Zenescope Entertainment 2018
Written by Ralph Tedesco
Illustrated by Vince Rodriguez & Babisu Kourtis
Coloured by Fran Gamboa & J.C. Ruiz
Lettered by Fabio Amelia
A man receives what seems to be a random “chain letter” email stating that he must do something unspeakable or risk losing those most important to him. What seems like an innocuous hoax soon proves otherwise, and one man must break the curse before it’s too late.
I want more. Pure and simple what Ralph does here is utterly sensational and in one single issue he manages to create a story idea that could turn into something completely new. Find a character who tries to chase down the sender of emails as they try to get the curse to stop and failing miserably until they catch a break and find it’s source. Do you see what I just did there? I took a single one and done story and created something of a franchise out of it that was so much better than that horrible 2010 cinematic feature. The creative mind could be like Saw in how the characters are killed or just the way we see them here as these accidental coincidences. Just remember there are no coincidences in life.
There are always going to be things that kind of mess up the feng shui the trick is seeing them for what they are and let em go. Keres should be more of a Crypt Keeper kind of character if it’s really necessary to keep using her here. Otherwise I think it’s wasted space and the fact she throws out the origin of the chain letter idea that doesn’t somehow relate to the story in way other than to let my imagination run while with story arc ideas well while interesting it isn’t relevant to the story at hand. Regardless of all that Ralph manages to create, tell and weave a one and done story worthy of the Tales of Terror brand.
The way the story is structured is extremely well done. The story is easy to follow and while you can almost guess what’s going to happen to see it unfold the way it does is fun to experience. I really thought things would play out a little differently than it did and I am a little surprised and if I am honest pleasantly happy with the end result. The characterisation and storytelling are great and it reminds of the biggest drawback when it is a one and done story, you find someone or something that you really like but then it’s done and just like that a cog in the wheel of history.
The interiors are kind of a mixed bag for me as well. There is some really nice attention to detail and the varying weights within the use of linework is nice to see. There are however inconsistencies in faces, body proportion that make Keres and Steve both seem like multiple people are interchanged throughout their appearances. Which is kind of a shame because if that could ironed out this would be some stellar interiors. The utilisation of backgrounds really expands moments beautifully too.
Zenescope continues to introduce me to new artistic talent and provide some great stories to be told. Ralph keeps proving to me time and again that’s he growing as a storyteller and is more than capable of providing us with high tier work. There is a reason why I am both reticent and excited by this series month and month out. This could totally be expanded into something more that it was intended to be and here’s hoping someday someone pick up that thread. So until next month where I eagerly await what they have in store.