Crypt Of Shadows #1 [Part One] - Marvel Comics

CRYPT OF SHADOWS No. 1, December 2022

Despite being described by its New York City-based publishers as “an anthology comic packed with some of the spookiest characters the Marvel Universe has to offer”, the vast majority of readers who forked out the cover price for this forty-page periodical probably felt they had been tricked, not treated. For whilst Issue One of “Crypt Of Shadows” boasts a scintillating selection of creators for its celebration of All Hallows’ Eve, the poor quality of this book's narratives arguably shows it to simply be little more than a disappointing cash grab, rather than a respectful nod to Stan Lee’s old Seventies horror series from which it takes its name from.

Opening this supposed fright-fest is the utterly bizarre “Neither Big Nor Bad” by Danny Lore, which focuses upon Brielle Brooks just happening upon a pair of amateur ghost-hunters who are apparently restraining a spirit in Atlanta, Georgia “for magic experiments.” Proficiently pencilled by Karen S. Darboe, this tale tries to wrong-foot its readers by having the highly disagreeable Ravenette and Vince turn out to be the true monsters, and their demonic victim simply a dead husband who is patiently waiting for his beloved wife to die and join him in the Afterlife.

Far more intriguing, though just as quick to finish with still numerous questions unanswered, is Rebecca Roanhorse’s “Werewolf By Moon Knight”. Absolutely crammed with all sorts of disconcerting contrivances, such as just how the mysterious owner of a Bates Motel lookalike happens to know Jake Gomez is secretly a lycanthrope, or who told Marc Spector’s alter-ego that the sinister location happened to contain “two travellers in need of my protection”, this exhilarating tale still succeeds due to its awesome wolfman verses wolfman action; “Dammit. You were supposed to entertain the boy until I could persuade him to join us. Not challenge him!”

Furthermore, Geoff Shaw’s dynamically drawn panels are absolutely first-rate when it comes to depicting the sudden transformation of both this plot’s villainous butler and its young Mexican protagonist into frighteningly furry creatures. The impact of the pair’s blows against one another genuinely leap off of the printed page with their eye-winching savagery, and even the illustrator’s final picture, showing an infuriated mastermind vengefully watching the Fist of Khonshu detain his “second-in-command” is captivating, despite the shadow-shrouded figure simply standing silhouetted in one of his home’s upper storey windows.

Writers: Al Ewing, Danny Lore & Rebecca Roanhorse, and Artists: Ramon Bachs, Karen S. Darboe & Geoff Shaw