The two stories collected in “Kolchak Tales: Monsters Among Us!” (2009) further rectify a logistical problem with the “Kolchak, the Night Stalker” TV series. Here reporter Carl Kolchak takes a plane to two different paranormal cases, rather than staying in Los Angeles (his base in these comics). He goes to Nebraska in Christopher Mills’ “Night Stalker of the Living Dead” (2008) and Oregon in David Michelinie’s “The Frankenstein Agenda” (2007).
Both authors nail Kolchak’s speaking rhythms, and Mills in particular has fun by cutting forward to Kolchak narrating into his tape recorder on the return trip. In each panel, more passengers gather around him, as he’s oblivious to the fact that his gripping yarn has a pre-publication audience.
A slight flaw with both stories is that they’re rather blatantly about secret government experiments gone wrong. They’re not so by-the-book as to be utterly cliched, but they are formulaic.
“Kolchak Tales: Monsters Among Us!” (2009)
Collects: “The Frankenstein Agenda” Issues 1-3 (2007), “Night Stalker of the Living Dead” Issues 1-3 (2008)
Writers: David Michelinie, Christopher Mills
Illustrators: Don Hudson, Tim Hamilton
Colors: Monica Kubina, Ian Sokoliwski
Kolchak in fine form
“Frankenstein Agenda” is slightly superior, and I think that’s why this collection positions it as the finale, even though it was published first. Most notably, the art shines, as Don Hudson adds body language and facial expressions to go with Kolchak’s speaking style. I can hear Darren McGavin through the ink.
One little oddity: Michelinie (writer of some pretty good post-“Empire Strikes Back” stories in the original Marvel “Star Wars” run) doesn’t seem to realize Moonstone’s continuity has moved Kolchak into modern times. The reporter uses a landline and talks of using film for his camera. But meanwhile Hudson draws modern tech, as if to meet the writer in the middle.
Although the coloring by Ian Sokoliwski gives “Living Dead” an appropriately darker vibe out of the two stories, Tim Hamilton’s art is rough at times. Kolchak speaks of how cute local sheriff Kristin is, and a TV celebrity (returning to her hometown in the cornfields) is supposed to be a hottie, but the art doesn’t capture this. Comics need to show physical charms to some degree because appealing personalities aren’t as easy to portray.
Mad science in the sticks
Mills’ story has nice, light humor about how every foodstuff at the local festival is corn-based. And in a funny bit of continuity, our hero goes off on a spiel to Kristin about how these aren’t zombies – as we’re reminded that the “Kolchak” universe’s zombies are corpses reanimated by voodoo, as per the episode “The Zombie.”
While it’s helped by the art, “Frankenstein Agenda” is a tad better written, too. Michelinie paces the events well and gives us tasty Kolchak-Vincenzo banter and a running gag where Kolchak avoids writing his assigned story in order to probe the paranormal one.
While the idea of a good-natured sheriff in “Living Dead” is refreshing, “Agenda” is in the classic vein as Kolchak dodges officials. And the mad-science explanation goes enough outside the box to befit “Kolchak,” whereas it feels like Mills doesn’t know where to go with this element in his yarn.
Overall, this is a strong one-two punch, making for one of the better “Kolchak” collections I’ve encountered in Moonstone’s hit-and-miss series.
“Night Stalker of the Living Dead”: 3.5 stars
“The Frankenstein Agenda”: 4.5 stars
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