Halloween has come and gone for yet again year, but even with the official start of the holiday season in the rearview, it is still never too early or late for a good ghost story, right? Right. Now to that end, Boom! Studios will release the first collection of issues from its new comic book, Ghostlore Wednesday in the form of Ghostlore: Volume One. Spanning 93 pages, the introduction to the ongoing story (which will reach its sixth chapter this month in Ghostlore #6) will sell for $$16.99 in comic shops nationwide. The collection is a good way for horror fans to get into this gripping tale primarily because of its story, which will be discussed shortly. The artwork exhibited throughout the story makes for its own appeal and will be discussed a little later. That the collection comes with a bonus preview of Basilisk, another book from creator Cullen Bunn rounds out its most important elements and will be addressed later, too. All things considered they make Ghostlore: Volume One a positive new presentation from Boom! Studios.
Ghostlore: Volume One, the first collection of issues from Boom! Studios’ new comic book series, Ghostlore, is a strong start to the paranormal/horror property. It proves so appealing in part because of the story that spans its nearly 100 page run. Crafted by Cullen Bunn (Basilisk, The Empty Man) the story follows father and daughter Lucas and Harmony as they come to terms with a “gift” that they have been given after a car crash claimed the lives of Lucas’ wife Em and his son (Harmony’s brother) Chris. The story spans the series’ first four issues. In the case of this volume, the issues are referred to as chapters. The “gift” in question is the ability to see and hear the dead. This newly acquired ability puts increasing strain on the already strained relationship between Lucas and Harmony, who have already drifted apart emotionally from one another. As the story progresses, that rift grows even more as the spirits of the deceased come to Lucas and Harmony, some being good and others clearly having far more seemingly demonic backgrounds, which causes its own share of problems for the pair, especially Lucas, who only brings out the worst in the spirits. As a matter of fact, Lucas, who is a minister whose faith was already faltering, loses even more of his faith as these unexpected events happen, leading to even more interest for readers. While the rift between father and daughter grows, another character (who remains unnamed at this point in the story) shows up and he clearly has anything but good intentions as he searches for Lucas and Harmony. This aspect of the bigger story continues in Ghostlore #4, #5 and the forthcoming #6, but for now audiences are introduced to the clearly evil character. By the end of the fourth chapter, the strain that the developments has placed on Lucas and Harmony leads Harmony to leave home – apparently to find out what is going on, according to a letter that she leaves for her father. This sets up the next chapters in the story that play out in the aforementioned issues. All things considered, the first four chapters of Boom! Studios’ Ghostlore prove to be a gripping story that any paranormal and horror fan will enjoy.
The story featured in the first four chapters of Ghostlore is reason enough for paranormal and horror fans to check out this brand new collection from Boom! Studios. It is just one of the reasons that audiences will enjoy the book. The artwork exhibited throughout the story adds to the interest. Created by the team of Leomacs, Jason Wordie and Ed Dukeshire, the artwork presented in this collection helps Ghostlore develop its own identity as much as its story. The designs for the ghosts and other paranormal beings that appear to Lucas and Harmony are unique and so rich. From a giant tentacled being in the guise of a little girl who was being bullied to a group of demonic creatures bursting forth from a soothsayer’s crystal ball, to a puritan woman confessing her own sin to Lucas, the designs offer such interesting looks for each. The auras around the spirits and the full terror of the eviler beings make each so realistic and scary. On another note, the way the dark forces spread through Lucas and Harmony’s home like tendrils as they walk through the house at points is something that a person could so easily see appear on screen. It is a wonderful way to show how those energies are spreading, following the father and daughter as their negative energies grow. What’s more, the general fluidity of the characters’ designs and the settings and the rough look of each scene helps to immerse readers even more into each scene and chapter. That, together with the story, gives audiences all the more reason to take in this introduction volume of issues.
Knowing how much engagement and entertainment Ghostlore: Volume One offers audiences, it is just one part of what makes this collection positive. The collection also offers readers a preview of another of Cullen Bunn’s creations, Basilisk. Spanning only seven pages, the preview sets the stage for what is another paranormal story of its own. The brief introduction opens with a group of unnamed figures dressed in hospital scrubs enters an unidentified town. Interestingly enough, these figures seem more scared than menacing, even as one of them attacks one of the town’s anonymous citizens who is simply asking if the group needs help. Meanwhile the story’s apparent protagonist (who is also unnamed at this point) enters. As she sits down to eat at the town’s diner, people can’t help but watch her, including apparently a woman at the diner’s bar, who it would appear will become more of a key character later in the story. Bunn cuts the scene at just the right moment. That is because he leaves so much up in the air. It is sure to keep readers interested enough to want to figure out more of what is going on. And a great way, in turn, to get readers of Ghostlore into another of Bunn’s books. The positive impact of this brief preview works with the noted positives of Ghostlore to make this opening volume of chapters all the more appealing. All things considered, Ghostlore: Volume One proves to be a presentation that any paranormal and horror fan will appreciate.
Ghostlore: Volume One, the first portion of Boom! Studios’ new comic book series, is a mostly successful presentation. Its success comes in part through its story. The story follows father and daughter Lucas and Harmony as they come to grips with the newfound ability to see and hear the dead following a fatal crash that claimed the lives of Harmony’s brother, Chris, and Lucas’ wife, Em. The pair’s new “gift” ultimately proves too emotionally powerful for the duo. What happens along the way is sure to keep readers engaged and entertained. The artwork that is exhibited throughout the series’ first four issues collected here makes for its own appeal. That is because it is so unique. It helps the series greatly in developing the title’s own identity. The bonus preview of Cullen Bunn’s other series, Basilisk puts the finishing touch to the presentation. That is because it uses such a simple approach to get readers so interested in said series. Each item examined here is important in its own way to the whole of this presentation. All things considered they make Ghostlore: Volume One a positive first volume of stories from Boom! Studios’ ongoing paranormal/horror property.
Ghostlore: Volume One is scheduled for release Wednesday through Boom! Studios. It will sell for $16.99. More information on this and other titles from Boom! Studios is available at:
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