Aftershock Comics 2016
Created & Written by Joe Pruett
Created & Illustrated by Szymon Kudranski
Coloured by Guy Major
Lettered by Marshall Dillon
Who is the Gus McClellan? Friend or foe...or something else all together? What do Meredith's dreams reveal about not only her past, but the origins of the Black-Eyed Children?
In every story there comes a time when new characters are introduced and those we’ve been following need a moment to relax and figure out just what the heck is going on. What’s impressive here is that Joe does that while still maintaining that overall creepy horror angle strong while we learn how some people have been connected to each other. Even with all that’s happening it’s equally as impressive that Joe manages to bring answers that lead to more questions and it all seems to be going around in circles. It’s maddeningly good stuff and you want to know stuff but at the same time the suspense is delicious and you want that feeling to continue.
There’s also something special about the way Szymon and Guy do with the interiors here. The attention to detail in the faces, the use of perspective by blurring backgrounds or non-focal points so it’s like the eye actually sees things. The way the page layouts use those as well as angles to control the flow of the story is phenomenal. The use of light at the diner to the darkness of the situation with the kids or Randy, the drunk cop, that so aptly denotes the mood, tone and feel of what we see at any given moment is spectacular.
The characterisation here is great. Jim’s outburst in front of his daughter after rescuing her from the hospital was classic. It’s something everyone would do when that frustrated and that she found that shocking as well as sitting there trying to take in what she’s hearing well I have a sneaky suspicion she’s going to play a larger role in all this then we expect. I could be wrong but never underestimate the resilience and determination of a teenage girl.
Randy and his ex-wife’s conversation well that’s as telling about him as can be. It still surprises me that there are all these kids running around and Randy hasn’t connected the dots yet about them. Though it may be too late for him to do anything about that now but he’s got a connection to all this that has yet to be revealed. Otherwise these B.E.K. wouldn’t be following him or taking such an interest in him.
With all the activity that’s been going on how is it that this town hasn’t flown into a full blown panic? The diner they are in is empty except for our group and those working. There’s been enough going on here that you’d think buzz would be spreading wider by now. Though that it isn’t means the kids are still doing things on the down low and that’s kind of creepy in a whole new way.
Meredith is still in the heart of the kids complex and seeing first hand what this leader of theirs continues to do. He’s the creepiest thing of all, with his manner of speech and that air of authority and superiority alongside the supernatural aspect of things and it’s just almost bone chilling to see the words and pictures together.
This is a modern horror story that’s fast become a classic in the making. There’s so many elements that will take you to the brink of terror and keep you there!