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Women in Horror Month: An Elvira-stravaganza! Graphic Novel Review: Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, vols. 1 & 2 by David Avallone, art by Dave Acosta and The Shape of Elvira by David Avallone, art by Fran Strukan and Pasquale Qualano

cover art for Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, vol. 1: Timescream

( Amazon.com )

 Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, vol. 1: Timescream by David Avallone, art by Dave Acosta

Dynamite, 2018-2019

ISBN-13: 9781524108533 (vol.1)

Available: Paperback, Kindle, comiXology (for single and TPB digital issues)

 

I grew up watching Elvira, Mistress of the Dark introducing wonderful and often terrible horror movies, and then starring in a few of her own. I fell in love with her humor and sass, not taking anyone’s crap and going after what she wanted. She holds a special place in my horror-loving heart. When Dynamite announced Elvira would be getting her own comic series starting in 2018, I knew I had to pick it up. I have been collecting the single issues, and what follows is a review of all of them to date. They have now been published as graphic novels, in two volumes. Volume One collects issues 1-4.

 

#1: Timescream, Chapter 1: Frankenstein is the Name of the Doctor: After the leading man in Elvira’s new movie has a wardrobe malfunction (don’t worry, it’s only his dentures falling out), she goes back to her trailer for a long-needed break. After being sucked into a mysterious coffin in her trailer, the Mistress of the Dark meets Mary Wollstonecraft, Percy Shelley, and Lord Byron during the infamous weekend that led to Mary’s penning Frankenstein. They find themselves on the run when Vlad the Impaler crashes the party. Elvira’s journey doesn’t end there, as she finds herself meeting another horror legend after she once again falls into the time traveling coffin.

 

#2: Timescream, Chapter 2: Nevermore!: Elvira is transported to 1838 Philadelphia, coming face to face with one of the greatest poets of horror, Edgar Allan Poe. While are sharing some absinthe at Poe’s favourite pub, Vlad busts in the door and demands that Elvira, who he addresses as Witch, return him to his own time. Will she and Poe come up with the perfect plan to get everyone back to their respective timelines? No, but they’ll sure have fun trying.

 

#3: Timescream, Chapter 3: Stoker? I Hardly Know ‘er!: Elvira time-traveling adventures take her to the author of Dracula himself, Bram Stoker. His wife, Florence, is less than impressed with the Mistress of the Dark upon their meeting. Vlad bursts onto the scene and soon mesmerizes Florence, running away with her. When Bram and Elvira attempt to rescue her, Dr. Faust appears to reveal his part of the story.

 

#4: Timescream, Chapter 4: Fauster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!: Elvira finally gets back to Los Angeles, but unfortunately to the wrong time. She’s dropped right in the middle of the filming of the iconic Frankenstein with the mysterious Dr. Faust and Vlad in pursuit. What ensues is a chase through various Hollywood film lots, much to the frustration of the directors and actors everywhere. One of them is running out of time…

 

 

cover art for Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, vol. 2: Elvira's Inferno

( Bookshop.org | Amazon.com )

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, vol. 2: Elvira’s Inferno by David Avallone, art by Dave Acosta

Dynamite, 2019-2020

ISBN-13: 9781524112677

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition, comiXology

 

#5: Elvira’s Inferno: Canto One: Elvira and Faust are both dumped in Hell after running into Mephistopheles. Dr. Faust, living with an angry, drunk, and violent Helen of Troy, is left to his personal hell when Mephistopheles agrees to lead her to talk with the Devil himself to get out of Hell.

 

#6: Elvira’s Inferno: Canto Two: Elvira makes her way down to the manager of Hell. Literally. She talks to a demonic whip wielding task master dressed in business attire looking for the way to her destiny. Her journey to Cerberus is fruitful, and she discovers a way to tame the beast to gain passage. She is finally met by her guide through the remaining circles of Hell, a man dressed in plain robes named Glenn.

 

Spring Special: Elvira in…Drive-In of the Dead: Elvira is the horror hostess at a genre film festival at the local drive-in when she discovers the opportunity to star in a film produced by the famous George Rottmero, who makes extremely most realistic horror movies. She finds out the disturbing secret behind the producer’s success, but it may cost Elvira her life. The second story in the Spring Special is “Elvira in…The Satan 500”.  After an eventful trip to the grocery store, Elvira is greeted by outside by Satan who challenges her to a car race. If she loses, she must marry him. She’s got one hope, and he’s sitting in her vehicle and calls himself Jason Voorhees.

 

#7: Elvira’s Inferno: Canto Three Elvira and Glenn, with Faust on their heels, travel further into Hell. Elvira and Glenn face the Minotaur, the traffic jam of the damned, and other unthinkable horrors before they can deal with the Devil.

 

#8: Elvira’s Inferno: Canto Four: Elvira finally meets Satan himself, with the watchful guidance of Glenn at her side, and her journey reaches its amazing conclusion. Our beloved Queen of Halloween must plead her case to the Devil to get out of Hell. Armed with her sassy wit and with Glenn and his secret identity by her side, it shouldn’t be a problem, right?

 

#9: Vroom Vroom, Witches!: Elvira, back in her own time and back on the movie set, she thinks she can finally get back to normal (well, normal for her) life. Little does she know that an evil coven of warlocks is attempting to enact a ritual that may mean her doom.

 

#10: Witches Get Stitches: A cult has taken Elvira to a hospital and has stolen her Darkness, her source of power. Her iconic dress and roadster even fall to the effects. At her time of need, she meets the mysterious superhero, Soul Survivor, who has also been on the chase for the cult. Together, they head out to face the cult members and regain the Queen of Halloween’s Darkness.

 

#11: Witch Way to the Apocalypse?: In the last issue, Elvira became separated from Soul Survivor and found herself magicked back to her house, Gonk greeting her upon arrival. She hops in her white roadster and tracks the cult to the Dark Ages Dinner Theatre where she faces her most frightening challenge yet: amusement park mascots! Can she get to the Soul Survivor in time?

 

#12: Vlad to See You Again: What, did you think Elvira was safe from the Impaler? Elvira and Soul Survivor are ready to vanquish the cult, but the cult is successful in summoning Vlad from Hell. He’s not having it. He captures our Mistress of the Dark but may not like the results when Elvira discovers the way she can regain her darkness.

 

Avallone and Acosta make a fantastic team on the Elvira: Mistress of the Dark series. Avallone captures the campy sass of Elvira, which of course is full of double entendres and terrible puns, all while weaving a compelling tale that keeps the reader’s interest through each issue. Acosta’s art is a great complement to the stories. He is able to depict the likeness of Elvira perfectly. Both volumes are highly recommended.

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on February 9, 2021 by , Reply

Book Review: It Came From: …The Stories and Novels Behind Classic Horror, Fantasy, and Science Fiction Films by Jim Nemeth and Bob Madison

cover art from It Came From... by Jim Nemeth and Bob Madison

(  Bookshop.org )

It Came From:  …The Stories and Novels Behind Classic Horror, Fantasy and Science Fiction Films by Jim Nemeth and Bob Madison

Midnight Marquee Press, Inc., 2020

ISBN-13: 9781644300916

Available: Paperback

In this book, critics Jim Nemeth and Bob Madison explore genre films and the written works that inspired their creation,  Each is presented in its own section, chronologically, and the written works that inspired them. While this book primaritly covered fantasy and science fiction films, this review will concentrate on the aspects of  the horror genre presented. The authors include information on the production of the films, as well as the differences between the texts and the movies. At times they also posit the view that the film may be better than the books, a controversial opinion among some audiences.

The author of the horror section introduction argues that horror is the most difficult genre to adapt because movies “that merely provides a book’s ‘Boo!’ moments are but empty shells, lacking the underlying background and context that frequently makes the literary piece the more satisfying experience” (p. 12). He then moves to his example of The Shining. While I do not necessarily agree completely with the author, he does make some interesting points. Films included in the horror section include The Body Snatcher, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Night of the Demon, Psycho, The Day of the Triffids, and Don’t Look Now.

Two titles receive special treatment in that they each have a significant chapter devoted to them: Dracula and Frankenstein. The authors look at “several of the best, worst, and most popular of their cinematic incarnations” (p. 11). Dracula films covered range from Nosferatu (1922) to Bram Stoker’s Dracula  (1992), while the Frankenstein films range from the first film version of Frankenstein (1910) to Victor Frankenstein (2015).

My primary criticism of the book is focused more on the overall contents rather than specific chapters. The authors interject their own opinions into the chapters in a way that can be a bit heavy handed. For instance, when it comes to science fiction, one of the authors makes it abundantly clear that he does not like the gritty, darker, current sci-fi storylines. Additionally, while it seems that each chapter is written by an individual author, it is difficult to tell who wrote which one.

This could be a good resource for anyone interested in exploring the literature upon which genre films are based, as long as readers are aware that the authors’  strongly expressed opinions are interspersed throughout.

Recommended with reservations.

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on January 24, 2021 by , Reply

Vault Review: Supernatural: Bobby Singer’s Guide to Hunting by David Reed

cover for Supernatural: Bobby Singer's Guide to Hunting

Supernatural: Bobby Singer’s Guide to Hunting by David Reed  ( Bookshop.org | Amazon.com )
It Books; Original edition, 2011
ISBN: 978-0062103376
Available: Paperback and digital

Editor’s note: This review was previously published in 2012 on a now-defunct version of our site.

I read a lot of serious, professional, technical books and articles for work, so when it is my vacation time I prefer to read books that don’t take themselves too seriously and are on a familiar topic. I’m looking for books that are candy for my brain.


While I was visiting friends I picked up a copy of Bobby Singer’s Guide to Hunting and started to read. I’m from Wisconsin, where the book is set, so seeing familiar places named as settings for this book in the first few pages gave me even more incentive to read. I quickly discovered that I was actually reading the journals of a desperate man who is trying to record everything he knows before his mind is wiped. Bobby hopes the process of writing down what has happened to him will help his sort out his reality. In essence, he is talking directly to you through his journal entries. His memories focus on some of his more powerful experiences, such as the demonic possession of his wife Karen; hunting down supernatural Ondine on a Trans-Pacific journey; and his eventual acceptance off the supernatural. The entries jump around in time as he flashes back to different points in his life: these memories often trigger his practical side, leading to entries that are more instructional with tips for hunting Angels and ghosts, as well as describing different types of demons classified by eye-color. As I am familiar with Native American Trickster folklore, I particularly enjoyed the entries about Bobby’s experience with Anansi who had retired and was playing bridge at the local retirement community.

Bobby Singer’s Guide to Hunting pokes fun at trends in popular fiction. I have noticed that the mystery section at my public library was filling up with what I describe as “craft-based” mysteries: books in which the protagonist not only is enthralled in a mystery but also finds time to share a recipe for apple turnovers or directions for a cable knit sweater that was mentioned in the story line. So when I discovered that this book also included a recipe for the readers I burst out laughing. I have also read a number of “how to survive a zombie apocalypse” style books as well watched various zombie movies and TV series so I found the tip sections humorous.

It wasn’t until I was already 70 pages into the book that my dear friend’s husband pointed out that the book I was reading was related to the TV show Supernatural. I have never seen the show so I don’t know how well the book supports the show’s themes, but I didn’t feel lost with the characters. Maybe the whole “I’m recording everything I know before my memory is gone” device allowed the author to present more background on the characters than normal. I have read books based on TV and movies I have seen before, and the author’s approach can vary. Some books, such as Chronicles of Riddick, are an SAT vocabulary rehash of the movie plot; some, like the CSI books, assume that you already know the characters’ back-story from the show; and others, like the Mr. Monk series, are written so you can see the connections and enjoy the story even if you aren’t an avid fan. This book fell into the last of these categories. I found it an easy and compelling read even though I wasn’t familiar with the related TV series. Highly recommended.

Posted on July 28, 2020 by , Reply
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