Normally, I am not a fan of updating works to a modern time or context, but Lansdale recalls rather than emulates elements of [a:Robert E. Howard|66700|Robert E. Howard|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1210954603p2/66700.jpg]'s legendary 1930s horror piece, creating a whole new work. Combined with Fox's unusual, stylized art, the duo successfully presents yet another interesting version of "Pigeons of Hell," which has previously been shot as an acclaimed 1961 Thriller episode and beautifully adapted to comics by painter [a:Scott Hampton|10762|Scott Hampton|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg]. In this very collection, Howard scholar [a:Mark Finn|63337|Mark Finn|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1190727703p2/63337.jpg] called Lansdale "the heir to Howard's legacy as the [a:Edgar Allan Poe|5756|Edgar Allan Poe|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1183237044p2/5756.jpg] of Texas." With this work, Lansdale proves it. ( )

On it's own, this is a good, creepy read! But compared to the story it's based on, it's just ok. Robert E. Howard's short story, of the same name, is much scarier and creepier and just a much better read! Maybe the weakness of this version is the expansion of the cast. Maybe it's the art. And maybe, just maybe, it didn't need to be updated. I really like Lansdale, and it is a good story, I just think that Howard nailed it the first time, and it probably should have just been left well enough alone. ( )