Visitations #1
Self-Published 2016
By Scott Larson
The Menacing Phantoms
it's the turn of the century as we enter Chicago's oldest cemetery, Gracehill. Meet Clayton Blackwood, the Entertainer, The Pipe Boy, Santa Muerte, Beast 666, Nellie McCullough and Kincad as they battle the henchmen of crime boss Jim Colosimo. But there is more going on then even they are aware of....
I spoke to Scott because I am not entirely sure how long I have had this in my folder. Of course I only started using this laptop about two years ago so it can't have been longer than that but still this is the life of a reviewer who runs the entire site solo. I am however somewhat grateful for the virus in that it is allowing me to read and review books that I might not have gotten to yet. I am also grateful that Scott got this to me because now that I have read the first issue I am completely and utterly hooked on the book. With the title of the book I had thought that this was going to be something entirely different and I love being proven wrong in that regard. When that happens it means I am going to be continuously surprised throughout the entire story and I really was.
I am a huge fan of the way that this is being told. The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfolds and how the reader learns information is presented beautifully. I like how we see things open and then move into the story all while getting a nice history regarding the city of Chicago. The way this is set-up and how it goes through the pages is really, really nice to see. The character development here is interesting and I say this mainly because we have so little time focused on the characters. What we do see is really well rendered and it makes me want to see more. We learn as we got, there is no narrating what is happening or telegraphing what's to come and this makes you feel emotions that heighten the already strange things we see in this. This is how I want to read a book, without knowing the future or what is going to happen a few pages from now but in the moment alongside those we see. The pacing is phenomenal as well and how it takes us through the pages revealing one scene after another helps to create the books ebb & flow.
I am admire anyone who can write and illustrate their own book. I will cut some slack for the Turn Of The Century splash page which looks like some cut and paste was utilised as those objects probably needed more research. The linework we see is amazing and how we see the varying weights being utilised to showcase this attention to detail is mindbogglingly magnificent work. The creativity and imagination that we see on these pages blows my mind and honestly makes me question someone's sanity lol. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows such a strong eye for storytelling. I think that the way we see backgrounds being utilised is fantastic and how that helps bring us this depth perception, sense of scale and the overall size and scope of the book is beautifully done. While I would have been happy with a pure black & white book the fact that this in colour as well is fabulous. How we see the various hues and tones within any given colour utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work bring us these stellar moments you won't forget.
Alternate history with a supernatural slant is completely and utterly up my alley. Plus I lived in Chicago for a number of years which has given me this affinity for books that utilise it as a setting. This is the reason I constantly tell you to go through Artist Alley at conventions and see what books these folks have to offer. You'd miss out on the chance to not only see the creator and pick up your own copy which I am sorry I don't a physical copy. This is one of the most amazing and auspicious start to a series that I have seen.
Self-Published 2016
By Scott Larson
The Menacing Phantoms
it's the turn of the century as we enter Chicago's oldest cemetery, Gracehill. Meet Clayton Blackwood, the Entertainer, The Pipe Boy, Santa Muerte, Beast 666, Nellie McCullough and Kincad as they battle the henchmen of crime boss Jim Colosimo. But there is more going on then even they are aware of....
I spoke to Scott because I am not entirely sure how long I have had this in my folder. Of course I only started using this laptop about two years ago so it can't have been longer than that but still this is the life of a reviewer who runs the entire site solo. I am however somewhat grateful for the virus in that it is allowing me to read and review books that I might not have gotten to yet. I am also grateful that Scott got this to me because now that I have read the first issue I am completely and utterly hooked on the book. With the title of the book I had thought that this was going to be something entirely different and I love being proven wrong in that regard. When that happens it means I am going to be continuously surprised throughout the entire story and I really was.
I am a huge fan of the way that this is being told. The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfolds and how the reader learns information is presented beautifully. I like how we see things open and then move into the story all while getting a nice history regarding the city of Chicago. The way this is set-up and how it goes through the pages is really, really nice to see. The character development here is interesting and I say this mainly because we have so little time focused on the characters. What we do see is really well rendered and it makes me want to see more. We learn as we got, there is no narrating what is happening or telegraphing what's to come and this makes you feel emotions that heighten the already strange things we see in this. This is how I want to read a book, without knowing the future or what is going to happen a few pages from now but in the moment alongside those we see. The pacing is phenomenal as well and how it takes us through the pages revealing one scene after another helps to create the books ebb & flow.
I am admire anyone who can write and illustrate their own book. I will cut some slack for the Turn Of The Century splash page which looks like some cut and paste was utilised as those objects probably needed more research. The linework we see is amazing and how we see the varying weights being utilised to showcase this attention to detail is mindbogglingly magnificent work. The creativity and imagination that we see on these pages blows my mind and honestly makes me question someone's sanity lol. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows such a strong eye for storytelling. I think that the way we see backgrounds being utilised is fantastic and how that helps bring us this depth perception, sense of scale and the overall size and scope of the book is beautifully done. While I would have been happy with a pure black & white book the fact that this in colour as well is fabulous. How we see the various hues and tones within any given colour utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work bring us these stellar moments you won't forget.
Alternate history with a supernatural slant is completely and utterly up my alley. Plus I lived in Chicago for a number of years which has given me this affinity for books that utilise it as a setting. This is the reason I constantly tell you to go through Artist Alley at conventions and see what books these folks have to offer. You'd miss out on the chance to not only see the creator and pick up your own copy which I am sorry I don't a physical copy. This is one of the most amazing and auspicious start to a series that I have seen.
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