and white to color, then to HD, and how those changes affected the way the sets were designed).  Shanks also takes a few pages to look at how the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Writer's Strike affected the show, and how these events affected the way the show was filmed and the stories written.  So, despite the overall "general" information provided for most things, the author does give readers a bit of technical history that can be appreciated.

 

But, other than that, there is absolutely no behind-the-scenes look at the show.  There is no discussion of the actors' interactions with one another and with writers and/or directors; no talk of how the actors dealt with certain stories or were affected by cast changes around them; no look at how long-term actors have grown with the show (such as Leslie Charleston, Genie Francis, Jane Elliott, Mauirce Bernard, Rebecca Herbst, Finola Hughes, or others who have been on the show for 20 years or more!);  no real list of famous actors who got their start on GH, such as John Stamos, Amber Tamblyn, Demi Moore, Mark Hamill, and others); and no mention of the various actors who made a real impact on the show and who have passed on in real life (such as Anna Lee, John Ingle, Peter Hansen, John Reilly, Tyler Christopher, Billy Miller, Susan Brown, Shell Kepler, and the list goes on).  

 

On top of all of this, there are glaring errors in the content of the book.  The book indicates Aurora Media was founded by Drew Cain and Jason Morgan (p. 116) - which is wholly incorrect, as the company was established by Drew Cain and Sam McCall after they acquired it from Derek Wells Media back in 2017.  Jason was never involved.  The book also references the revenge porn story, indicating it took place from 2017- 2018 and it involved Oscar Nero (p. 116). I have no idea where this came from as Oscar was never involved in any revenge porn story, which did not occur until 2022 (four years after his character on the show died!) and involved Joss and Cam, with Esme Prince setting up Trina to take the blame. In addition to that, the book states that Port Charles' newspaper, The Invader was run by Julian Jerome, "and later Martin Grey..." (p. 116).  While The Invadeer has been run by a number of people on the show (Shawn Butler, Valentin Cassadine, Nina Reeves, Adrian DeWitt, and Alexis Davis), Martin Grey was never the head of that paper.

 

With the huge reliance on AI for so much these days, I'm left wondering if this book was not a product of AI.  It is lacking in any real depth, and it glosses over so much that has taken place in the 60-plus years of General Hospital's history, plus it contains some very glaring mistakes, that I find it hard to believe that Shanks put a whole lot of time into researching and writing this book.  With so many rich storylines, so many great characters, and so many years of amazing history to draw upon, this book is a disappointment in its lack of specifics and detail.  Longtime fans of the show will be extremely let down by this book, particularly with the $15.99 hardcover / $8.99 softcover prices (I bought the hardcover).  I would not recommend this book at all, unless you are someone who simply must have ever book out there about General Hospital - in that case, it might be worth it to you.  As for me, this will go on a shelf and likely never looked at again.

 

RATING:  3  hospital corridors echoing with hurried footsteps out of 10 for at the very least mentioning one of my favorite characters, Nelle Benson (although not at all mentioning my other favorite, Sabrina Santiago, even though she was instrumental in bringing the Nurse's Ball back to GH!).

 

 

Love in the Afternoon - the wild novel of a soap opera superstar!

Sometimes you come across some of the best books when you are not really looking for them.  Such is the case with this book.  I was combing through the paperbacks at the Family Bookstore in DeLand, when, as I reached the end of the section, my eyes glanced over the title to this book and had to take a second look.  The slogan "Love in the Afternoon" was used by ABC to market its soap operas for a decade, from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s - advertisements with a catchy theme, giving clips of the various soap operas in ABC's line-up - Ryan's Hope, Edge of Night, All My Children, One Life to Life, and General Hospital.  (It should be noted that NBC had used that same slogan to market their soaps in 1974, but gave up on it rather quickly, which is when ABC decided to take the banner for their channel.)  Because of this, the phrase "Love in the Afternoon" pretty much became synonymous with soap operas.  So, when I caught the title to this book, I figured it would have to be about soaps - and sure enough, it was!  Therefore, I shelled out the couple of bucks and bought it.

 

Love in the Afternoon gives two taglines on its cover: "Daytime TV will never be the same!" and "The wild, brilliantly hilarious novel of the on- and off-camera lives and loves of a soap-opera superstar."  Written by Ed Zimmermann, the book was originally published in hardcover in 1971, and the Pocket Books paperback came out two years later - and both came out before either NBC or ABC ever began their ad campaigns using that slogan!  Leads one to wonder if this book may have prompted the use of the phrase by NBC and ABC.  In any event, it turns out Ed Zimmermann, the author, was actually a soap opera actor himself, having played the role of Dr. Joseph Werner (the second actor to play the role) on the CBS soap, Guiding Light from 1967 to 1972.  He was only 39 years old when he died of a heart attack on July 6, 1972 (just a year after this book was first published).  He was also a stage actor, and he was in Ogunquit, Maine auditioning for a part in "Who Killed Santa Claus?" when he died.  He only authored this one book.  A huge Guiding Light fan, on her blog, indicates this book is based upon the behind the scenes experiences of Zimmermann while working on the soap.

 

The book tells the story of actor Steven Prince (which, to me, feels like a cross between Steve Trevor and Diana Prince from the Wonder Woman comics!), who takes a role on a television daytime drama, playing Dr. Harlan Cross on a soap opera that centers around Pinewood Hospital.  After acting on Broadway, making the transition from stage to the small screen is quite an experience for Prince.  For an actor used to months of rehearsals to a show where you get only hours of rehearsals before filming live - one can't even begin to imagine; however, Zimmermann does his best to provide the reader with just how much stress that can cause an actor new to daytime TV.  From being handed the first script, to meeting his co-workers, to learning where everything is in the production building - it is basically like being thrown into the water and being told, "Go ahead, now, and swim!" He even provides a schedule that Prince is given his first day on the set (from page 24):

8:00 - 10:00 - Dry for Blocking (First Rehearsal)

8:00 - 10:00 - Makeuip and Costume

10:00 - 10:30 - No Fax (Blocking on Set with No Cameras)

10:30 - 11:00 - Camera Conference

11:00 -12:00 - Fax 1 (Blocking with Cameras and Boom)

12:00 - 1:00 - Break

1:00 - 1:30 - Fax 2 (Run Through)

1:30 - 2:00 - Break and Film Check

2:00 - 2:30 - Dress

2:30 - 3:00 - Break

3:00 - AIR

I look at that schedule and realize just how tight it really is and how little time the actors have to get it right.  I've heard actors from Dark Shadows talk about how fast-paced daytime television is, and their experiences pretty much line up with what Zimmermann shares here.  It's evident he took his own experiences on the set of Guiding Light and integrated them into this story.  With frazzled nerves, Prince manages to make it through his first day, and as the days turn into weeks, he begins to enjoy playing the villain everyone loves to hate.  And his interaction with the cast is bound to have come from his real-life interactions - some actors who are laid back; others who demand attention; still others who rarely know their lines to those who make everyone else's life a disaster.   There is even the behind the scene attempts to seduce co-stars - thankfully, though, Zimmermann keeps his main character faithful to his real-life wife, for which I was happy to see.

 

One of the interesting tidbits I enjoyed in the book was how fans of Prince's on-screen character, Harlan Cross, could not see to separate the actor from his role.  Even his own mother was questioning his motives on the show, and Prince eventually gives up trying to convince her that he is not the character.  I have heard actors talk about these types of scenarios before (at General Hospital fan fests, several actors have talked about being berated by fans for the actions of their characters, as if they were the actual character), so reading about it in this book was not really much of a surprise. It makes me wonder if Zimmermann faced this same problem with his role on Guiding Light.  

 

Then there is the change in writers, which brings about major changes in the show - and for Prince, this results in his bad-boy doctor being redeemed and turned into a caring man searching for a real relationship, rather than breaking up all those around him.  Prince is not happy about the shift, but since it is his job, he must work with it.  Oh, and I loved the way the production had to accommodate Prince when he accidentally fractures his ankle - so they have to create work-arounds for all of his scenes.  The operating table is lowered so he can film the scene sitting down (but the cameras are angled to make it appear everyone is standing), and a body double is used when "Harlan" has to break down a door and rush into a room.  I can't tell you how many times I've seen actors in soaps with casts or crutches because they have injured themselves in real life, so the writers have to write that injury into the show somehow.  So, again, reading about this scenario feels like par for the course for a soap opera.

 

From what I have been able to gather online, the book apparently has a number of parallels with the Guiding Light, when it comes to characters and situations.  Having never watched that show, I cannot confirm such likenesses; however, I can say that much of what takes place behind the scenes in this story lines up with many stories I have heard from soap opera actors over the years.  I think it great that Zimmermann took his experiences and turned it into a comical story for fans to read.

 

One final observation is the opening paragraph to Chapter Eight.  Zimmermann discusses how soap opera writers have fun with time - "moulding it and stretching it and playing with it as if it were so much silly putty" (p. 156).  An entire season can pass by in just a few days, or weeks can be stretched out into months.  And yet, despite this stretching and contracting of time, all of the holidays still manage to show up at the correct time!  My friends and I have all made this observation about soap operas for years!  Passions, which ran on NBC from 1999 to 2007, was very bad about this.  One day on that show would sometimes last more than a month!  Thus, it was definitely appropriate for Zimmermann to make mention of this in the book, since any real soap fan would recognize this as a reality of daytime television!

 

Interestingly, the copyright page actually gives credit to the cover artist (which so few books from this era ever did!).  Lou Marchetti was well-known for his cover art for paperback books, but he also provided art for movie posters and magazines, such as Galaxy and Reader's Digest.  The cover gives us a scene with Prince and a fellow actress on what appears to be a crimson bedspread, with plenty of cameras and lights surrounding them.  More information can be found about Marchetti at the website run by his daughter, Louise (The Life and Art of Lou Marchetti).

 

While not exactly "brilliantly hilarious" as advertised on the cover, I would say the book does have some laughs and is a pretty good read - especially for anyone who enjoys soap operas!

 

RATING: 8 ankle-crunching slides into home plate out of 10 for a somewhat satirical look into what goes on behind the scenes of your favorite daytime drama! 

That Girl - a gothic based on the popular ABC-TV comedy series...

"She's a frightened young maiden pursued on a haunted moor by a wrathful wraith.  Would you believe she's THAT GIRL" (from the front cover blurb)

 

Of all of the television shows in the world that I would have ever thought could be made into a gothic romance / mystery, the 1966-71 television show That Girl is probably one of the last that would come to mind.  I mean, let's be serious - a comedy television show about an aspiring young actress in New York City, who is forced to take a variety of odd jobs to temporarily make ends meet in between auditions and bit parts.  She is always hoping to make it "big," but never seems to land that starring role in any show.  It was pure comedy that lasted five season, and so it is surprising that someone would take such a premise and turn it into a gothic novel.  But that is just what happened.  In 1971, just shortly after the television show wrapped, Ann Marie appeared in her first, and only, novel (loosely - VERY loosely) based on the show ... 

 

That Girl, besides being the name of the television show and featuring the actress, Marlo Thomas, on the cover, has very little ties to its small screen counterpart upon which it is allegedly based.  While author Paul W. Fairman uses the names - Ann Marie and Donald Hollinger - and the fact that Ann is an aspiring actress, the characters themselves are a far cry from those viewers watched on their television sets each week for the previous five years.  Don't get me wrong.  The story itself is actually pretty good and most definitely gothic in its setting and scenes; however, it feels almost as if Fairman simply replaced the name of his title character with the name of that girl (get it?) in order to create a TV tie-in novel.  Which leads me to question - did he already have this story written (or at least in mind) when he was asked to do the tie-in novel; or did he come up with the idea after he took the job?  In either event, if you can read the story without thinking of Marlo Thomas or the television show, then I think you'll find the story is quite creative and fun to read!

 

I do have to give Fairman some credit with regard to the story - it is definitely a creative twist.  Ann Marie gets a chance to play the role of Cathy in Wuthering Heights in a small Maine town known as Berkeley Heights.  It's a summer stock show, and Ann will have the opportunity to play a lead role - a chance she has been longing for; and the icing on the cake is that all expenses are being paid!  Despite her fiance's misgivings, Ann boards the bus for Maine (where one little old lady looks at her Ann and immediately asks another old lady, "Who is that girl?" - a nice nod to the opening of each episode of the television show.  But it is only the first two chapters that are somewhat light-hearted.  Once Ann reaches Berkeley Heights, she begins to realize something is very wrong.  First, the bus drops her off on an empty stretch of highway, no crossroad, no house, no indication of civilization anywhere near it.  Then, a mysterious stranger on horseback shows up and tells her she is late, before taking off, leaving her to await a coach.  A coach?  Wait, what year is this...?  And why does this set up sound vaguely familiar...?   (Hmmm, perhaps because the same thing occurred during the opening of An Innocent Madness by Dulcie Hollyock nearly a decade later.)

 

Well, Ann soon discovers that someone has gone to great lengths to recreate Thruscross Grange and Wuthering Heights, including the moors, gardens, and grounds.  And what is even more strange is everyone is wearing costumes from the 1800s, and they are all referring to themselves as the characters from Emily Bronte's novel.  At first, Ann thinks they are simply rehearsing for whatever play is going to be performed.  Until she discovers there is no theater.  And the "actors" are afraid to step out of character for even one second.  And there are no dates for any performances of the play.  No, in this secluded part of Maine, someone is determined to bring Wuthering Heights to life and to keep it going ... and going ... and going.  Every actor has literally become their character, and it is expected that Ann will literally be Cathy!  Suddenly, Ann starts wishing she had listened to Donald and never taken the role!

 

In true gothic style, the story takes some dark turns, with a mysterious stranger appearing and disappearing - saving Ann from a deadly fall and leaving her a warning on her bathroom mirror.  Then there is the mysterious woman out on the moors.  And why is it that Ann is so tired all the time?  It seems the more tea she drinks, the more tired she becomes... Gradually, her fellow actors begin to let down their guards, and Ann begins to discover the truth about everyone there and what is really going on - and she realizes there is truly only one way to escape.  But then she comes face to face with the woman she replaced, and let's just say the original "Cathy" is none to pleased about her replacement!  This leads to probably the only disappointing thing about the story - the climactic confrontation with "Cathy" - and unlike most gothic heroines, Ann blacks out and is rescued by Donald in one of those last minute saves.  I was really rooting for Ann to not only solve the whole mystery, but also to conquer the villains; sadly, she becomes nothing more than a helpless victim who has to be rescued (thus, taking away all of the credit she deserves for all of the hard work she put into uncovering the truth about what was really going on there).

 

Nevertheless, I did enjoy the story (especially when I set aside any thought of this being a part of the TV show continuity) and loved the unusual plot twist - a gothic within a gothic, so to speak.  I've heard others speak highly of Fairman's work, and after reading this story, I would have to agree. 

 

8 disappearing telephones out of 10 for taking a television comedy and turning it into a serious gothic mystery with a unique and unexpected turn of events!

Classic Ghosts - 1970s Gothic Television

Normally, I don't do reviews of television or movies on this blog, but once in a while, something comes along that so catches my interest and so impresses me, that I have to share it with others.  This is one of those cases.  I happened across this Blu-ray set of movies while scrolling through Amazon - which seems to be the way I come across quite a number of things in recent years! - and having never heard of it before, I was curious as to its contents.  After all, with my love for all things gothic, that tagline definitely had my attention.  And when I discovered who directed four of the five films, well, there could be no doubt but that I had to have this collection!  Thankfully, I was a really good boy this year, and "Santa" gave me the Blu-ray collection, and I was able to check out these classic tales of gothic suspense!

Classic Ghosts was a five-film series aired late nights on ABC television back in 1973 during the "ABC Wide World of Mystery" time slot.  In so many ways, it was clearly inspired by the success of Dark Shadows, the daytime soap which aired on the same network from 1966 to 1971.  All five films were filmed directly on tape and produced in the same manner as daytime serials, so when watching them, you almost get the feel as if you are watching a Dark Shadows-esque series.  While the sets are beautifully decorated and colorful and the costumes are elaborate, if one pays any attention whatsoever, it is easy to see that four of the five films use the same exact set, but simply redecorate it and move the walls around a bit.  Nevertheless, the stories - all of which are based on published stories - are engaging and the actors definitely give it their all (even if some of it comes across a bit campy - and hey, it worked for Dark Shadows, and quite honestly, it works here, too!).  

 

Obviously, I was too young to be aware of these back in 1973 when they first aired, and from what is revealed in the special features, these films were believed lost, never seen since their original airings - however, they were discovered not so long ago in the vaults of the UCLA Film and Television Archive, nicely preserved and ripe for a new generation of viewers!  And thanks to UCLA's preservation services and Kino Cult (a distribution company), I was able to enjoy these classic 1970s gothic films!  The Blu-ray collection does not have them in the originally aired order, so my look at each film below will follow the order in the Blu-ray, and not the chronological order of their airings.

"The Haunting of Rosalind" originally aired on April 10, 1973 and was based on a short story by Henry James titled "The Romance of Certain Old Clothes" (1875).  It tells the story of two sisters - Perdita (portrayed by a very young and very beautiful Susan Sarandon!) and Rosalind - who are vying for the attention of the same man - Arthur Lloyd, a friend of their brother who comes to visit.  Rosalind believes Arthur has feelings for her, but he marries Perdita instead. When Perdita dies (under mysterious circumstances), Rosalind worms her way into Arthur's life and marries him - but she can't shake the feeling that Perdita is still haunting her.  All the while, the sisters' brother is beginning to suspect Arthur is not everything he says he is, and quite possibly he murdered his first wife.  Their rush to save Rosiland at the end proves to be a fantastic climax to the tale! While this film has some massive time jumps that are bit jarring, the story is actually really good, and the performances by the actors truly set the tone well.  This movie was directed by Lela Swift, who also directed quite a number of episodes of Dark Shadows, so if you get the vibe of that show while watching the film, you'll know why.

"The Screaming Skull" originally aired on February 14, 1973 and was adapted from a short story by F. Marion Crawford (1908).  This movie tells the tale of Luke Pratt (played by David McCallum, best known for his role on The Man from U.N.C.L.E.), a physician who is always engrossed with his research.  He is married to a rather testy woman, Helen, who blames him for not saving her son when he died.  When Luke's brother comes for a visit and relates a strange story of how a woman in South America got away with murdering three of her husbands by a rather ingenious method, Luke begins to gets ideas.  It's never explicitly stated whether Luke kills his wife (it could have been hallucinations, him dreaming of doing the deed), but he thinks he did, so he goes to the grave and removes her head to hide the evidence by keeping her skull among the other skulls in his office.  The only problem is, the skull won't leave him alone!  It appears everywhere, moaning at him, reminding him of what he did, until he can no longer take it.  When he dies, his brother inherits the property - and the curse of the skull!  A rather enjoyable gothic tale, and even though it's clearly the same set redressed, the story and acting are good enough to make you overlook that fact.  This movie was directed by Gloria Monty, who is probably best known for her work on General Hospital in the '80s.

"Deadly Visitor" originally aired July 4, 1973 and was taken from Fitz-James O'Brien's short story, "What Was It?  A Mystery?" (1859).  This was the second movie to be directed by Lela Swift, and it stars a very young Perry King  (from the television show, Riptide) as a young writer moves into a boarding house where his artist friend resides so that he can finish the book he is working on.  The room he rents turns out to be haunted, but the landlady, Mrs. Moffat, plays down that fact - no, she is more interested in making moves on Jaime (the writer)!  Jaime, though, has other things on his mind, because there is a ghost in his room that can't seem to decide whether it loves him or wants to kill him!  Jaime begins to think it is the ghost of a woman from his past (especially after they capture the invisible form and make a plaster cast of it, identifying the shape as female), but later learns it could be something far, far worse!  The special effects for this one are actually pretty good considering the time when the movie was made, and I thought the actors did a superb job with the material - especially King, who had to fight with an "invisible" ghost and consistently react to something that was not really there. The ending was somewhat ambiguous, as we do not get any real resolution, but from what I understand, the short story leaves things unresolved as well.

"The House and the Brain" originally aired May 20, 1973 and is said to be based on Edward Bulwer-Lytton's short story, "The Haunted and the Haunters; Or, The House and the Brain" (1897); however, from sources I've found online, the movie has very little connection to the short story.  This was the second film directed by Gloria Monty and stars Keith Charles (known for his work on a number of soap operas during the '60s and '70s) as a military man who has recently been discharged and is looking to rent a room in a beautiful old mansion in New Orleans.  He is at first warned away by the property owner's ward, Marianna, but the housekeeper appears and assures him the room is for rent.  We get glimpses of a mysterious person upstairs with a bird who seems to insist that David (the military man) stay and that he fall in love with Marianna - for what purpose, we don't know right away - but as the movie continues, the clues are there.  The painting of Marianna's great-grandmother who so closely resembles her; the warnings from Marianna; the strange tombstone on the patio; and the cryptic demands that Marianna convince David to fall in love with her ... it seems David's friend, Kate (portrayed by Gretchen Corbett from The Rockford Files) is the only one who realizes there is something fishy going on in that old house...sadly, by the time David realizes it, it's too late!  The actress who plays Marianna was perfect casting - she has that young, innocent look that Alexandra Moltke had when she was cast as Victoria Winters in Dark Shadows, but in this case, looks can be very deceiving - which gives the story the perfect gothic twist!

"And the Bone Came Together" originally aired February 15, 1973.  The story was written by Sholomo Keil and is the only one of the five films that does not utilize that same house set with the staircase.  Instead, this one is a rather unique gothic set in New York City.  It is the only one of the five films directed by a man - Henry Kaplan, who directed quite a few episodes of Dark Shadows, and went on to direct episodes of All My Children, Another World, Ryan's Hope, and others.  The plot involves a widower Jewish man who is being evicted from his apartment so the city can tear down the building and rebuild new, more modern housing.  He is unable to convince the real estate agent to let him keep his home, so he somehow manages to place a curse on the agent, which ultimately affects both him and his pregnant wife (played by a young Robin Strasser, from One Life to Live and Passions).  Strange, supernatural things begin to happen, and the agent becomes possessed by the old man's spirit.  Strasser's character is so scared, she goes to the grave of the old man and begs him to release his hold on her husband, willing to do anything to make that happen - which results in a very surprising twist at the end.  This one is definitely far different from the other four films, not just in location, but in the plot and characterization.  It is not your typical "gothic" tale - yet, it definitely has the elements necessary to fit the genre!

Obviously, the movies do not necessarily hold up when compared to today's films - back in 1973, the industry did not have the same technology today for filming and special effects; however for the period in which they were made, I'd have to give these films two thumbs up.  The sets are magnificent, the acting is well done, and the casting was pretty much spot on for nearly all the characters.  Anyone who enjoys gothic tales will love these films, as they adhere to the standard gothic tropes from the '60s and '70s novels, daring to go a step beyond by including the supernatural elements as real and not merely imagined by the characters.  I highly recommend this collection!

RATING:  9 weeping grave stones out of 10 for a fantastic effort at cashing in on the gothic craze of the 1970s and giving fans some great visual tales of a now almost-forgotten genre!

Mycroft's Dangerous Game - an Enola Holmes Mystery Graphic Novel

The Enola Holmes films on Netflix have been very well done.  I thought they did a great job of casting Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes, as she fits the character well - she has the look, she has the spunk, and she has the acting ability to break the fourth wall, yet keep the story believable and in character. So, when I chanced across this particular story on Amazon, I thought perhaps it was a new novel based on the television continuity (since they have taken liberties with some of the stories) - but imagine my surprise when it arrived, and I discovered it was a graphic novel instead of a prose novel!  (Of course, had I read the Amazon description more carefully, I might not have been so surprised.)  But this was a pleasant surprise, as I love comics as well as books, so I placed it on my stack of graphic novels and then promptly forgot about it.  Until now...

 

Enola Holmes: Mycroft's Dangerous Game was published in 2022.  Since the second Enola Holmes film did not come out on Netflix until the end of 2022, I have to assume this story takes place immediately, or not very long, after the first film. While the story is by original Enola Holmes author and creator Nancy Springer, the actual writing (dialogue, etc) is by Mickey George, a relatively newcomer to the comic world.  Despite being new, I would say George does an exceptional job of capturing Enola's personality and spirit within the story.  Reading this graphic novel, I could very easily see this story being transitioned to a film.  And, well, the art by Giorgia Sposito and Enrica Angiolini certainly helps - Enola, Sherlock, and Mycroft are all drawn so that they appear exactly like their actor counterparts from the film.  In fact, it's uncanny how much they look like the actors in each and every panel!  That shows some amazing talent on the part of the artists!

The story focuses on Mycroft, who still sees his little sister as someone who needs proper teaching and training, who needs to be more like a lady and less like their mother.  But despite his views, when Enola is trying to take back a book he took from her, and she accidentally witnesses her brother being kidnapped, she knows she has to step in and rescue him.  First, though, she has to figure out who took her brother, and why, and then she must take on the harder task of finding where they are keeping him.  Lucky for her, she has Viscount Tewkesbury to give her information; she has her mother's friend, Edith, to give her direction; she has Inspector Lestrade to point her to a police informant that sees more than people suspect; and she gains a new compatriot in Shag, a young boy who isn't afraid to jump into danger to help Enola rescue her brother.

Of course, the mystery turns out to be much bigger than just her kidnapped brother.  It seems a political group of terrorists is planning to set off a bomb in London to prevent Scotland Yard from opening up a new branch of detectives that could put a wrench in all of their plans.  It therefore becomes a race against time for Enola to get to Parliament Square and put a stop to the terrorists' plans before hundreds of people are injured or, worse, killed!

What I liked about this story is that it stays a bit more faithful to the books than either of the films.  In the films, Henry Cavill as Sherlock played a rather large part, while in the books, Sherlock was relegated to the background, and the stories focused solely on Enola.  This story does just that.  Sure, we get a couple of scenes of Enola's more famous brother, but they are irrelevant to the mystery, and he plays no actual part in Enola's investigation ... and other than being the kidnapped victim, Mycroft also has a rather minor role in the mystery.  And, thus, Enola is the star of her own book, as it should be.  (That's the problem with Hollywood adaptations - they often focus on the wrong things, all for the sake of promoting big name stars instead of the actual main character.)

Now that a third Enola Holmes film has been confirmed to be in the works, I'm hoping Legendary will do more of these graphic novels.  This was a great mystery that offers readers both the fun of the television show, while staying true to the source material, combining the best of both worlds!

RATING:  10 well-aimed sling-shots out off 10 for mystery, mayhem, and madcap adventure with an intelligent, yet fun female protagonist!

Katy Keene - Restless Hearts (a Prequel Novel of the CW TV Show)

I was never a "Katy Keen" fan before the CW television show.  I knew she was an Archie comics character, and I knew that she was involved with the fashion world - but that was literally all I knew about her.  I was never into romance comics, so "fashion" comics held very little interest for me.  And after watching just the first episode of Riverdale (the CW show based on the Archie characters), I never watched another episode of that show.  So, for reasons still unknown to me today, I did watch the first episode of Katy Keene on the CW back in February 2020 just to see what it was like.  And you know what?  I loved it!  So much so, that I watched that entire first season and was totally disappointed when it did not get picked up for a second season.  However, I did pick up the prequel novel written by Stephanie Kate Strohm when it was published in 2020 - and I just know finally got around to reading it.  I'm so glad that I saved it, because it was a thrill to re-enter the world of Katy Keene, even if it was for only this one book...

Restless Hearts was the only CW tie-in novel written in connection with the TV show, and it is a prequel novel that gives some background on the four main characters leading up to that first episode.  Strohm provides readers with alternating points of view, the chapters rotating between the four characters - Katy, Jorge, Pepper, and Josie; then back to Katie again for the rotation to repeat.  Had I not gotten so used to these rotating points of view with the Hardy Boys books over the past decade (has it really been that long?), it might have bothered me here.  As it is, I was able to enjoy it for what it was and not let the changes in points-of-view bother me so much.  Besides, it allowed Strohm to really delve into some of the characterization that the TV show did not have sufficient time to reveal.

Katy's story picks up after her mother's death, as she tries to cope with living alone.  She gets the chance of a lifetime, however, when Veronica Lodge (Archie cameo number one!) manages to finagle her a spot in a fashion show being held at Lacy's, sponsored by none other than fashion icon Rex London!  Katy is excited at first, but as the time draws closer and she can't seem to find her groove with a design that will actually be worth showing, she finds herself more and more lost without her mother...

Jorge, meanwhile, is dreaming of making it on Broadway!  He's been faithfully taking dance classes, and when an open casting call for a new show comes up, he waits in the long line of hopefuls to get his chance at stardom.  In that line, he meets up with Kevin Keller (Archie cameo number two!), who is also hoping to land a spot in the show.  Jorge's chances seem to get better when he gets called back not just once, but twice!  The only problem is, in order to clinch his place in the show, he will have to man-up and be something that he's not.  Just how much is Jorge willing to give up for his chance to be on Broadway?

Pepper's tale is about her arrival into New York City.  While Katy and Jorge are already friends, Pepper has not yet come into their lives.  Instead, her arrival is met with pomp and circumstance by all of the social media glitz, as everyone seems to want to know what is next for this shining social media celebrity's life.  But Pepper herself is not seven sure of that, as she goes from fling to fling, idea to idea, hoping to find something that will put her on the right course...

Finally, Josie is on the road with her father, singing alongside him for the experience of what it is like to be a traveling musician.  But his rules are strict, his criticism harsh, and his over protectiveness smothering.  When she meets a country singer who is on his own tour, and she gets the chance to sing away from her father, Josie finds that perhaps she really can make it on her own, away from her father, and be the star she always knew she could be.

 

Needless to say, KO is in the book, always supporting Katy (when he's not at the gym boxing alongside Jinx - Archie cameo number three!); Jorge's parents are in the book, trying to find their place in his life now that he is back home after being kicked out when he came out; Molly's Crisis is the bar to be for Katy and Jorge to sort out their problems; and Gloria Grandbilt makes her appearance before the story is over, ready to offer Katy the chance she has been waiting for.  Strohm provides readers with the perfect introduction to these characters, while giving fans a beautiful way to remember the cast from the show.  As I was reading the book, I could not only see each of the actors in their roles once again, but I could literally hear their voices speak each line and picture the settings of each spot - from Jorge's apartment to KO's gym to Lacy's store to Molly's Crisis.  It was almost like being transported right back onto the CW show once again!

Before I sign off for this post, I do have to give Strohm double kudos for managing to sneak in a Nancy Drew reference on page 90 when Jorge is talking to his mother about the way she sneaks him audition notices so his father won't see:  "You leave me secret audition notices like we're in some kind of Nancy Drew mystery..."  Gotta give props to any author who manages to put a reference to my favorite female detective!  Just a shame that this is my last time I'll get to enjoy the CW cast of Katy Keene...

RATING:  10 squashed bouquets of roses out of 10 for giving me one final chance to enjoy some time with Katy and her friends as they were brought to life so perfectly by the CW!

Nancy Drew: The Curse (Based on the Hit CW TV Show)

What better way to celebrate Nancy Drew's 90th anniversary than with a new Nancy Drew book? Yes, today marks 90 years since the first three Nancy Drew books were published way back on April 28, 1930.  Hard to believe she's been around that long - even moreso when you consider that very few series have continued publishing new stories on a regular basis for such a great length of time (Hardy Boys and Boxcar Children being the only two that come to mind).  And there is so much to celebrate this year - new comic book series that have been published in recent years from Dynamite Entertainment; new books published in the Nancy Drew Diaries and Nancy Drew Clue Book series; a new coloring book last year from artist extraordinaire Ruth Sanderson; the release of the new HER Interactive video game last Fall; and more recently, the new CW television series that brings Nancy, Bess and George to the small screen each and every week.  It is this new TV show that this book is based upon.

Nancy Drew: The Curse is a prequel of sorts to the CW hit television show.  Thus, fans of Nancy Drew who have never watched the new show may find some very jarring changes about Nancy and her world when reading this book. First, in this series, Nancy lives in Horseshoe Bay, not River Heights. Second, her mother did not die until Nancy was much older (meaning she is still alive in this story, set prior to the first episode of the television show). Third, Nancy's friends at this time are not Bess and George. However, in spite of these changes, some things remain the same.  Carson Drew is still a lawyer who dotes on his daughter. Chief McGinnis is still the local law in town. And Nancy Drew is still the determined sleuth who will set out to right any wrong and help anyone in need.  So, despite any changes, the true essence of Nancy Drew is still there!

That being said - the mystery in this book centers around the Horseshoe Bay Naming Day Curse. A curse that no one seems to know anything about. A curse that has no visible footprint online, nor any mention in the local town newspapers. A curse that - in a town filled with legends and ghost stories - seems to be hidden deeper than any other secret in Horseshoe Bay (which is really saying something). But when one of Nancy's friends, Daisy Dewitt, is selected to play a lead role in the upcoming Naming Day Reinactment  play, strange things start to happen. A raven carrying a warning note crashes against the window of the school newspaper. A threat is spray painted inside Daisy's locker. The word "Beware" is written on Nancy's windshield. Then one of the students disappears, and suddenly what started out looking like pranks turns into something much more serious.

While the book gives hints at supernatural elements (the television show, for those who don't watch, is filled with the supernatural), the author, Micol Ostow, keeps Nancy Drew grounded in reality. She questions things she sees, dreams she has, and things that occur, but ultimately, she is able to find logical, real explanations for everything.  A second disappearance, along with a warning to shut down the Naming Day Celebration or else puts Nancy on edge, knowing she has to solve the mystery before her best friend winds up dead.  Doing things the old-fashioned way, like going to the library, looking through public records, driving out and interviewing witnesses - it was great to see Nancy Drew in her real element again.  Fans who dislike the television show should really give this book a chance, as it definitely hearkens back to the Nancy Drew of days gone by!  And although there are no Bess and George, there are Daisy and Lena, who definitely channel elements of Bess and George (Daisy is the Bess archetype, while Lena tends to be more like George).

Fair warning: there are several profanities thrown out by the characters, so the book is not exactly squeaky clean. However, the words are mild (no f-bombs) and do not appear frequently.

Hope Simon & Schuster puts out some more novels like this one, based on the television show - it's a great way to expand on the characters and storylines from the TV show, plus provide fans with even more Nancy Drew!

RATING:  9 fat striped tabby cats named Sprinkles out of 10 for feeding the fans' need for more of the CW Nancy Drew!

Supergirl, Book 3 - Master of Illusion

Supergirl
Master of Illusion
Publisher: Amulet Books
Publication Date (January 2019)
ISBN 10 - 1419731424
ISBN 13 - 978-1419731426
226 pages of story

And with this book, we reach the end of this trilogy for young readers based on the CW television show. It's a shame, really, as these books (along with the Flash books) have really expanded upon the TV universe, while at the same time remaining pretty much true to all of the characters. But, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and so we just have to enjoy the stories while they last...

Master of Illusion introduces the villainous Felix Faust to the world of Supergirl. Besides this DC supervillain, the book also provides a few Easter eggs for comic fans - Madame Xanadu, who appeared in the Flash novels, also appears in this book (and even makes mention of helping the Flash!). Also, Madame Xanadu calls upon a certain magician who speaks backwards (not going to name her, but comic fans will know who it is!) to release one of the three magical objects that Faust is after.

And speaking of which - Faust is searching for the three magical objects that will release the Demons Three - Abnegazar, Rath, and Ghast. Faust already has the wheel - he steals the jar at a ceremony that Kara Danvers happens to be attending - and he's searching for the bell (which happens to be protected by Madame Xanadu). Supergirl gets the aid of Princess Tlaca, who appeared at the end of the last book, and there are references made to Supergirl's supernatural adventure with Jason Blood (a/k/a Etrigan, the Demon) that took place in the previous story.

I like that these three books have an ongoing continuity, all the while providing separate stories that stand alone. Whittemore has a true feel for the characters, and I absolutely adore how well she handles Wynn - all his Doctor Who references make me wonder if Whittemore isn't a big fan of that show as well.  Plus, since this story takes place before Season Three (and that whole Reign debacle), it's kind of fun to see Whittemore place some subtle hints throughout the story of things to come.

The story itself is pretty interesting - Felix Faust is out to set the Demons Three free so he can gain their power, and it's up to Supergirl with the help of Princess Tlaca, Mon-El, and the rest of the DEO to find a way to stop him.  Meanwhile, Kara Danvers is tasked with finding the next big story that will impress Snapper Carr ... Alex Danvers is faced with a group of new recruits who see her as a dictator ... Jimmy Olsen is faced with the thought of his mother coming to visit ... Lena Luther realizes a project she had been developing was being used by a villain to locate supernatural items ... and J'onn J'onzz is facing the memory of Family Week without his family ... all in all, the typical personal dramas the characters face in a standard episode from the TV show.

Overall, a recommended read for fans of the comic, fans of the television show, or simply fans of good books with easy-to-read, enjoyable stories.

RATING:  9 sleight of hand tricks out of 10 for sharing some in-between season stories of these characters and making them worth reading!

The Flash: Climate Changeling

The second novel based on DC's television show, The Flash, was just as good, if not better, than the first!  Not to be confused with the young adult series also being published, these adult novels (which I hate calling them that, because that brings about some very bad connotations with it) are definitely written at a much high reading level, are considerably longer than the young adults novels, and they pack a whole lot of story and action into one book. However, like the young adult series, they definitely capture the feel of the show, and the authors of these books show a strong talent for writing the characters as they appear on the show, so much so, that reading the books gives the reader a feeling that they are watching episodes directly from the television series.

"Climate Changeling" brings back the Weather Wizard, who was introduced back in the first season of the show. For those who may not remember, Mark Mardon and his brother Clyde both received weather-controlling powers from the particle-accelerator explosion that also gave Flash his powers. Mark was knocked into a coma, but Clyde went wild with his powers - until the Flash and Det. Joe West put an end to his tirade. Permanently. And that is something that Mark has never forgotten. Years spent in Iron Heights prison, Mark has had plenty of time to dwell on his hatred of Flash and Det. West, blaming them both for his brother's death. The guilt he feels for not protecting, not saving, his brother weighs heavily. And when a freak storm wreaks havoc on Iron Heights' security systems, Mark suddenly finds his powers increased, and breaks his way out of Iron Heights with only one thing on his mind.

Revenge.

I am not familiar with the author, Richard Knaak, but I definitely like his writing. He had the perfect feel for each of the characters when he wrote this book - Barry, Iris, Joe, Wally, Cisco, Caitlin, H.R., and even the Mardon brothers. Each character portrayed and read exactly as they are on the television show, and the dialogue was natural and in-character. The story was well-paced, never dragging, and Knaak even managed to make it accessible to new readers who have no knowledge of the history of the characters and the show without bogging it down too much with flashbacks or such. I did, however, have to keep reminding myself that this book clearly takes place some time before season four, and I believe before the wedding of Barry and Iris (although that fact is not exactly made clear - but since they never refer to Iris as Barry's wife, I'm just going to assume...)

As for the story itself, the Weather Wizard is out not only for revenge, but also to bring his brother, Clyde, back from the dead. It seems the spirit of Clyde is egging him on, pushing him harder and harder, causing a storm of unbelievable proportions to rain down on Central City. Barry and Team Flash can't seem to get a handle on it, and Cisco isn't able to pinpoint exactly where Mardon is at any given time. Meanwhile, Caitlin's powers are starting to surface again, someone in time with Mardon's vicious weather attacks. And all the while, Barry seems to be losing his strength and speed stamina the more he fights Mardon. Knaak definitely writes one epic battle here, with a climax that is well worth the wait (and with a story that is 430 pages, trust me, there is a wait!).

If you are a fan of the television show, then you'll enjoy this novel immensely - I highly recommend it!

RATING:  10 communication devices on the fritz out of 10 for remaining faithful to the show, while expanding the stories and world of the CW's The Flash.

Supergirl, Book 2 - Curse of the Ancients

Supergirl soars back into action in this second young adult novel based on CW's television show. And quite frankly, this book was much, MUCH more enjoyable than the first book, and it definitely had a stronger feeling of the show. While it is written by the same author, J.D. Whittemore, the overall characterization and storytelling was far more on point, and I was smiling pretty much the entire time I read the book.  It was like watching an episode of the show, but in word format!

Curse of the Ancients is not a continuation of the previous story, but rather, an entirely new disaster that introduces readers to the female Doctor Light (which I was glad to see happen from the moment they introduced Dr. Hoshi in the first chapter!) and brings in a surprising villain from the comics. Plus, Winn really gets to shine in this one, with some awesome Dr. Who references that brought a smile to my face.  Mon-El, Alex, J'onn, and even Lena have a part to play, and they literally lept off the page and visually into my mind - I could see the actors actually playing out the parts exactly as written.

So, what happens when a comet comes close enough to Earth that it is not only visible to the naked eye, but it shoots down a blinding flash of light that literally changes everything?  Well, for one thing, you get a city that is suddenly thrust back into ancient Rome, filled with people who are slowly reverting to that time. You also get some aliens who must try and make sense of what is happening around them, as well as a techie and a guardian who find themselves stuck on the outside, looking in. Plus, you get a brand new hero and a surprise villain (who, honestly, I didn't even realize was the character from the comics until I looked it up later - I had completely forgotten that this villain was known by a completely different name during the Peter David run of Supergirl in the comics...).

The story is fun, but with a serious side - Supergirl only has four days within which to find a way to end the curse over National City, or it will forever remain in the ancient Roman state, and its people will completely revert to citizens of that period.  Supergirl and J'onn are completely unaffected, as they are alien to this world, which turns out to be a saving grace, since the DEO just happens to have quite the stash of alien technology.  And knowing that Winn and Jimmy are outside of the dome separating the city from the rest of the world gives them hope that they will find a way inside.  And, well, Winn being who he is, does manage to come up with some great ideas - but it is ultimately Supergirl who finds a way to get Winn and Jimmy inside.

Oh, and did I mention that a certain Jason Blood is in this story?  If you are a fan of DC Comics, then you'll know who that is, and you know that is pretty much a guarantee that a certain other character is bound to appear at some point in the story!d  Between Madame Xanadu's appearances in the Flash books and now Blood's appearance here, it makes me wonder if there isn't some kind of supernatural crossover planned for the books?  (Although, from what I have been told, these two series are only trilogies, which would kind of kill that idea - a shame, though, as I would love to see these as ongoing series...)

Guess it's another game of wait and see!

RATING:  9 domes of doom out of 10 for keeping Supergirl super-fun to read, super-faithful to the character and show, and super-easy to recommend to every fan of the TV show and comic!

Supergirl, Book 1 - Age of Atlantis

As I am currently rehearsing this month for a play that I am in, finding time to read has been difficult (in between work, rehearsals, remodeling our bathroom, and learning lines for the play) - but, as anyone who loves to read will tell you - there's ALWAYS time to read!

DC Comics has recently come out with two series of young adult books based upon their popular television shows on the CW - a Supergirl series and a Flash series.  Since I recently read the two part Flash/Green Arrow adult novels recently, I figured I'd read the first book in the Supergirl series, Age of Atlantis.

The first couple of chapters started off a little slow, and, well, quite frankly, a bit childish.  Yes, I realize the target audience is pre- to early-teens; however, I expected the writing to be a little more advanced. But, then the unexpected happened - after I got past the second chapter, and the real meat of the story began to evolve (the sudden appearance of super=powered citizens within National City), I found myself intrigued.  And when the DEO reveals they have a sea creature, with whom they are unable to communicate, captured, I began to smile.  Without realizing it, the story - and the book - began to feel more and more like I was watching (reading) an episode from the Monday night TV show!

The story is set prior to the end of Season 2 of the television show.  Mon-El is still on board, Snapper Carr is still snapping at Kara, and Alex and Maggie are still together.  The gang is all here - Winn, with his technological nerdiness; J'onn, with his near-complete lack of humor; and James Olsen, with his crime-fighting alter ego - the Guardian.  Author Jo Whittemore does a fairly decent job at remaining faithful to the characterizations as established on TV, but I did find myself thinking of Winn more as Cisco (from The Flash) - particularly with his desire to name all of the supercitizens.

Ah, yes, the supercitizens.  I loved the way the author handled that aspect of the story.  Ordinary, everyday people who suddenly find themselves endowed with super-powers!  What would they do?  How would they react?  What would they think if Supergirl told them to stand down, especially when she's always been known to make a mistake or two herself?  And what happens when a group of them band together to ensure that they never lose those powers?  And, in true television fashion, just how is that sea creature from Atlantis tied into all of this?

This was a nice repast from the heaviness of this season's Supergirl and the whole "Reign" storyline that's going on.  Sure, Supergirl/Kara has some self-doubts; yes, James is still trying to compete for his superhero status, even without powers; and yes, people are actually happy (did I say that about a comic-related show?!?!).  Supergirl is the Girl of Steel that we all know and love - still new the game, but always thinking of others and always determined to do what's right.  It was fun, it had some great fight scenes, some nice tender moments, and an post-show epilogue that leaves the reader hanging for the next episode...er...I mean, the next book!  Definitely gives me hope that these DC young adult novels will be good reads, and hopefully, they will stick around for more than just one or two books (and let's hope we see a Legends of Tomorrow series in the future - no pun intended).

Oh, and did I mention there were a few little nods in the story....

On page 83, after being reprimanded by J'onn for a decision she made, Supergirl remarks, "...it's too late to change what I did.  Unless you want me to, I don't know, fly around the Earth a bunch and reverse time."  To which, Winn smartly replies, "Yeahhhh, I don't think that would actually work."

(For those who don't know, that's a direct reference to the first Christopher Reeve Superman film...)

On page 220, the sea creature (okay, okay, he's Atlantean) tells Supergirl, "You assumed I was the last of my kind.  That is untrue.  My king also lives ... He is reluctant to rule, but yes."

(Hmmmm, could there be an appearance by Aquaman in the future of Supergirl???)

On pages 150-51, Kara returns to CatCo and searches for "Vicky V," who is leaving CatCo for "that other paper," as Kara calls it.  Could that "other paper" possibly be in another city - one that happens to be home to a certain bat?  Hmmmmmmm...

All in all, the book was well-worth the read, and I'm looking forward to the next one!

RATING:  8 bear claws out of 10 for making me wish that the stories DC were telling in their comic books were this light-hearted and enjoyable!

Arrow: A Generation of Vipers

It's always with just a bit of trepidation that I read a book that is based on a television show or movie, as I am always concerned that the authors will not be able to truly capture the feel of the show or film, or that they will be unable to give the characters the proper feel that they have in the show or film.  In the first half of this two-part story, which began in the Flash novel, The Haunting of Barry Allen, writers Clay and Susan Griffith showed that they had a grasp on the cast of Flash.  With this second part, they show that they have an equal feel for the cast of Arrow.

The Arrow television show is a bit darker and a bit more serious than the Flash, and A Generation of Vipers follows that format.  As Team Flash works overtime to try to find out what is causing Barry's gliches in the speed force, Arrow hits to streets of Central City to protect the town in Flash's absence.  But you can't keep a good hero down, and Barry is determined to help save lives, even if it costs him his own.  A cure, however, may not be as far away as they think.  When the combined forces of Team Flash and Team Arrow uncover a power source that was first created at Queen Industries back in the day, they set out to find it.  But someone else is also on the hunt...

Which, of course, leads to the obligatory Arrow flashback scenes (ugh, how I hate them on the television show, so to have to read them in printed form is pure torture!!  but, as I said, the Griffins definitely keep the flavor of the show, and sadly, those flashbacks are a part of it).  Readers will gain some more insight into Oliver's time on that dastardly island, as well as some pre-island time when Oliver was just another spoiled, rich playboy that influenced a friend that has now become a very dangerous enemy in the present.

Oh, and did I mention that the search for a cure for Barry ultimately leads the combined teams over to Markovia.  Yes, the very country from which Geo-Force and Terra hail from (although neither characters are seen or mentioned here, sadly).  However, we do get a surprise visit from Malcolm Merlyn, who offers his aid to the desperate heroes - but at what cost?

One of the best things about this story is the character interaction.  All the non-super-powered characters of Arrow and how they deal with the super-powered characters from the Flash is always good for a smile and sometimes a laugh.  Felicity and Cisco's geekness, Barry's carefree nature at opposition with Oliver's seriousness, and John's struggle with grasping not only super-powered humans, but the idea of a multiverse.  With 402 pages of story, the book felt like an extra-long episode (or maybe even a two-parter if it were on TV), and had they elected to drop the flashback chapters, I would have found this book to be nearly as perfect as the Flash novel.  Fun, with plenty of action, spot-on characterization, a spectacular climax, and plenty of underhanded tricks and surprises.

Now, I'll admit, the only reason I picked this up was because of the Flash.  While I watch the Arrow television show, I'm not a huge fan of Arrow himself (the character - the actor, well he's a whole 'nother story!).  Not sure if I'll pick up any future Arrow novels, unless they have a crossover with the Flash (or maybe even the Legends of Tomorrow - wonder if we'll be getting any novels of that group?).  But, for what it was worth, this book was a good read, and I enjoyed it - provided a satisfying conclusion to the story started in the first Flash novel.

8 stolen wormhole generators out of 10 for being able to keep the feel of both television shows and all the characters therein and putting them into a story worth reading!

The Flash: The Haunting of Barry Allen

I may not have sped through this book as quickly as Barry Allen speeds through Central City as the Flash, but I can honestly say that I finished this book quicker than most! At 414 pages, I expected The Haunting of Barry Allen to take me closer to 4 or 5 days to finish, particularly during the week when about the only chance I have to read is when I'm eating lunch or working out on the elliptical in the gym at work; however, this book drew me in so quickly and had me so easily feeling like I was watching an episode of the television show that I couldn't put it down.

Authors Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith have written a number of science fiction / fantasy books, as well as some comics and young reader books. This appears to be their first time writing a novel based on a television show, but I give them total props - they managed to capture the character and essence of each and every person, bringing the television personas to life on the page. From Barry Allen to Oliver Queen and all of their supporting cast and sidekicks, the Griffiths brought just as many smiles to my face as I was reading the book as the television shows do when I am watching them!

The first part of a two-part book crossover (the second part of which is in the next Arrow novel), The Haunting of Barry Allen focuses more on the Flash. As the Pied Piper gathers a group of rogues (including Weather Wizard, Mist, Prism, and Peekaboo) with the idea of methodically wearing Central City's defenses down until it is ready for the taking, the Flash finds himself "blurring" out of phase with this reality and seeing not only his future self urging him to run faster, but all the failures from his past - including Gorilla Grodd, Ronnie Raymond, and the Reverse Flash.  As the blurs become more frequent and seem to happen at the very moment when he is about to stop the rogues, Caitlin and Cisco do everything they can to discover the source.  When all else fails, they call in some outside help.

Enter: Green Arrow and gang.

Oliver, Felicity, and John make a trip from Star City to help their friend. As Barry's health slowly declines, Oliver and John work feverishly to protect Central City from the attacks of the rogues, who are working with precision, sweeping in and out, causing the most damage to the city without ever getting caught.  And when the Piper makes the mayor an offer that could save the city but cost them millions - as well as their famed hero! - the Flash and Arrow know that their time is running out.

Dare I say it?  The story is very fast-paced, with the action never stopping; yet, at the same time, just like the TV show, there is plenty of character interaction and development and the right amount of humor to keep it from getting too bogged down with all the action.  The timing of the story is clearly after season one (as it references Reverse Flash being gone, and Iris knows that Barry is the Flash and is helping at Star Labs), but it's not clear whether it takes place after season two or not (although there is a reference to Zoom from season two). Regardless, not knowing exactly where it fit into the TV show continuity does not detract at all from the enjoyment of the story.

I would say this is a definite must-read for any fan of the show - and in case you are wondering, it does end with a mild cliff-hanger, which sets up the second part of this story in Arrow's Generation of Vipers.

RATING:  10 microscopes with slides of fly wings out of 10 for staying true to the television version of these characters and providing a Flash/Arrow fix during the summer break!