A storm is coming…but what is the storm? That is the question at the center of the newly released second volume of stories in Boom! Studios’ new paranormal thriller story, Ghostlore. Released Tuesday through Boom! Studios, Ghostlore: Volume Two picks up where the story left off in its inaugural collection of stories, which culled its first four issues. Covering the story’s next four issues, Volume Two bears worth reading in part because of its story, which maintains the tension and intrigue of the first four issues. The artwork incorporated into these four issues builds on the appeal of the collection, making for more entertainment. The bonus content that accompanies Volume Two rounds out its most important elements, completing its “construction.” Each item noted does its own key part to make this brand-new continuation of Ghostlore just as enthralling. All things considered they make Ghostlore: Volume Two another powerful entry in what is sure to become even more moving as it moves into its next phase.
The newly released second volume of stories from Boom! Studios’ paranormal thriller franchise, Ghostlore is a strong continuation of the story that does quite well to keep readers engaged and entertained. That is due in no small part to the story that spanks the four issues that make up its body. The story in this volume opens with troubled minister Lucas continuing his search for his daughter Harmony, who left home at the end of the story’s first “phase.” She left because of the emotional and psychological impact of the revelation that she and her father were both able to see dead people; people who, only want to tell their stories so they could cross over. At the same time, they can also see some rather evil entities who have nothing but bad intentions. As it turns out, those negative entities are searching for Lucas and Harmony, so obviously word has gotten out about them and their intent there is anything but good. Audiences find out just how bad their intentions are when confrontations take place between them and both Lucas and Harmony separately.
As the story reaches its peak in this volume, Lucas’ own tensions reach a dangerous point in his own confrontation. It turns out that he has not been helping the spirits he meets cross over. Rather he has been doing something even darker that leaves one wondering about his own future as he tries to come to terms with his gift. This alone is certain to leave readers waiting and wondering what will happen in the third collection of Ghostlore’s bigger story. Meanwhile, Harmony’s future is also left in question after she and her new friends’ confrontation with Cyril forces them from their home. The whole herein makes for a fully immersive new phase in the overall story of Ghostlore. It is reason enough in itself for audiences to check out this anthology.
Ghostlore: Volume Two’s story builds a strong foundation for the collection. It is just part of what makes this new presentation so engaging and entertaining. The artwork that is presented throughout builds on the foundation formed by the story. As with the first four chapters of this chilling paranormal thriller, the trio of Illustrator Leomacs, Colorer Jason Wordie and Letterer Ed Dukeshire handles the artwork in these four issues. The distinctive edge that Leomacs and Wordie give each scene is once again presented from frame to frame as are the rich colors. At the same time, there are certain minute moments, such as when Harmony first meets her new friends, that have a subtle cartoonish look. It is an interesting subtle contrast to the overall style once again featured here.
On a similar note, the moments when the spirits share their stories with Harmony develop their own unique identity once again. The darkness in color and the distinct look really helps to set the mood in each tale. The duo’s work gives those stories so much emotional depth thanks to that attention to the impact of color and style. The lettering work ensures the dialogue is easy to read in each frame, and the distinct font used when the spirits cross over and when the demons attack adds so much in its own right. The trio’s overall work throughout each chapter in this collection makes the story once more as visually engaging and entertaining as series creator Cullen Bunn does make it engaging and entertaining through his writing.
The primary content featured throughout Ghostlore’s second collection (the writing and the artwork) is just part of what makes it so engaging and entertaining. The bonus content (the secondary content) that accompanies the volume’s primary content rounds out Volume Two’s most important elements. As with Volume One, the bonus content consists primarily of the variant covers used in each issue that makes up Volume Two. So not only do readers get the whole of the story’s next four chapters, but they get all those variants in one housing. In other words they don’t have to spend money over and over for the same story just to get the different covers. They are all here in one collection at a price that will not break anyone’s budget. The price in question is $16.99, less than $20.
That collection of variant covers is just part of the bonus content. Readers also get a preview of another new title from Bunn. This time, the preview is for the story, The Empty Man, which would seem to center on what looks to be the negative impact of a cult. As with Basilisk, it comes across as another dark, gothic style thriller for fans of that genre. When all of that secondary content is considered along with the whole of the collection’s primary content, the entirety thereof makes Ghostlore: Volume Two another presentation that fans of Ghostlore are sure to enjoy.
Ghostlore: Volume Two, the newly released collection of issues from Boom! Studios’ paranormal/horror thriller series, is another powerful entry to the ongoing franchise. Its power comes in large part through its writing, which continues to see the development of father and daughter Lucas and Harmony as characters and their respective stories. No doubt the pair will eventually reunite in the issues to come. Seeing Lucas’ potentially dark turn developing is certain to grip readers in itself while audiences will be just as sure to be immersed in Harmony’s own journey. The artwork and letting used in this collection will be found familiar among readers since it is all handled by the same team that handled the series’ first four issues. The bonus content that comes with this collection puts the finishing touch to its whole, making for its own appeal, too, because of the pleasure readers will find financially. Each item examined here is important in its own way to the whole of the collection. All things considered they make Ghostlore: Volume Two a strong continuation of Boom! Studios’ developing series.
Ghostlore: Volume Two is available now. More information on this and other titles from Boom! Studios is available at:
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