Ted Naifeh has proven that the Courtney Crumrin concept has plenty of legs, producing three miniseries, each one of them either as entertaining or better than the last. With the first of Courtney Crumrin Tales, he also proves that there's plenty of life in the characters even if Courtney herself is missing in action. Courtney Crumrin Tales is a series of standalone stories focusing on supporting cast from the Courtney Crumrin minis, starting with her warlock Uncle Aloysius. What we know of Aloysius from the miniseries comes from our vision of him as an older man who has withdrawn from society (and from his secret society) in growing frustration and disappointment, but Naifeh shows us in this story a younger, more adventurous Aloysius in a pulp setting. The result feels true to the character and true to the spirit of Courtney Crumrin, but also very different from what has gone before at the same time.
What struck me most about Courtney Crumrin Tales was the amount of action that Naifeh included. It's not that the Courtney minis haven't featured action, but the change of setting and tone to something more akin to Indiana Jones was a surprise. It's a pleasant one, however, as Naifeh serves up some great action sequences and a terrific action hero in the form of '30s adventurer Goose Daniels. Watching Goose power his way through the magical traps of archmage Elkan Gunzt is akin to that feeling you get watching a pulp hero outwit the cleverly imagined traps of an ancient society, and Naifeh does a great job of capturing that classic feel while still innovating in the specifics of the traps. The sinking carpet in particular is a nifty visual.
While the attempts of Goose to infiltrate the house are certainly some of the more stirring images in Courtney Crumrin Tales, they are not even remotely the center of the story. As with the main Courtney Crumrin minis, Naifeh doesn't really let us completely into Aloysius's head, because the narration is from the point of view of a young woman who comes to know Aloysius's secret early in the story. Alice is a terrific narrator, the anachronistic strong woman that is common to pulp adventure tales, and while her role in this story is similar to Courtney's role in the minis, the two characters couldn't really be more different. Alice's interest in Aloysius's world is tinged with revulsion and distrust, rather than the simpatico vibe that Courtney quickly found, and her uncertain relationship with Aloysisus throughout makes for great dramatic tension. Is she an enemy? An ally? A romantic interest? I feel like I need to go back and read the other Courtney miniseries and see if Alice has recurred and I just don't remember her. Certainly the fairy servants of Gunzt should look familiar to most Courtney fans, and I appreciated the subtle reveal of how Aloysius earned some of his powerful friends and enemies.
In crafting the world of Courtney Crumrin, Naifeh has created a world that will appeal to goth sensibilities, but it's not one that puts off those of us who aren't into that particular vibe either. His approach to the magic that hides in the crevices of the world is akin to the work of Neil Gaiman, and I really enjoy that there's a sense of fun as well as responsibility to the magic that Aloysius uses. The spell he uses to avert the muggers has some amusing after-effects, and there's a restrained, gentlemanly beauty to the spell he casts on the last page of the book as well. At the same time, Naifeh doesn't whitewash the darker elements of magic or dealing with evil magicians, and the ruthless way in which Aloysius deals with a dangerous enemy is a shocking moment in the story. There's a touch of mystery and wonder and danger all wrapped up in the fantastic elements of Courtney Crumrin's world.
While I love the Courtney Crumrin stories, and this one shot is perfectly satisfying on its own, when I finished reading it, I immediately wanted more. More of Aloysius's early days as a warlock, his adventures throughout the decades and his transformation from laconic yet confident warlock adventurer to recluse are all stories I'd love to see told over time. With Courtney Crumrin Tales, Naifeh has opened up the possible avenues of story for this property far beyond what I had thought possible, and I have always had a lot of respect for the possibilities in the first place. Whether you're a regular Courtney fan or just someone with a taste for '30s-era adventure tales with a tinge of magic, I think you'll find plenty to like in Courtney Crumrin Tales.
