Spirits of St. Louis

Spirits of St. Louis: 13 Tales of Terror in the Gateway City by various authors; horror, graphic novel; 80 pages

I have mixed feelings about this book, which is understandable, given the broad range of stories and styles included in this collection. collects stories of St. Louis comic artists and writers. Each story is meant to focus on our fair city, while also providing a good chill. There's a wide range of both tone and subject matter, from such classic fare as the Lemp family history, or retellings of Edgar Allan Poe in a St. Louis setting, to completely original stories set in the Gateway City. Some of these were very effective--an impressive feat, given that most stories are only six or eight pages long. Others felt like they were on the cusp of getting good just when they ended, and I found myself wishing for a longer format, so things could be fleshed out more. And of course, there were a few that I just didn't get--either because the humor wasn't my style, or because I had trouble finding the St. Louis connection that was so heavily present in others. Overall, this is an interesting collection, and a great introduction to the comics talent native to our city!