Oni Press 2015
Written by Cullen Bunn
Illustrated by Drew Moss
Coloured by Nick Filardi
Lettered by Crank
Okay there’s nothing like good ole southern nightmare of terror! God i’m such a huge fan of Cullen’s work and the way he’s able to write these characters and have me giving each one that awe shucks country boy drawl in my head yeah it really makes this incredible. I also have to admit that the way the narration starts off captured my interest immediately. There’s something about a small backwater town that screams out for this type of story and the setting, characters and whatnot all conspire to really get under the reader’s skin.
Cecil running his mouth about omens and portents while R.F. (Coven from here on out) is driving was magnificent. At first the visuals were odd and what the truck runs over was a wow what the heck moment till we meet Sue Hatchell a city girl who is in town to study spiders and the mass migration of Tarantula’s that they almost ran over again. Cullen really got me here with this talk of omens, portents and then with the spiders if you aren’t genuinely intrigued and slightly creeped out than you have emotional issues (just kidding).
We meander along for a bit and meet a few others as the boys are delivering a piano. There’s the Whatelys whose Coven’s granddaddy told him were touched by witches, every single one of me. They look touched too but i’d call that from inbreeding still the theme of bad omens and portents continues. Of course being the type of guy Cecil is, not a hard working one if ya catch my drift, he sees Roy Avrum carrying a bucket so naturally he has to talk to him and give a little good natured ribbing.
What happens well that’s another excellent reason this books out in October!
So that night during a card game with Cecil and Jack, whom we are just meeting, the story unfolds when there’s a scream for help outside. Okay so now part of me wants Jack and Coven to be having a little more going on between then just bein friendly. Anyway the story gets good as the setup turns into a full blown here ya go get ready cause the s#!t is going down! We also see how the characters are drawn to each other and which ones throughout the introduction have a bigger role to play.
We learn how the book gets it name. We’re privileged to some superb characterization and storytelling. This is a surprisingly good, unique and lively read that has a little something for everyone. Including some darn fine interior artwork. Drew and Nick manage to bring you the country, then throw in the creepy plus a little Mayberry feel with the characters, backgrounds and scenery in general. Then there’s something extra but you gotta read to see it.
If i’m honest and going to try to tell someone why I think they should read this i’d say it’s Bo and Luke Duke caught between the Hatfields and the McCoy’s set in True Blood only with better writing. Beats the heck out of Pride & Prejudice meets Zombies that’s for sure!