The Black Forest Book 2: The Castle of Shadows

The Black Forest 2: Castle Of Shadows reunites the creative team behind the original graphic novel (Which was excellent, by the way!), Todd Livingston, Robert Tinnell, and Neil Vokes, as they put Jack Shannon, Archie Caldwell, and the Vampiress Ilsa through their paces in a wildly entertaining sequel. They're searching for the lost notes of Victor Frankenstein, hoping to destroy them before the Germans can use them to create an unstoppable army of the dead. The black-and-white art is outstanding; Semi-cartoonish, but detailed enough to add a touch of realism, and the story itself is a Creature-Feature fan's dream come true. The only drawback is that the end SCREAMS OUT FOR A THIRD BOOK, and three years later, it's still not here, and may never be. The graphic novel is rounded out by a text piece tying the Black Forest to Philip Jose Farmer's Wold Newton Universe, and an 11-page Wicked West story. Good, solid monster fun at a great price.

Picking up immediately after the previous novel's conclusion, Jack Shannon and Archie Caldwell are trapped in the eerie "Castle of Shadows" by Dr. Tones Bosch, another scientist in the service of the Kaiser who intends to use the notes of the late Victor Frankenstein in his experiments to create a race of super-soldier apes. But stopping Bosch is only the beginning, as Jack and Archie must also contend with the sudden resurrection of an old friend.... as well as the revelation of a possible event that only spells certain doom for the unlikely heroes. The love that Todd Livingston, Robert Tinnell, and Neil Vokes have for the "Golden Age of Horror Films" once again shines through in this volume. Dr. Bosch is an especially interesting character, appearing to have been inspired by both Peter Lorre and Charles Laughton, specifically Laughton's Dr. Moreau from the 1930s horror classic, ISLAND OF LOST SOULS. Neil Vokes' art is a treat to see, as always. The black-and-white style he's perfected really gives the tale the appropriate old-school monster touch. My one nit-pick is that the story here seemed all-too short when compared to its titanic predecessor. But if the first BLACK FOREST novel was similar to HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, with its unusual assortment of monsters, a mad doctor, and a hunchback, then THE BLACK FOREST 2 is like HOUSE OF DRACULA: short, but sweet! Also featuring a plethora of extras, including a short story from the trio's other instant classic, THE WICKED WEST, TBF2 builds nicely on the intriguing universe Livingston, Tinnell and Vokes are developing. And with the effect of the gripping cliffhanger conclusion still felt, I eagerly hope that THE BLACK FOREST 3 won't be far behind!

this book is awsome..they should make it into a movie