Book Review: Eerie Archives, Volume 3

Archie Goodwin, et.al., Eerie Archives, Volume 3. Milwaukie, OR: Dark Horse, 2023. ISBN: 9781506736211.

Genre: comics, horror

Subgenre: vintage, suspense, mystery

Format: trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington (KY) Public Library 

I continue reading this series and enjoying it. If you enjoy suspense and horror tales with a twist, this volume may be for you. Some of the artists featured include Archie Goodwin, Joe Orlando, and Reed Crandall. The volume includes a foreword by Gail Simone. The volume features two adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe short stories: "The Telltale Heart" and "The Masque of Red Death." The book collects issues 11-15 of Eerie Magazine. 

As Gail Simone describes in her foreword, this was a "dark period" for the publisher as Archie Goodwin, the editor, left along with some of the original artists. Still, I enjoyed the volume. I like the variety of art by different artists. Overall, I found the stories entertaining. 

Some of my favorite tales in this book include: 

• "The Mummy." 
• "The Monster from One Billion B.C." 
• "The Masque of Red Death." 
• "The Past Master." This is an adaptation of a Robert Bloch tale. This tale shows what happens when warnings are not heeded. 
• "The Talkers" reminded me of some classic Twilight Zone episodes. 

In the end, I really liked this volume, and I continue enjoying the series. It was an easy reading. If you like horror with suspense and a bit of the unexpected, this can be for you. The art is black and white, but makes up for it in good use of shadows to bring the tales to life. 

I recommend this for libraries that collect graphic novels and comics. Volumes like this one make it easy for new readers to discover and experience these tales. I'd order it for our library and for my personal collection. 

5 out of 5 stars .

 

Book qualifies for the following 2025 Reading Challenge: