Harvey Horrors Collected Works: Black Cat Mystery, Vol. 1

Harvey Horrors Collected Works

by Harvey Horrors

Launched in the 1950's, The Black Cat Mystery later evolved into Black Cat, The Black Cat Western, and The Black Cat Mystic. We've collected the mystery titles together here for the first time in this unique 4-volume collection. Each contains 5 to 6 issues, digitally enhanced and faithfully reproduced. Each volume also features profiles of the artists such as Howard Nostrand, Rudy Palais, Joe Certa, and Manny Stallman with some fine examples of their original artwork. Volume One features issues #30-35 from August 1951 to May 1952. Thanks from Capt Chuck!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics

257 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2012

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wer in diesem Band nach der smarten und sexy Heldin Black Cat (Hollywood´s glamorous detective star)

sucht, wird leider nicht fündig. Ab 1946 hatte die Dame zwar ihre eigene Heftreihe, aber ab 1951 änderte Harvey das Konzept. Die Black Cat-Comics splitteten sich auf in BLACK CAT MYSTERY, BLACK CAT WESTERN und BLACK CAT MYSTIC.
In BLACK CAT MYSTERY verspricht die Schwarze Katze zu Beginn zwar noch, dass sie zwar nicht in jedem Abenteuer präsent sein wird, aber doch gelegentlich auftaucht. Darauf wartet man im Band 1 vergebens.
Es handelt sich beim Gros der Stories um sehr simpel gestrickte Horror-Geschichtchen, die hinter ihre Konkurrenz zurückfallen. Die Artwork ist gar nicht so schlecht, aber der Reprint lässt zu wünschen übrig, so dass es den Bildern an Schärfe und Frische fehlt (möglich ist es sehr wohl, das alte Material liebevoller zu restaurieren).
Immerhin, es sind die Heftcover und die original Werbung mit abgedruckt, und einige Geschichten und so manches Panel erfreuen den Liebhaber alter Comics doch.

[Kris Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Praised be PS Artbooks for rescuing these forgotten classics and releasing them in their entirety, ads and all, in full color deluxe hardcovers. While these are not quite as good as my beloved EC Comics of the day they are still fine, fine old school Horror comics that everyone should own. There is some tremendous artistic talent on this book. Rudy Palais has a decades-spanning career, ditto Joe Certa. Both of them are great artists who never seem to be mentioned by fans. Bob Powell is a fricking genius, one of the best artists of the 1950s bar none.

Some of the stories are silly, such as The Monkey's Paw-style riff Hand Of The Yogi. The Last Man On Earth is one of those Cold War fear mongering tales. Deadly Acres is probably my favorite in the whole book. All of the stories are pretty enjoyable and make perfect Hallowe'en reading.