WRITER: Cole Haddon
ART: M.S. Corley
COLORS: Jim Campbell
LETTERS: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
32pp, Color, $3.50 U.S.
Published by Dark Horse Comics, The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde is a four-issue comic book series from writer Cole Haddon and artist M.S. Corley. The series connects Jack the Ripper with characters from the novella, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by author Robert Louis Stevenson, to create a riveting suspense thriller and Victorian murder mystery.
The narrator is Inspector Thomas Adye of Scotland Yard who is trying to catch the Whitechapel Murderer (Jack). He seeks the help of Dr. Henry Jekyll, who is also Mr. Edward Hyde, because the man who is Jack the Ripper is apparently using the same formula that turns Jekyll into Hyde.
As The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde #3 opens, London is made aware that Leather Apron, the man whom Inspector Adye arrested for the Whitechapel murders (in the second issue), is not the culprit. Jack the Ripper dares Adye to attend a party at the Griffin House, the London residence of Lord Griffin, a personal advisor of the Prime Minister.
Certain that he will need help handling the monstrously strong Ripper, Adye brings Dr. Jekyll with him to the party. However, Adye comes to believe that the Ripper has tricked him or has he? And the Ripper’s identity is revealed.
The third issue of The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde is practically a Victorian buddy movie and action comedy. The bawdy humor is as smooth as it is salacious. The action comes in novel set pieces that are bloody, but equally inventive.
Many readers probably saw the results of the big reveal that comes at the end of this issue at least earlier in this issue. Writer Cole Haddon seems to believe that the fun of reading is in getting to revelations rather than picking through clever tricks to hide the truth. Artist M.S. Corley’s quirky graphics and solid storytelling bring this fun to life in a way that makes you want to read your favorite passages over and over again.
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