Comics Review
March 2024
Crafting compelling narratives in comic form requires a masterful blend of artistry, storytelling and patience. I love delving into a comic narrative that unfolds slowly, allowing its vast, intricate storyline to develop over time. Here are a few comics I'm enjoying that are doing just that.
The Lonesome Hunters
The Lonesome Hunters is a testament to the power of meticulous, deliberate storytelling. Tyler Crook's narrative is a thoughtful and careful exploration of mythology, posing compelling questions about the existence of magic on the fringes of our world, the individuals drawn to that power and how it defines them.Â
Lonesome Hunters is not only intriguing but also intensely beautifully illustrated. The love for this story and these characters is evident on every page. The story revolves around Howard—an old man now, raised by a religious cult to be a divine warrior in his youth—and Lupe, a young woman living with an uncaring uncle. Their paths cross through a blend of destiny and fate, leading them to form a partnership and bond. Together, they confront mystical entities, loneliness and loss. The Lonesome Hunters is a uniquely immersive experience deeply anchored in its mythology and emotional truth. Oh, and a huge magic sword.
Damn Them All
Anyone who knows me long enough will eventually discover my interest in the occult, ritual, and magic. In the realms of real-world magic, there is a special kind whose focus is on naming, cataloging, and summoning demonic entities. It's called goetic magic, and its entities and processes come mainly from a grimoire titled The Lesser Key of Solomon, which is a fascinating read. I even worked the Goetia into an episode of Roommate From Hell.
So, for enthusiasts of the occult and ritual magic, Damn Them All emerges as a gleeful exploration of the art of summoning demons. This comic, brought to life by the talents of Charlie Adlard and Simon Spurrier, presents a world where goetic magic not only exists but has become astonishingly accessible to those versed in the arcane. The narrative cleverly supposes a reality where summoning and controlling demonic entities is as easy as capturing Pokémon, leading to a chaotic race among London's magicians.
The protagonist, one of those quintessential British bastard occultist types with a troubled past, named Ellie "Bloody El" Hawthorne, returns to London to unravel the consequences of the broken wards of hell, all while confronting personal demons and navigating a web of revenge and revelation. Spurrier's storytelling prowess shines as he unpacks ancient demonic lore, reimagining these entities' roles in the modern world with a blend of humor, cleverness, and darkness. Damn Them All offers a revelatory take on the occult genre, melding historical mysticism with contemporary stories.
The Deviant
The Deviant is a foray into the nightmare world of a Christmas-themed serial killer. Echoing the eerie, slow-burn atmosphere of shows like Mindhunter, Deviant adopts a methodical pace. Its focus is on a young gay graphic novelist interviewing an older gay man who is in prison for the Christmas killings. However, it's clear to the reader that the older man is not the killer, as we see the killer plying his macabre trade intercut with the prison interviews and how these killings have affected the town.
Deviant is not just an immersive read, soaked in shadows and muted colors. It also maintains a palpable dread and anticipation, letting the story spool out slowly. The Deviant offers a nuanced exploration of its characters and motivations, set against haunting visuals and an intriguingly crafted plot.
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Here’s a peek at some art for A Story We Tell Ourselves by Anna Wiescyzck.
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