Comics
Review: ‘Ghosted’ #4
“Ghosted” writer, Joshua Williamson, assembles a chillingly effective tale that’s thoroughly engrossing, and intelligently crafted; with intense and masterfully rendered illustrations from Goran Sudzuka, that easily rank amongst his finest in the series so far.
WRITTEN BY: Joshua Williamson
ART BY: Goran Sudzuka
PUBLISHER: Image Comics / Skybound Comics
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: October 9, 2013
The creative team behind “Ghosted” #4 produce a moody eeriness on paper that builds and sustains its narrative suspense, until its eagerly anticipated cliffhanger ending. Everything Williamson and Sudzuka present in this supernatural-horror crime series is undeniably significant to the overall storyline, and nothing in the script or art is seemingly left to chance. Thanks to a deft literary hand, a fantastic attention to detail, and some deliciously entertaining performances from an eclectic cast of characters — as scripted and illustrated by writer and artist — the latest installment proves to be another hit for Image Comics; and the best issue of the series thus far.
Back inside the secluded Trask Mansion, the story revolves around the paranormal experts’ latest plan to steal a ghost for Markus Schrecken’s supernatural artifacts collection. Like all good aspects of paranormal-horror, this plan deals with possession and exorcism; but unfortunately, it doesn’t work out as smoothly as the team expects. Though, expecting things to work out in your favour whilst conducting unethical business inside a haunted mansion, might be asking for a little too much. That said, if it wasn’t for the numerous unexpected, and disturbing, events consequently transpiring through Jackson and his team’s interference within the house of horrors, this series wouldn’t be half as exciting as it currently is.
Williamson orchestrates all his major plot developments wonderfully. He knows how to build up to the frightening scenes slowly and delicately, teasing the readers and making them anticipate the critical moments without getting detached from the story. Evidently, since issue #1, there have been recurring dialogical warnings, delivered by certain characters, to be out of the mansion by nightfall. It was only a matter of time before Williamson trapped our favourite characters inside. What’s brilliant about the end of this issue, as well as what readers can anticipate for the next, is the inevitable deterioration of the unit once faced with one of the most primal human fears: being confined in an isolated house. Considering it’s a haunted house with murderous ghosts and evil spirits, that makes it all the more terrifying.
The art by Sudzuka, with the help of colorist Miroslav Mrva, achieves a level of atmosphere both inviting, and foreboding. Illustrating mostly darkened interiors within the Trask Mansion, Sudzuka and Mrva create an environment of impending danger, layering on the shadows, and forgoing a lighter palette, as usual. The artist’s creepy interpretation of a character possessed by an evil spirit is perfect, and fits the horror genre well. His last three pages are of particular note as well. They show an abundance of fantastically drawn spirits, swooping and gliding through the walls and emerging from the ground in an eerily intimidating fashion. Nighttime at the Trask Mansion is going to be wickedly frightening now that horror has taken the front seat. The next installment can’t come soon enough.
4/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – ShadowJayd
Comics
‘Curse of the Where Wolf’ Bites Into August Release With Trio of Werewolf Theatrical Screenings [Exclusive Preview]
Larry Chaney‘s hairy misadventures are continuing in the sequel graphic novel Curse of the Where Wolf from creative team Rob Saucedo, Debora Lancianese, and Jack Morelli, and its author is celebrating with a trio of horror’s greatest werewolf films.
The Curse of the Where Wolf hits shelves on August 7 from Encyclopocalypse Publications.
That coincides with the launch of a theatrical screening event in Houston, Texas, featuring a trio of seminal werewolf flicks turning 45 this year: The Howling on August 7, Wolfen on August 14, and An American Werewolf in London on August 21.
Each screening features a “werewolf in film” presentation as well as a book signing from Where Wolf author and River Oaks Theatre artistic director Rob Saucedo.
In the new graphic novel, “Being a werewolf sucks. Reporter Larry Chaney wanted to be a hero. Instead, he became a werewolf. Now, caught between incredible new powers and a desire to eat everything (and everyone) in sight, Larry must find a cure for his curse. Or die trying.”
“With Where Wolf, I wanted to tell a whodunit set in a furry convention, so the story was pretty contained within a very specific setting and genre. With Curse of the Where Wolf, I wanted to celebrate everything I love about the possibility of comic books. Curse of the Where Wolf is a funny book, in every sense of the phrase, but it’s also an earnest look at a person’s struggle to become a better version of themselves, especially when the alternative is to become a literal monster,” Saucedo says of Curse.
The original graphic novel was previously serialized as the first webcomic hosted on Fangoria before being collected by Encyclopocalypse Publications in 2023 and has already been optioned for film, podcast, and television development ahead of launch by producers James Fino (“The Freak Brothers” for Tubi, “Rick and Morty” for Adult Swim) and Charles Horak (First Date for Magnolia Pictures).
Expect Larry to find himself in even weirder situations in the 362-page full color sequel; Saucedo has provided Bloody Disgusting with exclusive art pages from the upcoming graphic novel that showcase lupine humor.
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