"Fifteen Minutes"
Writer: Dave Ulanski
Artists: Dan Dougherty
"Blood"
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Artists: Ron Frenz(p), Sal Buscema(i)
"A Clue to the Truth"
Writer: C.J. Henderson
Artists: Ron Harris(p), Keith Williams(i)
Publisher: Moonstone
If you ask me J-horror has ruined the ghost story. The Japanese ghosts are just so damn powerful that rather than run away or try to beat the beasties, you're better off expending energy to bargain with them for a last meal and some sex with a willing partner of your choice. Always be careful how you phrase requests to supernatural entities. Kolchak Tales returns the ghost story to tradition. The three stories in the anthology focus on the ghost milieu of the past. In addition all three combine to open a new chapter in the life of Carl Kolchak.
When last we saw Kolchak, he had been axed from The Hollywood Dispatch, this time not by long-suffering friend Tony Vincenzo but by publisher Morgan Slate. Carl has found himself in this position before, and his dire straits recall Carl's low point in the Night Strangler.
The first story by Dave Ulanski pushes Carl toward a pair of married ghost-hunters that through characterization as well as some carefully crafted combative-dialogue distinguish them from others operating in their field. They also represent a logical progress in Carl's career, or lack thereof.
Ulanski sets up Carl's meeting with the ghost hunters and uses the tragedy of September Eleventh in a very unique way. The ghost is an inventive creature, and the black and white artwork heightens the suspense and eerie atmosphere. The story furthermore allows for a smart use of continuity that strengthens Carl's bonds with his former cohorts.
The second story surprisingly brings The Amazing Spider-Girl team to Nightstalker territory. Tom DeFalco is extremely underrated. Given Ulanski's experience with Kolchak, I expect him to perfectly capture Carl's playful narration. Although most readers are used to DeFalco employing second-person narration for May Parker, DeFalco easily recalls Darren McGavin's delivery in Kolchak's first person narrative.
The story DeFalco comes up with is nothing short of impressive. He even makes use of the infrequent tactic of Carl's involving made up relatives to save his bacon. The avenging specter's motive is original, and the implication in Carl's life furthers the continuity of the character. Ron Frenz and Sal Buscema on Kolchak create a superb comic book treat in traditional style that also intensifies the violence and the emotions of the characters.
The third story by C.J. Henderson offers the reader a historical lesson in ghosts and poltergeists, and here Henderson uses the ghost story in its traditional surprise shade of sheet. Beyond the very tactile artwork of Harris and Williams--which at times recalls that of John Byrne at his best--the finale suggests something new about our favorite Nightstalker.
Three Kolchak tales, and all feature enjoyable bumps in the night rather than clunks against readers’ brains.
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