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Graphic Novel Review: Lugosi: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood’s Dracula by Koren Shadmi

Cover art for Lugosi by Koren Shadmi

Lugosi: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood’s Dracula by Koren Shadmi

Life Drawn, 2021

ISBN-13: 978-1643376615

Available: Paperback, Kindle, comiXology ( Bookshop.org  |  Amazon.com )

 

 

Lugosi: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood’s Dracula is a graphic biography of one of the most recognizable men to portray Dracula, Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó, or simply Bela Lugosi. Shadmi tells the story of the young Bela fleeing Hungary after a failed Communist revolution in 1919. Upon coming to the United States, he “reinvents himself”, acting on stage and screen, eventually being cast as the titular vampire count in 1931’s Dracula. However, Lugosi’s constant vices and failed marriages haunted him throughout his career and beyond.

 

Shadmi did not hold back with Lugosi, opening with Lugosi in 1955 admitting himself to the Motion Picture and Country House Hospital in an attempt to defeat his heroin addiction. From there, we are taken to Lugos, Hungary in 1893 where a young Bela is acting in a field after becoming entranced by a traveling acting troupe that recently left. A group of bullies attack him, and then he returns home to his strict, banal parents. Soon after, Bela faces the death of his father and the hatred of his mother. At this point, he takes some of his possessions and leaves home. The story then switches back to Bela in the hospital where he is facing detox, hallucinations, and the physical and emotional pain that tortures him. The rest of the book follows in this manner, going from sepia colored modern day to crisp black and white telling of the past. More of Bela’s past is revealed, including affairs, drug addiction, arrival in the United States, struggles with Hollywood, his rivalry with Boris Karloff, acting for the notorious Ed Wood, Jr., and more, while Lugosi faces his demons in the hospital. It is a powerful biography fans of Lugosi should read.

 

Shadmi has become one of my favorite creators. Lugosi: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood’s Dracula will be another graphic biography on my bookshelf. Highly recommended.

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on March 23, 2022 by , Reply

Book Review: Extasia by Claire Legrand

Extasia by Claire Legrand

Extasia by Claire Legrand

Katherine Tegen Books, 2022

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062696632

Available: Hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition, audiobook

( Bookshop.org |  Amazon.com )

 

Extasia is a fiercely feminist dark novel of a post-apocalyptic community drenched in patriarchy and cult-like violent misogyny straight from The Crucible and Year of the Witching. The dogma is that women were responsible for the destruction of the world and thus four young girls are honored with the “sacred duty” of becoming saints, scapegoats who once a month face brutal mob violence from the community in order to expiate their sins. A serial killer has been murdering men, and the upcoming sainthood of Amity Barrow is expected to bless the community and end the killing. When the murders continue, Amity and her sister saints realize they must find a way to either solve the murders or escape. Just as things seem desperate, she is transported with her sister saints to a secret world, Avazel, and invited to join a coven and learn to wield the magical, dark power of extasia to end the killings and realize her own strength… but there’s more going on under the surface than she knows.

 

Extasia is visceral, violent, and disturbing in its intensity, but Amity is not completely isolated. She develops imperfect but strong relationships with girls and women from her community and the coven that survive even significant disagreements. While it’s somewhat heavy-handed, Legrand has outdone herself in creating a dark, powerful, horror story made even more terrible by the foundation of lies, grisly violence, and hate on which human survival after the apocalypse has been built..Recommended for ages 16+

 

Contains: violence to and killing of animals, attempted rape, torture, gore, murder, body horror, violence, gaslighting, religious trauma.

 

Reviewed by Kirsten Kowalewski

Posted on March 7, 2022 by , Reply

Graphic Novel Review: Just Beyond: Monstrosity by R. L. Stine, illustrations by Irene Flores, inks by Joana Lafuente

cover art for Just Beyond Monstrosity by R.L. Stine  

Just Beyond: Monstrosity by R. L. Stine, illustrations by Irene Flores, inks by Joana Lafuente

BOOM! Studios, 2021

ISBN-13: 9781684156979

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition, comixology 

(Bookshop.org |  Amazon.com )



 


 


Ruthie and Ezra Dillon’s father Matthew and uncle Frankie have purchased the old Hollywood movie studio, Monstrosity, known for the best horror flicks of the 1950s. Matthew’s dream is to resurrect the defunct studio and produce modern horror movies with a nostalgic feel. While Poe, an elderly caretaker of the studio, takes the children on a tour of the grounds, the brothers bicker over the financials of running the business.


 


One of the former film directors eventually starts work on new films for Monstrosity, only to be thwarted at every turn. Matthew and Frankie hire on a new studio manager, Eve, to try to get things in order. During one of their excursions on the studio lot, Ruthie and Ezra discover the old animatronic Wolfescreem, as well as others around the place. When the story shows the tale of the creation and potential destruction of the Wolfenscreem automaton, things in the modern day start to get a little more interesting.


 


The story was great and, while it is meant for middle grade readers, adult readers may enjoy the story as well. The graphic novel is fast paced, and made for a good distraction. The artwork is well-done, and the creature designs are reminiscent of those from the classic creature features, but different enough to make them unique. Recommended.


 


 


Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

                        

    

        Posted on  March 2, 2022 by , 
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