Amigo Comics 2019
Written by El Torres
Illustrated by Jaime Martínez
Cover by Juanfra MB
Lettered by Monkey Typers
Father JOHN BRENNAN dissapeared after a gruesome EXORCISM in the Vatican. The Devil's work never rests and nun Sister Claire, a child survivor of the Rwandan massacres, will again feel the stifling grip of evil. When the seniors at the nursing home in her care begin to behave strangely, are they demented or possessed?
The opening here is utterly marvellous as it does precisely what it's supposed to do. The experience of this little girl as her family goes to their church in the hopes of finding a safe haven from the Hutus. This is Africa, Rwanda more specifically and the atrocities committed against it's people are legendary, unfortunately. Still what this does is draw you right into the story and engages you, almost mesmerises you as you witness the horrors alongside the narrator. Its strong and a lot more powerful than you would expect it to be.
El Torres has honed his craft, skills and has become such an amazing storyteller and I am such a huge fan of his. He can tell a story like this and it's strong, powerful, disturbing and all based in reality in ways that make you shudder and excited at the same time. So when we finally see an adult Sister Claire who also happens to be a Doctor as well as a Nun who is talking to Mr. Hollander a nice Jewish man well there's just something about being able to share the story of your life with someone who also happens to be able to relate that has this meaningful nature to it. This is some of the most beautiful writing that we see and along with other titles published here you won't find better elsewhere.
The way the book is structured and how the story & plot development and the character development are woven seamlessly in, out, around and through each other is picked up by the pacing which moves it all constantly forward. The ebb & flow of the story and how information is revealed and how we see characters being utilised well it just has this perfectly natural feel to it. Also the characterisation that we see, regardless of whom it's for, is strong and well formed so that we pick up on who these people are extremely well.
The interiors here are beyond fabulous. I am the type of person who loves to see the linework strong, crisp and clean in it's execution. So what Jamie does here is so what I love to see and how he is able to utilise the lines from the most delicate to the deepest and boldest to create such lovely attention to detail is amazing to see. The faces, the eyes and mouths they all are integral to how we see the characters and how we get that extra characterisation that words alone cannot do. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show as very well seasoned and talented eye for storytelling. There are some true standout moments in this book like the stained glass window or the diner scene which utilise backgrounds and the colour work to really make the moments memorable. The colour work is marvellous and how the colours different hues and tones are utilised to create shading or shadows is extremely impressive.
I love a good story about god, the devil and possession it goes against everything I was raised to believe. Much like Mr. Hollander, though I was blessed to be born two generations later but still. The idea of this occurring where it is, while not out of the realm as it's a place run by Nuns but it does seem a very unlikely setting. This is what makes this all the more intriguing, at least to me. This is one of those rare franchises that can go for as long as El Torres can keep it up. This is beautiful storytelling pure and simple and that it's as supernaturally creepy and all too real well that's what makes it perfect.