For me, HOUSE OF MYSTERY: LOVE STORIES FOR DEAD PEOPLE — the second volume in Matthew Sturges and Luca Rossi’s current Vertigo reboot of the long-running DC horror anthology title — provides the same kind of jolt as the company’s SANDMAN or FABLES.
Instead of being a strict anthology like its namesake was, this HOUSE was built with a singular story of people trapped in a creaky, old abode, but in each issue, someone tells a tale to another person, allowing the title to work in shorter pieces that play with horror and fantasy, sometimes to rather demented extremes.
This five-issue arc focuses on the house’s current residents — human residents, that is — trying to escape it, via its labyrinthian basement. Terrors lurk behind every turn, naturally, and even Abel — the host of the original HOUSE OF SECRETS, the sister of MYSTERY — drops in for a bit, tying the titles together without stretching believability or credibility. This being Vertigo, things get very bloody, which is one reason I love it.
As compelling as the continuing story is, the series is made better by the inclusion of the unrelated tales, even if they sometimes miss. The concept is unique, and each story is written and illustrated by those other than Sturges and Rossi, including Bill Willingham, Kyle Baker and Bernie Wrightson. In this volume, their contributions include tales of warring animals, Gothic monsters and a girl detective.
You never know what you’re going to get, and in comics these days — or all of fiction, really — being able to keep readers guessing is quite a feat. I highly recommend this one and its preceding HOUSE OF MYSTERY: ROOM AND BOREDOM. —Rod Lott
Related posts:
- Showcase Presents The House of Mystery: Volume 2
- Showcase Presents The House of Mystery: Volume 3
- Showcase Presents The House of Mystery: Volume 1
- Mystery Writers of America Presents Death Do Us Part: New Stories about Love, Lust, and Murder
- Ghost House Books + ghost stories = monster sales
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
this TPB was ok nothing groundbreaking. I also dislike the art it is horrible. The bland characters cuz of the art. They need better artists in Vertigo comics!!!