The Fellowship was fortunate enough to obtain a copy of THE
CASK OF AMONTILLADO from Action Lab Comics and Red Stylo Media. Enrica Jang
adapts the story by Edgar Allan Poe, and Jason Strutz draws and colors.
Fortunato is lucky indeed. In the middle of the Carnival
celebration, his good friend Montresor has found him and is claiming to have
procured a pipe of the finest Amontillado. Now he’s offering to show him and
allow him to taste the exquisite wine. All he must do is follow Montresor deep
into the cellars under Venice, braving his allergies and the damp air.
Adapting classic stories is a tricky path, and this one is
navigated very well indeed. Many of the best adaptations rely strongly on the
art to take the story to a different level. And the art here is darkly subtle
and carefully revealing. The cellars feel ominous and dreadful, and Fortunato’s
horror when he realizes what’s happening is gripping. Both writer and artist
are clearly in sync in this beautiful adaptation of one of my favorite Poe
tales.
If you know anyone who hasn’t read Poe, this book would be
an excellent way to introduce them to the dark wonder of his short fiction. A
good reason to pick up a spare copy, I’d say.
~Mike ( @MikeyGeek )
