Edgar Allan Poe’s Spirits of the Dead

This is the complete collection of Edgar Allan Poe classics adapted by master horror comics artist and Eisner Hall of Fame inductee Richard Corben.Collects all DHP stories, The Conqueror Worm, The Fall of the House of Usher #1–#2, The Raven and the Red Death, Morella and the Murders in the Rue Morgue and more.

Like many people can probably say, I was pretty intrigued by everything to do with Edgar Allan Poe.  Everything I ever read from him drew me in and had me lost in every dark and terrible tale.  These kinds of stories are practically made for being translated into comic form.  Now, for those who haven't experienced them before, Edgar Allan Poe’s Spirits of the Dead collects all the impressive adaptations by Richard Corben.

I have to be completely honest in how ashamed I am to have never read any of the individual retellings that Richard Corben did.  Fortunately, I've now had the chance to read them all in one sitting, and although I wish I had done so before, it was worth being late to the party.  This book collects all of his absolutely brilliant treatments of the Poe classics, and shows us why Corben is a master at his craft.  As they say in the intro, Edgar Allan Poe had he been around today would have seen a soul mate in Corben, and that is proven throughout this book.

If for whatever reason you've never read Poe, then this is a really good way to introduce you to his world.  Corben does so much justice to all the original short stories with his own new vision of them.  It's been a long time since I read the originals, and every single one in this book brought me back to my youth with renewed appreciation.

Along with the amazing writing in each story, Corben does an insanely good job with all the art.  There's a particular kind of look that Poe tales needs to possess, and Corben does a flawless job giving them that appearance.  Each and every morbid frame of all the stories in this collection is purposeful and intense, and is the perfect partner to complete the book.

If you enjoy Poe, then you need this book.  If you enjoy Corben, then you need this book.  If you appreciate good writing and art, or just need a good book to fill an empty spot in your shelf, you need this book.  What I'm getting at, is that you pretty much need this book and should get it as soon as possible.

For more information on Edgar Allan Poe’s Spirits of the Dead or other Dark Horse books, check out Dark Horse Comics.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments and opinions are those of the individual reviewer.