Comix Tribe 2017
Written by John Lees
Illustrated by Alex Cormack
Lettered by Shawn Lee
After reading this i’ve come to a couple of conclusions, John’s got a splendidly wicked imagination, he’s got a dark side he doesn’t let folks see and there’s a little kinkiness to him as well. It’s all right there in the opening if you don’t believe me you’ll see it when you read it. Suffice it to say though that with the extremely good impression I got from the first issue definitely carried over into the second.
This issue diverges off the path of the first one so there are no clowns and no van to get into which is okay because the tension of seeing them again is both delicious and fills you with dread. No this issue introduces us to someone new and well she’s a character in her own right that’s for sure. There’s something to be said about using the opening issues of a series to introduce readers to a wide array of characters who inhabit the world. Mainly because in my eyes now I want to know more than ever how they are connected.
I really am rather impressed with the opening here and how we meet Sharon, whose the star of this issue. I’ll be brutally honest too when we first see her I thought she was a witch or some kind of exorcist with the way things were going down. Mind you that the guys invoke those kinds of thoughts here and lead your mind your mind in certain directions and then springing the truth on you well it’s extremely well done. It’s really very nice NOT to be able to say oh this is what’s going to happen next and be right!
Alex’s work on the interiors is wonderful to see. From the depiction of a middle aged couple to Sharon to the surroundings, such as the night filled with rain or that place where the lost go to be at home his eye for what we should see is strong. He’s been growing and evolving since I saw his first work and yet it’s still instantly recognisable as his which is a fabulous thing. The way he uses page layouts through angles and perspective are nicely done to help keep the mood, tone and feel in the reader. He uses backgrounds when he needs to, me I want to see more but we all know that by now, to a dramatic effect and his attention to detail is lovely.
This was so NOT what I was expecting and yet at the same time it was and so much more than I could have hoped for. After a strong first issue we hope that the sophomore issue isn’t going to let us down. I’m pleased as punch to say that this doesn’t come close to that it’s like a ballplayer on a hot streak with no end in sight. The story itself is unexpected and delightful, the characterisation strong and interesting and the interiors tie it all together.
I think horror has found it’s newest team in John and Alex. they’ve taken some of the things that should bother, creep and terrify us and managed to bring them to life with aplomb. Comixtribe has another bright shining example why you need to be reading independent books. You most assuredly will not find anything like this at those supposed Big 2! Thank goodness because as it is this is the series that give you nightmares.
You need to make sure your brick and mortar shoppe is carrying this it's well worth it!