The Occultist #1 (of 5)
Writer: Tim Seeley
Artist: Mike Norton
Publisher: Dark Horse
The eerie cover caught my attention immediately and I was eager to get reading. I love paranormal and eerie comics, let’s see how The Occultist did for its first issue.
Rob is a college student who has been chosen by a book of spells called the Sword. He and his paranormal partner, Detective Mendez, solve ghostly mysteries and put vengeful spirits to rest. I loved the way Mike Norton depicted spirits; his use of light and transparency really made them pop, along with the unique color choices. I loved the art style Mike achieved, especially how he mapped out the panels and broke them up with interesting backgrounds.
Unfortunately, the story fell a little short for me. This issue did not feel like the first issue of the series. The writing tried to fill in backstory with dialogue rather than storytelling, making me feel rushed into Rob’s life. There was also a prologue paragraph on the first page of the issue that wasn’t needed. That prologue could have been used in a storytelling manner, leaving more content for other issues. This issue didn’t keep me hooked as massive elements of the story were revealed too quickly. Also, Rob is supposed to be a college student, but his demeanor and mannerisms make him seem younger.
The little discrepancies took this book down several notches. I’m not sure what the next issues will hold, since so much was dropped in my lap with the first one.
I am giving The Occultist 2 out of 5 Nerdskulls.
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Jinnrise #7
Writer: David Liss
Artist: Sohaib Awan
Publisher: IDW Publishing
What are your wishes? 1997 Wishmaster anyone? I’ve never seen a comic about Jinn before, and seeing the non-Disney version of Genie is always exciting. Especially with Halloween just around the corner, my love of creepy and eerie has spiked. Jinnrise did not disappoint.
Jinnrise included a prologue on its first page. This was perfect as I am jumping into the middle of a series. I appreciated having the short blurb of information. Andrew and his group are trying to gather an army of Jinn to hunt foe Jinn and take down an alien race. The group gets stuck in a labyrinth and needs to get through in order to find another lamp. The comic had a strong World of Warcraft fantasy feel and I absolutely loved it. The art style read as antique, which added to the fantasy storytelling. Each Jinn had their own colored speech bubble, which really helped characterize them as I was reading.
This issue was adventurous, surprising, and captivating. I don’t want to spoil the content of the issue, but the adventure and action kept me on the edge of my seat as I read.
I am giving Jinnrise 4.5 out of 5 Nerdskulls.
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