“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