Guardian Knight Comics 2015
Written by Bryan Ortiz, James Hartz, Evan Boston & Scott “Diablo” Marcano
Illustrated by Juan Romero
I am happy to say this is my first experience with Guardian Knight Comics, if you’ve been around with me for a while you know I love finding new companies to read and promote if you’re new well now ya know. So first a big thank you to Guardian Knight Comics for working with me! I’m also a huge fan of horror movies, stories, novels etc so this one felt right up my alley, as ironically enough I watch Haunting of Cellblock 11 as I read this, so if you like the bizarre and strange not to mention a tad frightening you’ll enjoy this.
The opening with Dr. Stenson welcoming us to the Sanitarium has that classic feel like the opening of the Twilight Zone or the Crypt Keeper and it sets the mood perfectly for what we’re about to see. Also I have to say I really like that the good Doctor seems more like a fellow patient than healer here it lends more of that ominous feeling. A large part of that is thanks to Juan who nails the tone, feel and mood to get us underway.
Now when the story starts there’s a young man looking for a “good” case he can research for his paper. I am gonna go out on a limb and say he’s an intern and is under Dr. Stenson’s tutelage for this rotation. That’s where we get to see and learn all about Case #26: “Monsters are Real.” I like the dialogue here as he goes in search of a case, he’s either young and kind of stupid with that schoolboy mentality that he’s going to be someone huge someday or he’s just an idiot who has no social graces, either way he’s a good one to be learning about this the way he is.
Thanks guys for naming the kid Steven btw yeah as if my name isn’t used enough for these kinds of things--kidding! Poor Steven is just a kid and he’s shy, awkward and seemingly abused. His teacher sees the marks on him and while his father is a brute and drunk he’s more verbally abusive than physical, I said more not only. However there’s something else at play here with Steven and there’s a man only he can see that frightens him greatly. Kind of like a ghost or boogeyman that lurks watching him, distracting him and helping to increase his anxiety and social awkwardness.
So I have to say I love that Mrs. Lorne looks out for Steven like a good, caring and attentive teacher would and notices his bruises and takes the action she does. Only Steven’s not talking and won’t tell her how he got them. Of course we see as the story plays out that yeah he’s got this raw deal at home but that can be overcome. When Steven is face to face with his well stalker for lack of a better word something weird happens and it’s frightening for a young boy to have to have that happen to them.
Then the world comes apart and things happen that defy explanation. The writing here is exceptionally good and it’s creepy and really leaves a lot open ended so that you can interpret what’s happened in a variety of ways. Suffice it to say however that Steven now resides in the Sanitarium and has shut himself off from the world at large and how can that be good for an 8 year old boy? Was it all in his imagination does he have a friend no one can see or was he capable of doing these acts on his own? That is up to you to decide.
I look forward to seeing what else these folks can throw at me because honestly i’m excited to have found them if this is the tip of the iceberg!