“Out of Body” #1 is a strong entry into the AfterShock Comics library. We’re only one issue in, but it’s already clear that “Out of Body” will be a cerebral murder mystery that draws on the occult, psychology, and theology, among other things. It’s a murder mystery, but the victim isn’t quite dead yet. There are demons, but their goals and powers are not yet defined. There’s science, but with a good dose of psychedelics. There’s good old fashioned ghost wrangling, but the medium in question is an unassuming Ozarks farm girl — at least for now. Basically, things start weird, and are only bound to get weirder.
Written by Peter MilliganCover by Inaki Miranda
Illustrated by Inaki Miranda
Colored by Eva De La Cruz
Lettered by Sal CiprianoWhen Dan Collins wakes to finds his life hanging by a thread, he must use his astral projection to discover who tried to kill him. Who is the beautiful mystic who tries to help him? Why does August Fryne want Dan’s soul – and what does it have to do with a demon who seems to be Dorian Gray? A weird, occult detective thriller about life, death – and whatever lies in be-tween. From award-winning comic book writer Peter Milligan (X-Force, X-Statix) and artistic sensation Inaki Miranda (WE LIVE, Harley Quinn) comes an awesome new dimension in horror and mystery!
The main conceit of “Out of Body” #1 was one we already touched on, that this is a murder mystery detective story about someone caught in the liminal space between life and death. It’s not the first story of its kind, but the territory makes for great storytelling. Our protagonist Dan Collins, a psychologist experimenting with psychedelics as a treatment for PTSD and addiction, comes to hooked up to life support. He can’t talk, can barely feel, and his eye blinks of distress go ignored, attributed to involuntary brain waves. Locked in, he desperately tries to remember the circumstances that led to his current predicament. Things feel hopeless until his work partner and lover visits his hospital bed. One thing leads to another, and she injects him with a little psychedelic slurry that really puts things in motion.
There are a lot of diverging and converging plot moments in “Out of Body” #1, and when you have a catatonic main character, it’s important to get the action going around them. Of course, having that person learn how to astral project is one way around that problem. Regardless, “Out of Body” #1 succeeds at having action and intrigue even before Dan Collins learns how to slingshot his being into the ether. Milligan keeps a quick pace, and the the first half of “Out of Body” #1 shows the parade of visitors that come to his bedside after a mysterious attack leaves him paralyzed. We meet seemingly oblivious coworkers, a hard boiled detective with a chip on his shoulder, difficult father, and a smoldering lover. The revolving door of visitors is a great narrative tool. In such a sprawling story, it’s great to have a few easy beats for character exposition. In “Out of Body” #1, it all feels natural. On top of that, given the murder mystery nature of the story, each meeting has the added subtext of whether or not the visitor is a suspect. On top of that, there’s the deliciously agonizing dramatic irony of Dan hearing every word said to him but being unable to communicate back. We know he can hear them, but the characters in the story do not — simple moments like this just pull us in.
Miranda’s illustration is on point as per usual. “Out of Body” #1 has a few high quality visual sequences. As we mentioned, the story involves a lot of plotlines, and therefore a few different locales. We have Dan Collins’ hospital room and flashbacks, Abi’s Ozarks farmstead, and August Fryne’s occultist den. Of these locations, August Fryne’s is the most delectable. His underground cellar has all the trappings of a warlock’s home and really looks the part. Miranda gives us ancient runes, bookcases galore, and more trinkets than we can count. Really, some panels in “Out of Body” #1 could be pored over for hours. Each disparate location has its own look and palate, and the transition between each is seamless. Because of this, the flow of the story never feels disrupted, and the art cleanly transitions from place to place.
Continued belowOn top of that, there’s the whole astral projection/acid trip aspect of the story. here again, Miranda and De La Cruz work in tandem to build some beautiful dreamscapes and full page splashes. There’s some fun panel design as well; for example during psychadelic induced flashbacks, the lines between panels blur as Dan Collins tries to piece together what happened to him. The visual fuzziness adds a layer of mystery to the story that heightens the drama, and gets Dan’s desperate attempts to figure out the truth. Things are just out of reach, tantalizingly so. The astral projects scenes have an otherworldly glow and really capture the ethereal nature of what Dan Collins is going through. From start to finish, “Out of Body” #1 is downright beautiful and well executed.
Character expressions in “Out of Body” #1 are also clean and concise. Characters are differentiated and easy to tell apart. Action happens quickly, and no scenes appear muddled. It’s really expert work. Additionally, good use of perspective makes up for the fact that for much of “Out of Body” #1, our protagonist is, well, just lying in a bed. Fortunately, we get a spate of close-ups, bird’s eye view, and panning shots of Dan and his room, which add some visual depth to the story effectively matches the narrative. We get the sense that a lot of care went into the art direction of “Out of Body” #1, and it pays off.
“Out of Body” #1 lays the groundwork for an exceptional series. It’s unclear as of now how all the disparate plot pieces will come together, but nothing in the story feels shaky yet. There’s confidence to the storytelling that makes us feel like if we just give this story space, it will deliver. We’re excited to be along for the ride, wherever it may take us.
Final Verdict: 9.0. Visually stunning and brimming with occultist, murder mystery trappings, this story is one to watch.
