Aftershock Comics 2017
Created & Written by Phil Hester
Created & Penciled by Tony Harris
Inked by Eric Layton
Coloured by Guy Major
Lettered by Dave Sharpe
You don’t have to die to go to hell. The corruption Brandon Hull once believed was confined to his soul has now spread to his once-perfect body. Struggling to come to grips with the supernatural realm, Hull seeks answers in the darkest corners of the natural world. Can he stop the infection from not only taking over himself but also the family he loves?
So after reading this issue I have to say that i’m convinced that this story feels like one of those amazing shorts that Stephen King used to write, The Mist, 1408 or even Thinner. This was when his writing was actually good mind you. It has those elements that draw you in through a familiar setting and a character who is seen as either likable or reprehensible, take your pick these public opinion is usually both sides instead one or the other who is cursed by someone for something. Yeah it’s completely out there but in the realm of supernatural storytelling is classic stuff.
I do like that Brandon is one of those men who prides himself on his looks, I mean vanity of this nature is all too common, and it doesn’t match the blackness that is his soul. Trading success and money instead of being someone to look up to or be a rolemodel for well it says a lot about society today (I mean look at any one of the dreaded “K” clan). Usually though the protagonist finds out what’s happening and does their darndest to stop it and change their ways so is that what we can expect to see here? Heaven knows I hope not! I say let the curse run it’s course and infect his business partner even and see what happens!
Big fan of Tony’s work over the years and while this isn’t exactly the same kind of work I’m used to seeing it works really well here. His creativity and imagination are on full display and the opening pages here evoke that whole horror genre, Stephen King stuff I mentioned earlier, so very effectively! The way page layouts are utilised through their angles and perspective are done masterfully. Usually i’m the guy screaming for more backgrounds to be used but what we see here is perfect for the story.
I love this because not only is it a mind game being played here but we get to see what Brandon does so there’s a visual element to go along with the psychological. It’s not the modern trend to shock with gore and viscera it’s more a mind game and that is something I wholeheartedly applaud. It’s time horror meant creeping out the reader and making them think instead of seeing a head get chopped off.
Blood Blister is a modern throwback of the horror genre to a time when horror was more cerebral, got under your skin and creeped you out!