Tuesday, April 11, 2017
The Curse of Carnoc Castle
Another L. Miller and Son reprint from the 1963 issue of Mystic #30... and as mentioned in our last post, this is pretty much a complete reprint of This Magazine is Haunted #1, sans color, and occasionally sans contrast. Still, this is a nice and creepy, (though somewhat lengthy) centuries spanning tale of rebirth and witchcraft with typically effective art from George Evans. One more story from this reprint issue to go, stay tombed...
These comics in black and white have an Eerie or Creepy Magazine look and feel to them.
ReplyDeleteBlack, white and shades of grey add to the effect of the illustrations in horror tales.
Wow, they butchered the living hell out of that reprint, didn't they? The previous story had crisp and beautiful B&W art and then they do this to the art on this one, it's a bit of a shame.
ReplyDeleteI like this story, horror works well with the never-ending loops.
Again, though, I never get the "ugh, a witch, I must run away" when the witch is obviously capable of looking hot! Just tell her "sure, no problem, just look hot around me, you can be a crone when cooking children in your gingerbread house." Problem solved!
I don't care how quick you turn, you're going to miss hearing the complete skeleton of a horse clattering to the ground!
I agree with Brian Barnes, this reprint looks terrible compared to the original version. The previous story looked elegant and haunting in black and white--but this one looks amateuristic and faulty--not to mention on the first page, some of the panels are compressed so tightly to the point where some of the original artwork is missing--such as the full words of the engraving or the image of the woman in the first panel.
ReplyDeleteThe story itself is a really weird one--especially when the woman is revealed to be a witch from the old Duke's past. Got to love the goofy expression on that horse when the Duke is touching it before it falls down dead.
He is of another world, and not for our eyes to see!"
ReplyDeleteWell, it's nice to see someone else having this said about them!
Couldn't quite get into this one, but always like Evans' art.
Even though the art in this version is less than stellar, I still liked it. It reminded me of the old black and white horror movies they used to show on UHF in the days long before digital TV or digital restoration of old movies.
ReplyDeleteBrian Barnes' comment makes a lot of sense. As I said about "The Coffin Maker," it seems like a whole lot of these "Bargain with the Devil" characters don't (or can't) include LOOKS as part of the bargain.
ReplyDelete"My wish for immortality is a curse! It was a sin to defy age and death!"
ReplyDeleteUh, I don't know from "sin", but what makes you an asshole, dearest duke, is that you straight-up attempted to kill a woman who had graciously done you the one impossible favor you had asked of her. Throughout this whole story everybody's all "you've got the cold heart of a witch" or "you're a hag" to poor Delena. But as far as I can tell, she's been a positive and productive member of society. She's presented as polite in the face of her boorish and hostile office, plucky on assignment, and possessed of her own agency to choose the lover and live the life she wants. And also, bonus, somehow able to grant eternal life. Seriously, what's not to like?