An awesome step in a new direction, “Clive Barker’s Nightbreed” #7 keeps readers hooked as the pages move at breakneck speed. Based on Clive Barker’s “Cabal” novella, this spinoff explores the back-stories behind the underground inhabitants living in Midian. Like the “Hellraiser” series, there is a lot of potential here to tell original stories within the “Nightbreed” mythology.
WRITTEN BY: Clive Barker and Marc Andreyko
ART BY: Piotr Kowalski, Emmanuel Xerx Javier
PUBLISHER: BOOM! Studios
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: November 26, 2014
Reviewed By Jorge Solis
Since the day he was born, there was something special about Aaron Boone. What made him beyond average is certainly what led him straight towards Midian. Haunted by the victims of Dr. Decker, Boone refuses to believe anything that Lylesberg tells him. Whether or not destiny played a hand, Boone doesn’t want to be the victim again, but he will have to rediscover the secret lies of his past.
Though Decker’s name is mentioned in dialogue from Clive Barker and co-writer Marc Andreyko, the narrative strays as much as it can from the novella and the film; which is a fantastic idea. Because I’m not bogged down with a recap, I’m seeing things from an original perspective. Did Boone end up in Midian because he was destined to be there? Or was it just plain bad luck? The narration points at both aspects of the theme, letting the readers interpret for themselves.
Because Boone is now a central figure, we’re also learning more about Lylesberg. From previous issues, Lylesberg has become a mentor and a savior to the members of Median. The more he witnesses Boone’s tragic past, Lylesberg feels incredible sorrow for him. I’m wondering if Lylesberg will transition from mentor to father figure as this story arc progresses.
Artist Piotr Kowalski has done a great job presenting Boone from his early days to the present.
There is this innate sense of sadness when Boone appears in the panel. He has had the burden of being alone and tortured for so long. Boone just wants to belong somewhere, find a home for himself, and have a family. He has found meaning, but the irony is that it’s with freaks and monsters.
Emmanuel Xerx Javier keeps his illustrations in tune to their locations and time periods. We follow a cocky reporter as he tries to smooth-talk his way to find the truth behind his missing person case. Though Javier’s artistic segments are calmer and comical, the story leads to a shocking cliff-hanger.
“Clive Barker’s Nightbreed” #7 takes the series in a new surprising direction. I can’t wait to re-watch the director’s cut of “Nightbreed.”