In The Pines by Erik Kriek, Hardcover | Barnes & Noble® B&N Top 100 NY Times Bestsellers
by Erik KriekErik Kriek
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A Dutch cartoonist adapts five murder ballads  some of which have been covered by modern masters like Nick Cave, Steve Earle, and Gillian Welch  into ruthless graphic narratives.
A collection of murder ballads  some of which have been covered by modern masters like Nick Cave, Steve Earle, and Gillian Welch  that have been adapted into ruthless graphic narratives.
Dutch artist Kriek may be best known for his farcical Gutsman comics but here he turns his storytelling talents to much darker fare. Murder ballads, with their short, uncomplicated narratives and broad emotions, make ideal comics material, and as an artist Kriek is certainly up to the task. He sets each fable in a distinct nightmarish environment—the stormy decks of a ship, shaded forests, or slums bristling with angry mobs. His deep blacks seems inspired by Charles Burns, while his lanky, wide-eyed characters are reminiscent of the murderers and victims in the old EC horror comics. Kriek occasionally adds his own narrative spin to some of the ballads, and these tend to undermine the raw, emotional power of the tales. But this is a minor quibble. This is a beautiful and eerie collection, filled with betrayals, revenge, and exceptional visual storytelling. (July)
Kriek’s inky drawings fit the dark tone of these harsh tales of homicides, self-defense killings, and unjust executions. In no cases do Kriek’s variants displace the song, but they possess their own moody emotional power.
With relatively straightforward storytelling and simple, yet effective reveals that often render the murderer the most sympathetic character, Kriek's chapters are perfect realizations of these ballads. A quick but lingering read, In the Pines deserves to be appreciated with its source music echoing hauntingly in the background.”