Review by Frank Plowright

Ghosts continues a series of proven quality based on the short run TV show of the 1980s. Four creators or creative teams submit a story based on some form of myth or folklore, with the collections arranged around a theme. They all blend fantasy and the supernatural.

Have you heard of a myling? Well Márk Lázló and Patricio Delpeche explain over the first offering ‘The Myling’, which is very much in the style of a traditional fairy tale. A mother has to abandon her infant twins in the woods. In the way of such stories, one is taken by a kindly stranger, but the other dies in the snow, and their ghost is a myling unable to find peace. The surviving child carries a sense of something missing into his old age until circumstances conspire to reveal his past. It’s simply told, but effective, cleverly offers a folklore explanation for a natural phenomenon, and is also the only collaboration included, the remainder being the works of a single creator.

For much of ‘Envy & Ash’ it appears as if Jennifer Rostowsky is avoiding the ghost aspect of what’s otherwise a powerful story of possessive love, yet the ghost duly appears and in a very unusual form. Rostowsky’s elegant illustrative art highlights the important aspects while making good use of autumnal colour.

Autumnal shades also feature greatly in ‘The Promise’. As shown by their website, VER is an artistic talent over several creative forms, and supplies a haunting story of dark creatures repelled by light. Characterised by a impeccable sense of design and a real humanity to the old woman at the centre of the story, VER’s art is extremely accomplished in a tale packed with memorable images.

Michael Walsh has worked on superhero series, yet ‘The Last Lullaby’ is a very effective short fantasy story based on Irish legends. Brendan’s mother dies, and when he sees a dark presence in the woods he jumps to the conclusion his father will also. His grandmother will hear nothing of such nonsense. Be warned, even among a strong selection vying for the crown, this is the most disturbing offering.

Anyone who enjoys their fantasy with a touch of horror can’t go wrong with Ghosts. It’s a great collection, and Tricksters provides the next theme.