Book #472 – Saga by Brian Vaughan

Before anyone asks about why I’m adding a science fiction Romeo and Juliet type story to the Halloween reading list, please look up “Saga The Stalk” and tell me she isn’t nightmare fuel! Also, there’s a pink disemboweled ghost as one of the main group of characters, as well as several races of creatures that would probably be termed as monsters if the comic series was set on Earth (Ginny the bat woman, and Heist the cyclops along with MANY others).

The first chapter of Saga was published in March of 2012, with chapters published monthly up until it’s hiatus in 2018. There are 54 chapters currently, published in 9 volumes or 3 books or 1 large compendium. I went with volume choice myself, as it seemed to be the most popular option, and split the book into what are considered the arcs of the story line. Also, just as a warning in case you decide to run out to the store and buy all 9 volumes, it’s been referred to as “the Star Wars for perverts” by the author, and he’s not kidding.

Book #237 – The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

While most people likely had to read Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in high school, I somehow managed to not be assigned this book. That does not mean that my high school career was free of its influence, oh no. I took chorus as an elective, and we sang a medley from the musical that shares the stories name and general theme. And if you haven’t heard about 3 dozen or so teenagers belting out the lyrics to “Murder, Murder”, you may count yourself lucky.

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was first published as a novella in 1886, and was one of many penny dreadfuls that were common in England during the 1800s. Perhaps the only reason that this particular “shilling shocker” survived the test of time where others were lost to obscurity? This was partially due to several preachers using the book to try and teach morality from the pulpit, and partially because it ran as a stage play in 1888. The preachers may have been the main selling point though, because the stage play was cancelled on account of Jekyll’s actor being considered a suspect for the Jack the Ripper murders. (Apparently, Scotland Yard took his acting ability very seriously.)