Poison Elves: Traumatic Dogs continues where Requiem for an Elf left off. Collecting issues 7-12 of the Mulehide run (issue 7 was the last published with the title I, Lusiphur) and introducing us to more of the denizens of the dark world Drew Hayes has created. So, it is only fit that I in turn introduce you to some of them.

First let me introduce you to Lady Belle Sinclair, a wonderful, kind hostess of a party Lusiphur attends. (He killed the guest he replaced.) But back to the lady, she did after all help Lusiphur escape being connected with one murder and those pesky charges and interrogations -- mainly be giving him a handy excuse to get out of the party. Unfortunately, she learned how to host your house-guest from Blue Beard. Too bad for her, her last guest was Lusiphur....

Then there is Parintachin. He is not entirely what he seems to be, and he just happens to live in the back of Lusiphur's skull. Parintachin routinely makes "arcane references" that confuse Lusiphur, such as Mr. Rogers and credit card applications ... which makes for very interesting dialogue at times.

And last but not least, Hyena, Lusiphurs' ex-wife. A human and a sorceress, she is not one to cross, unless you're someone she still happens to sort-of love -- but then again, Lusiphur didn't cross her. He just shot her dog. Anyhow, she had no qualms using her magic on him, if only to prevent a fight in her home. And she did warn him about that magic lamp and let him take it anyways. While she might be a long way from being perfect, she is not purely evil either.

And one last note, a reminder always keep an eye out for small details -- Parintachin's claws, for instance, or a name or two mentioned in passing. These kinds of things have a tendancy to pop up again, even if not for a year or more.

Drew Hayes continues the excellent story telling in this second collection, a pattern he even now continues in the ongoing Poison Elves series.

[ by Paul de Bruijn ]