Rarely has a heist tale seemed so eerie and improvisational with its genre than the first story arc of Joshua Williamson and Goran Suzuka’s “Ghosted”. With the release of this fifth installment, the sell-out hit series from Image Comics imprint, Skybound Entertainment, comes to a thrilling and successful close, but not before teasing the next arc adventure up the writer’s sleeve.

WRITTEN BY: Joshua Williamson
ART BY: Goran Sudzuka
PUBLISHER: Image Comics / Skybound Entertainment
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: November 6, 2013

“Ghosted” is clearly the work of a creative team who have come to deliver something different and unparalleled in the face of modern-day heist fiction, and they nailed it. With a cleverly skillful balance between the methodical framework that establishes the story’s obvious heist appeal, and the supernatural-horror elements that turn the predominantly conventional genre on its head, the series manages to fill a surprisingly empty gap in the market that consumers didn’t even know they were craving. Much of the pleasure derived from reading Williamson’s imaginative exercise in subversive storytelling is taking in Sudzuka and Miroslav Mrva’s artistic contribution to the series. As the narrative inside the Trask Mansion finally comes to an end, readers can expect more quality depictions of relentlessly domineering ghosts and dramatic action.

Jackson and his team of paranormal experts are trapped inside the Trask Mansion with a traitor in their midst, and one of their own rendered useless — and incendiary — by possession. They’ll need to come up with an audacious plan to succeed in their mission to capture a ghost for Markus, but as is usually the case in this narrative, Williamson offers some entertaining twists to keep readers on their toes. Issue 5 sees a couple of significant character reveals from Jackson and Markus’ past. Specifically concerning the former’s last botched heist, and the latter’s true intentions concerning the Trask Mansion, and the reason why he must acquire a ghost for his supernatural artifacts collection.

For the majority of the arc, “Ghosted” has kept its characters slightly out of reach, not providing too much depth and insight into each individual member’s psyche. Fortunately, there’s some real character development to be seen by the end of the book — some characters more than others — but the distance between reader and thief has definitely dwindled.

As previously mentioned, Sudzuka’s art is a treat and a half, and his visual improvements on the angry spirits with each passing installment are truly great. He, and colourist Mrva, genuinely and unquestionably deliver their best artistic work for this conclusion. The dark colour palette is perfectly fitting, given the storyline, and the excessive use of shadow provides a more serious and gritty tone to the series. Sudzuka produces an innumerable amount of fantastically rendered ghosts that I’ve finally taken to in appearance, and offers one last narrow panel featuring the gorgeous exterior design of the Trask Mansion.

Now that the first arc is complete, readers will be able to enjoy the series in all its uninterrupted glory once the trade paperback hits shelves next month.

4.5/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – ShadowJayd