Scout Comics 2017
Written by Mina Elwell
Illustrated by Eli Powell
Coloured by Tristan Elwell
Lettered by Marshall Dillon
As Sam attempts to discover the real reason the people of her town are being destroyed, she becomes aware of mind-rending creatures that feed off the sanity of their victims. It’s up to her to do something about it… if she can only keep her grip on reality.
Alright so not what I was expecting, which is always a good thing by the way. The idea behind the story that Sam has to come to grips with what’s happening around town is nicely done here. Saving the town that’s something else entirely and she hasn’t really wrapped her head or really been introduced to that yet. I mean it’s mentioned but then the book ends so we’ll have to wait for next issue to see how things play out with that.
So the opening is eye catching thanks to Eli and with very few words it makes the imagination work in ways that should push you further into darkness. it’s great as far as openings go because it does draw you in and leaves you wanting to know more about the book.
We don’t really know much about Sam but we do see of her is that she’s pretty serious about any job she takes on. Responsible and seemingly has a good solid head on her shoulders she makes for an interesting young woman. Now I don’t know who her friend Jerry is supposed to be, just friend, boyfriend or what role he plays and that’s a good thing. It leaves those around her more ambiguous and something to flesh out more over time.
When she gets to her job do learn she’s a caregiver for an older gentleman and the really odd thing about all this is that no one is there to greet her, introduce her to her charge or why the note left her says NEVER turn off all the lights. The alarm bells should be ringing off the hook with the way her first day or should I say night starts. I might have out of curiosity stayed and seen what it was all about but then again I’m a glutton for punishment and I’ve also seen way too horror pictures to pass on the chance to experience one live.
Now while the story is strong and the structure of the book in how it all flows is great it’s really the work Eli does that sets the mood, tone and feel for the story. His use of page layouts with their angles and perspective are superbly done. The darkness we see and the way it plays tricks on the eye from Tristan are magnificent. The one shot with all the lamps blew me away and it’s moments like that where the book really excels at creeping you out. When the panels are full, see backgrounds, it’s much creepier then those without it because we get see the bigger picture.
The last part of the book leading up to the last page is where things really go a little more crazy and it begins to take shape as the story weaves together. As I said the structure here is really good and that we get a better sense of what’s happening and are continually shown things that are almost classic horror tropes make you wanna scream at the book like we do at girls in the pictures that actually go into the basement.
Mina, Eli and Tristan deliver a full service psychological horror thriller premiere with this one and it’s timing couldn’t be better with Halloween around the corner.