The Whispering Dark #2
Dark Horse Comics 2018
Written by Christofer Emgard
Illustrated by Tomas Aira
Lettered by Mauro Mantella
An Army pilot confronts a supernatural horror in this thriller in the tradition of Lovecraft's At the Mountains of Madness and Coppola's Apocalypse Now! Surviving on little more than go-pills and fear, Hannah Vance finds her morality and her sanity, tested to their limits--and beyond--as she desperately seeks a way out of enemy territory.
By Queen and Crown this is an extraordinary story being told here. The idea that this group of soldier’s and a helicopter pilot, who happens to be the highest ranking officer left alive, are in the Russian wilderness where strange things are happening isn’t for the feint of heart. I feel like perhaps that a Baba Yaga may be lurking unseen watching, waiting and biding her time while she forces the soldiers ever onward. Usually when we get a horror story involving soldier’s they are responding to something, going in under false pretences where they are besieged. This is different, and different is good.
I like the way that this book is structured and the way we see it flow through the pages. It has both a natural feel to it and even with the horror element there is a lot here that I can see being actually accurate. Well I don’t know about these go-pills but in reality it wouldn’t surprise me and when we see news stories about soldiers dying in ways that have nothing to do with battle so. Also I really like the way that in the opening sequence we get that quick peek at each of them and the assessment of them through Hannah’s opinion. She is now squad leader and she needs to do this but she also has to know that this ragtag group of miscreants needs rest.
There is a sequence of events that we get to see unfold and the information we learn while may be perceived differently from their vantage point has chilling aspects to them. Consequences of some actions are also on the table and as they move forward with little to no sleep and artificially stimulated the mind players wonderfully dastardly results. The constant sense of movement is portrayed extremely well here and as a reader I get that feeling of moving along with them and at times it can be a bit disconcerting but it’s also a marvellous testament to the skill that Christofer has at his fingertips.
The interiors here are stunning. The way we see the linework used to create this attention to detail is mind blowing to me. From mushrooms growing on trees to the mountains in the distance or the way a softer delicate touch is needed for faces and facial expressions the work is just that good. Tomas has a way with what he does and then that he colours this as well means that every line he uses is meant for something and the shading and colours he chooses for highlights or lowlights is just impressive. As is the detail that we get in seeing the camouflage pattern in the uniforms. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows off a spectacular eye for storytelling.
The way that Christof is building up the tension in this story is sensationally well done. With little information but with extraordinary characterisation we are getting to care about these characters already. We have become a part of their lives in a sense and while I still can’t figure out if Hannah’s talking to her father before or after all this mishegas happens it really doesn’t change how we see things. There is a mystery surrounding these folks and I am waiting to see them picked off one-by-one. With extremely solid writing and stunning interior artwork Dark Horse has another certifiable hit on their hands.
Dark Horse Comics 2018
Written by Christofer Emgard
Illustrated by Tomas Aira
Lettered by Mauro Mantella
An Army pilot confronts a supernatural horror in this thriller in the tradition of Lovecraft's At the Mountains of Madness and Coppola's Apocalypse Now! Surviving on little more than go-pills and fear, Hannah Vance finds her morality and her sanity, tested to their limits--and beyond--as she desperately seeks a way out of enemy territory.
By Queen and Crown this is an extraordinary story being told here. The idea that this group of soldier’s and a helicopter pilot, who happens to be the highest ranking officer left alive, are in the Russian wilderness where strange things are happening isn’t for the feint of heart. I feel like perhaps that a Baba Yaga may be lurking unseen watching, waiting and biding her time while she forces the soldiers ever onward. Usually when we get a horror story involving soldier’s they are responding to something, going in under false pretences where they are besieged. This is different, and different is good.
I like the way that this book is structured and the way we see it flow through the pages. It has both a natural feel to it and even with the horror element there is a lot here that I can see being actually accurate. Well I don’t know about these go-pills but in reality it wouldn’t surprise me and when we see news stories about soldiers dying in ways that have nothing to do with battle so. Also I really like the way that in the opening sequence we get that quick peek at each of them and the assessment of them through Hannah’s opinion. She is now squad leader and she needs to do this but she also has to know that this ragtag group of miscreants needs rest.
There is a sequence of events that we get to see unfold and the information we learn while may be perceived differently from their vantage point has chilling aspects to them. Consequences of some actions are also on the table and as they move forward with little to no sleep and artificially stimulated the mind players wonderfully dastardly results. The constant sense of movement is portrayed extremely well here and as a reader I get that feeling of moving along with them and at times it can be a bit disconcerting but it’s also a marvellous testament to the skill that Christofer has at his fingertips.
The interiors here are stunning. The way we see the linework used to create this attention to detail is mind blowing to me. From mushrooms growing on trees to the mountains in the distance or the way a softer delicate touch is needed for faces and facial expressions the work is just that good. Tomas has a way with what he does and then that he colours this as well means that every line he uses is meant for something and the shading and colours he chooses for highlights or lowlights is just impressive. As is the detail that we get in seeing the camouflage pattern in the uniforms. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows off a spectacular eye for storytelling.
The way that Christof is building up the tension in this story is sensationally well done. With little information but with extraordinary characterisation we are getting to care about these characters already. We have become a part of their lives in a sense and while I still can’t figure out if Hannah’s talking to her father before or after all this mishegas happens it really doesn’t change how we see things. There is a mystery surrounding these folks and I am waiting to see them picked off one-by-one. With extremely solid writing and stunning interior artwork Dark Horse has another certifiable hit on their hands.
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