SLAPPY'S TALES OF HORROR

Four tales sure to give goose bumps…told graphically.

Each of the four tales collected here, inspired by early Goosebumps chapter books from the 1990s, is interpreted by a different comics artist. In panels that harken back to classic horror comics, Jamie Tolagson’s “A Shocker on Shock Street” relates the tale of two friends who get to test a horror ride based on their favorite movie franchise. Gabriel Hernandez’s shadowy, modern-looking retelling of “The Werewolf of Fever Swamp” finds new-kid-in-the-swamp Grady and his dog dodging a werewolf; and Ted Naifeh’s Little Orphan Annie–meets-manga–style “Ghost Beach” tells of siblings sent to live with distant relatives near a haunted cave. Each of these re-collected tales culled from previous Graphix publications gets ghoulish full-color treatment for the first time (final art not seen). The sole tale original to this collection, Dave Roman’s “Night of the Living Dummy,” is the most visually cartoonish of the lot. Competitive twins Kris and Lindy fight over Slappy, a ventriloquist’s dummy they find in a dumpster. To settle the argument, their mother just buys another dummy—with spooky results. Roman also contributes short, cajoling introductions to each title starring Slappy, à la the Crypt Keeper of old. Given the upcoming movie and the continued interest in the brand, this slick, well-done package will excite a lot of interest.

Nothing new and nothing too scary, all frights in good fun.