In the movies and TV series, Carl Kolchak is defined by his job and Darren McGavin adds charisma. But those episodes don’t dig deeply into the reporter’s psyche. The stories in “Kolchak: The Night Stalker: Volume 2 – Terror Within” (2006) succeed in rectifying the oversight.
In “Devil in the Details” (2003), “Pain Most Human” (2003) and “Pain without Tears” (2004), we see how Kolchak is driven to do his job – to seek and expose the truth. Many real-world journalists can relate. The monsters — and monstrous actions by humans – trouble him, but he can’t bring himself to find a different vocation or avocation. Even if it’s killing him.
Tiny frights
It’s no coincidence that this character description sounds like Fox Mulder. Furthering the “X-Files” comparison (which – let’s face it – is impossible to avoid in any “Kolchak” review), Stefan Petrucha’s “Devil in the Details” plays out like a later-season X-File.
“Kolchak: The Night Stalker” Volume 2: “Terror Within” (2006)
Collects: “Devil in the Details” (2003), “Pain Most Human” (2003), “Pain without Tears” (2004)
Writers: Stefan Petrucha, C.J. Henderson
Artists: Trevor von Eeden, Ken Wolak, Dawn Groszewski, Greg Scott, Terry Pallot, John Statema, Dave Ulanski, Andre Maitland, Dennis Calero
Victims find themselves wasting away, starting by watching their hand disappear and ending with their whole body gone. Only a pile of clothes remains. How does this happen? Nanobots are programmed to attack the target’s specific DNA.
Like a later-season X-File, we might appreciate more details. Yet Petrucha creates a freshly creepy vibe within the otherwise staid “Beware of technology” subgenre. He’s helped by the dark artwork by Trevor von Eeden (pencils) and Ken Wolak and Dawn Groszewski (colors).
The likenesses are weak, and overall, this volume’s art is not as crisp as Volume One’s. But the mood appropriately soaks into the page in all three stories.
Petrucha includes Kolchak’s talent at attracting women (an element of the movies, not the TV show) and adds comedy with his editor, Vincenzo, struggling to put together a toy for his nephew. Thus the “Kolchak” formula is complete.
Henderson goes darker
Carl’s dating skills continue throughout this volume, but the comedy goes away. C.J. Henderson’s “Pain Most Human” opens with Kolchak sitting in a bar, where he has been for days. He’s not drinking (the bartender has taken pity on him, even letting him sleep there), but he looks horrible.
We learn Kolchak has killed a living being. It’s not necessarily his fault, but we understand why he feels bad. Furthermore, he gets an up-close view of the U.S. government’s horrible treatment of an alien. It’s thematically reminiscent of the second “X-Files” episode, “Deep Throat.”
The art by Greg Scott and three others is inky to the point that I was checking my fingers after reading. But it’s effective: Kolchak truly looks like he’s had a rough go.
It’s always a good day to brood
Henderson continues to explore depression and supernatural emotional manipulation in “Pain without Tears.” The art by Dennis Calero looks like a series of paintings; it’s a softer side of noir compared to the grit of the first two stories.
Again, Kolchak is brooding in a bar. But Henderson wants to give the reporter a break this time. (And why not? “Kolchak” has room for fantasy stories.) Beautiful but sad Yitt Feng joins him. She’s an empath, and she is drawn by Carl’s depression.
Henderson’s method of starting with the ending then circling back around to it creates an ephemeral, reflective vibe. Feng’s “X-Men”-style skill is to make people feel happy, even if they aren’t. Sinister forces – governments, cabals, etc. — want to capture her and make her use this skill to trick their enemies.
The tragic tale incongruously ends with Carl happy – despite knowing he shouldn’t be. But that’s OK: “Kolchak” is the type of franchise that can support endings that don’t tidily fit into a box.
All three “Terror Within” yarns walk a fine line. They are “unsatisfying” in that the bad guys aren’t captured or punished. Yet they are satisfying in that we grasp the toll this job takes on Kolchak.
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