Graphic Classics Vol. 7: Bram Stoker

Graphic Classics Vol. 7: Bram Stoker

Eureka Productions

By: Bram Stoker, Rich Rainey & Joe Ollmann, Tom Pomplun and Hunt Emerson, Gerry Alanguilan, J.B. Bonivert, Onsmith Jeremi, Evert Geradts, Tom Pomplun and Rico Schacherl

Edited by: Tom Pomplun

B&W, 144 pages

$11.95 U.S./$14.50 Can

A unique new presentation of Bram Stoker's classics

This original graphic novel collects a number of unique comic book adaptations of Bram Stoker's written works. It's amazing to see the quality of Stoker's library and nice to see a collection that highlights his works beyond the famous Dracula novel.

This newly reprinted edition features a cover by Mark A. Nelson and collects graphic adaptations of the aforementioned Dracula as well as The Judge's House, The Bridal of Death, Torture Tower, The Vampire Hunter's Guide, The Wondrous Child and Lair of the White Worm.

Dracula

Rich Rainey expertly transforms the written word of Stoker's most famous work into a solid graphic narrative that makes it one of the best and most faithful comic book interpretations of the classic novel to date. The story is presented in a way that is appropriate, the length of 46 pages perfectly retells the crux of the story without being mired in recreating every detail, but manages not to loose any key plot points either.

Joe Ollmann's work perfectly fits with the shadowy settings and grim foreboding of the story. Possibly some of Ollmann's best work to date.

The table of contents of the book also includes a haunting one page scene interpretation by Michael Manning.

The Vampire Hunter's Guide

Another re-interpretation of the classic Dracula novel, this time by Tom Pomplun and Hunt Emerson.

This interpretation may be one of the most unique and humorous I've seen done of Dracula. The story is a light hearted romp through the world of hunting the undead.

The five page story is presented as the words of Professor Abraham Van Helsing himself via his own journal of notes on hunting the undead. For the most part the text is taken seriously, often directly from the Professor's speech in the novel, something done here with great skill by Pomplun.

It is Hunt Emerson's graphic depictions that lend most of the humor to the story. The goofy, cartoonish depictions accompanying the text provide the perfect juxtaposition that will bring a chuckle from even the staunchest Dracula loving Goth enthusiasts.

The Judge's House

A much needed graphic re-telling of the chilling Stoker story by Gerry Alanguilan.

Alanguilan deftly retells the eerie story of a young scholar who arrives in a small town and finds himself drawn to an ominous house once used as the local hanging gallows.

The man likes his privacy and works late into the night, often impeded by the infestation of rats that surface in the darkest of hours.

The local townspeople worry about him, especially considering that they feel something is off about the house. Some say it may even be haunted by the murderous hanging judge who once called it his home.

An excellent adaptation of the original story in both story and art.

The Bridal of Death

This story by J.B. Bonivert is an adaptation of Stoker's classic The Jewel of Seven Stars.

Bonivert's quirky artwork and excellent pacing retells the story of a family with an obsession.

That obsession is hunting for the treasure of the ancient Egyptians and studying the arcane arts practiced by their priests.

The family is drawn together when an old relic hunter finally unearths the mummy he's been looking for and calls his daughter, her fiancé and his colleagues to his side to enact the sacred rituals of the ancient Egyptians.

TortureTower

Torture Tower is the cute, yet chilling adaptation by Onsmith Jeremi of Bram Stoker's classic "The Squaw".

In it a group of tourists make the mistake of disturbing a cat with her young kitten, accidentally causing the kitten's death.

When the group takes a tour of a local torture museum the cat sneaks inside looking to exact a bloody revenge.

The Wondrous Child

Reprinted directly from the original text by Bram Stoker, the story is accompanied by new illustrations from artist Evert Geradts.

The story revolves around two children who enter into a magical dream world where they discover a baby and all the animals live in peace with one another. There are many well disguised Christian overtones and principles similar to the teachings of Jesus. When the two children begin to fight with one another the dream world is disrupted and the only way to regain peace is for the children to work together.

Lair of the White Worm

This classic Stoker tale is adapted by Tom Pomplun and illustrated by Rico Schacherl.

Adam Salton is a young man who has returned to his family's ancestral homeland of Britain from his home in Australia in order to meet his Uncle Richard for the first time.

Adam and Richard hit it off and he soon finds himself socializing with the local young ladies and Richard's studious colleagues. Another wealthy land owner returns home at the same time causing a stir in the community. The man seems to have psychic powers, and is possibly being manipulated by a mysterious, attractive young widow.

Adam and his uncle investigate the mysterious goings on and discover that their community may indeed be home to an ancient evil race of subterranean animals that could possess the minds of mortal men.

This story has been under appreciated when compared to Stoker's work on Dracula, and it may even be the best story in Stoker's collections.

The adaptation is also one of the best re-tellings of the story, maybe even the book, and has been expertly translated into words and images by Pomplun and Schacherl.

Overall Opinion

Overall this collection of stories is not only one of the best editions of Graphic Classics that I have read, but one of the best graphic novels I've read in a long time.

There are very few circumstances where I have no criticisms, but I thoroughly enjoyed the entire collection from beginning to end with no distractions from the story found in any of the content within. It's rare that I rate a book 5 out of 5, usually only for works that can be considered life altering. In this case although the stories are not new, if someone discovered them for the first time through this edition then they may find the results to be life altering indeed.

5 of 5