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Book Review: Eldritch Tides by Jessica Burke and Anthony Burdge, story concept by Jason McKittrick, illustrated by Brandon Zimmerman and Jason McKittrick

Eldritch Tides by Jessica Burke and Anthony Burdge, story concept by Jason McKittrick, illustrated by Brandon Zimmmerman and Jason McKittrick

Myth Ink Books, 2020

ISBN-13: 978-1087860534

Available: Paperback

It’s 2005, and a massive snowstorm hitting Toms River, New Jersey has Jeremiah Allen and his friend MJ experiencing cabin fever, arguing over who is the better dungeon master, eating junk food, and discussing Jeremiah’s obsession with his lineage. Donna and Marvin, Jeremiah’s foster parents, are not all that they seem…

Fast forward to October 29^th, 2012. Superstorm Sandy is threatening Seaside Heights, New Jersey. Jeremiah, now a fledgling cultist, finds an artifact that was unearthed the storm. He follows the path this mysterious Elder Tablet outlines for him, following the tentacled fish icons that will take him down the same path his ancestors followed. Dark magick awaits him, if he can only get it right. Jeremiah attempts to use the tablet to awaken… something. But it all goes wrong.

It is now the summer of 2019. Temperatures are unbearably hot and thunderstorms are in the forecast. Dr. Gilbert Halsey at the Toms River Psychiatric Unit has completed his evaluation of Jeremiah, who initially came in with no identification. The good doctor is met with the unexplainable; Jeremiah claims he is changing. After Jeremiah has what appears to be a series of seizures, Dr. Halsey is able to ascertain just to what degree Jeremiah’s body is… developing. Dr. Halsey contacts an old friend from Miskatonic University, and expert in strange happenings. Dr. Nora Danforth, with her assistant, Jeremiah’s old friend MJ, agrees to travel to Toms River to investigate the Elder Tablet, assess damage caused by a Shoggoth sowing death behind it, and interview Jeremiah for more information. However, when she and MJ get to the asylum, she is met with disappointing news—her childhood friend has escaped the institution. Dr. Danforth and MJ are on their own. Will they be able to reverse the course that Jeremiah started?

I enjoyed the structure of the book. The story is told through news reports, first or third person perspective vignettes, weather advisory bulletins, and journal entries. They merged well, and moved the story forward in an interesting way. The sections involving the Scout Troop, especially those regarding one of the members named Charlie, culminate in a startling revelation. I also liked that none of the characters were perfect—each had a distinct personality and flaws. Also, as a librarian who works closely with my library’s Special Collections unit, I’m curious about the curator’s dedication to the job at Miskatonic University. The Elder Tablet came from Miskatonic University’s Special Collections, and had been stolen several times prior. I would think that there would be stronger stipulations on accessing it. That is, provided that the item itself isn’t manipulating time and space?

I think the only criticism I have is that the text could have gone through one more edit. There were a few typos and some inconsistent punctuation. Regardless, the story was solid. It is suitable for adult as well as YA readers. Those interested in Lovecraftian works should definitely pick up Eldritch Tides. Recommended.

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on March 28, 2020 by Kirsten, Reply

Graphic Novel Review: Mississippi Zombie by Bradley Golden, Alex Barranco, Joe Wight, Marcus H. Roberts, et al.

Mississippi Zombie: A Horror Anthology by Bradley Golden, Alex Barranco, Joe Wight, Marcus H. Roberts, et al.

Caliber Comics, 2020

ISBN-13: 9781643377131

Available: Paperback, Kindle, comiXology

Caliber Comics brings us Mississippi Zombie: A Horror Anthology, a series of walking dead tales set in rural Mississippi. In “Mississippi Crossing Part 1”, Private John Hilliard of the 1^st Battalion, 155^th Infantry tells the story of his fight against the incoming zombie horde from the north. “Mississippi Crossing Part 2” presents two rednecks in a bar arguing over whether the zombie threat on the news is real, part of a government conspiracy, or if the town psychic was right, and it’s the beginning of the Apocalypse. The conspiracy theorist gets fed up and leaves the bar in a huff, only to discover the truth for himself. “Mississippi Crossing Part 3”, begins on a football field, where zombies break into the arena to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting public. One player fights his way free, only to board the wrong school bus. In “Grave Times”, Theodore and Angela Brown are newlyweds when the unthinkable happens. Angela succumbs to a mysterious illness and turns. Her devoted husband keeps her chained and locked in their basement. He delivers a freshly robbed corpse to her, but it isn’t warm enough for her refined palate. “Zombie Attack on Horn Island”, told around a campfire, includes hapless settlers, a vengeful witch, and bloodthirsty zombies. In “It’s All About Commerce”, four friends are trying to get to Commerce, Mississippi for safety to find something potentially much worse than the living dead. “Planet Z” gives us a science fiction take on the zombie story. It’s Christmastime in an industrial colony in Jackson, Mississippi. Unfortunately, the zombies didn’t get the memo about peace on Earth and good will to men.

I thoroughly enjoyed the stories in this anthology. They are short, sweet, and full of zombies. I want to focus on the artwork for a bit. Phil Williams provides chaotic, intense art for the “Mississippi Crossing” segments, especially when the zombies attack. It’s very well executed. The art for “Grave Times” by Antonio Acevedo is highly detailed and has some great shadowy effects. Shaun Barbour’s art in “Zombie Attack on Horn Island” and Harrison Wood’s art in “It’s All About Commerce both feel close to what you would see in Eerie or Creepy. Rod Espinosa has a slick art style that is great for a sci-fi horror comic. It would be great to see him do art for a Warhammer 40K comic.

I would recommend this for anyone who wants to support independent, well-done horror comics. I think it is important for libraries to find ways to hold these in their collections as well. Highly recommended.

Contains: blood, gore, zombies

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on March 28, 2020 by Kirsten, Reply

Excerpt: “Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe, from Poems to See By illustrated by Julian Peters

I am so delighted to be able to share this with you, not ust because it ties in so well to National Poetry Month, which is right around the corner, but because I do love Edgar Allan Poe, not just for his short stories but for his poetry, which sends chills down my spine. My daughter points out that this is more the product of an obsessive and frankly disturbed mind than a romantic heart, and she’s 100% right, but I still love “Annabel Lee” and its doomed, fairytale quality.

Thus when this excerpt from the soon-to-be published Poems to See By: A Comic Artist Interprets Great Poetry by Julian Peters was sent my way, I felt I had to share it. There are just too many people (and too many middle-schoolers and teens, for sure) who are ready to write off poetry entirely, and this is a wonderful way to draw them in. The book is a collection of 24 classic poems, not all (or even most) of them dark, but I was given permission to share with you all the pages illustrating “Annabel Lee”.

Annabel Lee page1