TALES FOR A HALLOWEENIGHT VOL 9 IS A LOT OF STORIES, LIGHT ON SCARES
As a fan of horror anthologies in all forms I was looking forward to what Storm Kings had in store with Tales For A Halloweenight Vol 9. Boasting 188 pages containing 12 stories did mean a menagerie of genres, styles, plots and surprises. However, for better or worse, this is really a collection of popcorn horror. Short, punchy, often cliched, randomly underdeveloped stories that are all but forgotten as soon as you start the next one.
Overall twelve stories seems to be too many for the page-count. Many of the narrative issues are because they are simply too short for the ideas and plot they are trying to tell. Had they reduced the number, even just as many as eight, removing the stories that had the shallower ideas, this would have given room for the potential of those that needed expanding. This would have allowed pacing and escalation, creating much richer content.
One particular story, Ichor Moon Rising, had an interesting setup. 30’s style detective, plagued with prophetic dreams, investigating a cult that may have cursed the city with eternal night. It is the sort of story that needs a gradual build up as he finds evidence and follows leads. But 13 pages is simply not enough to both build the plot threads and then bring them together for the climax. So everything appears to come to the detective too easily and the story is over just as you’re starting to get into it.
The artwork for Ichor Moon Rising was particularily interesting
To top it all off, one story isn’t even a comic, but plain text. I’ve seen this with a number of comic anthologies and I find it frankly confusing. I often wonder if there is some production reason or problem to explain why it couldn’t be illustrated. It is very jarring because after several gruesome and graphic tales, you are given one where you are literally left thinking “That’s a pretty grotesque set piece you’re describing there, pity you didn’t actually draw it.”
Overall, there is some serious talent on display. Most of the writing and art is really good, and of what there is narratively, this is an entertaining read. But as each story shows its potential (at least those with potential), they are already over and you are cut off from really feeling much of anything. Whether it be fear, dread, discomfort, elation or humour, you don’t get to really immerse in any of it before being ferried on to the next in line.
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