In The Pines: 5 Murder Ballads

Dutch artist Kriek may be best known for his farcical Gutsman comics but here he turns his storytelling talents to much darker fare. Murder ballads, with their short, uncomplicated narratives and broad emotions, make ideal comics material, and as an artist Kriek is certainly up to the task. He sets each fable in a distinct nightmarish environment—the stormy decks of a ship, shaded forests, or slums bristling with angry mobs. His deep blacks seems inspired by Charles Burns, while his lanky, wide-eyed characters are reminiscent of the murderers and victims in the old EC horror comics. Kriek occasionally adds his own narrative spin to some of the ballads, and these tend to undermine the raw, emotional power of the tales. But this is a minor quibble. This is a beautiful and eerie collection, filled with betrayals, revenge, and exceptional visual storytelling. (July)