Written by Scott Snyder & Scott Tuft
Illustrated by Attila Futaki‘NEW SKIN’ Jack learns the road is full of swindlers. And in Chicago, the most devious one awaits him: a travelling-salesman with shark-like-teeth who craves the flesh of the innocent. SCOTT SNYDER (American Vampire, Detective Comics), SCOTT TUFT and ATTILA FUTAKI (Percy Jackson) are back with 2011’s most terrifying horror series. SEVERED.
The debut issue of this comic was a well crafted, impeccably paced horror tale that managed to use sequential static imagery to create a genuine sense of dread. Does the streak continue this issue?
Click after the cut to find out! As a note, spoilers are discussed.
This issue picks up slightly after the massive cliffhanger we were left with at the end of the first issue and in a different location entirely. The story opens back with Jack Garron on his way to Chicago to meet his real father, and fter getting muscled out of every object he held dear last issue, Jack teams up with a new young friend named Sam to retrieve his things from a fellow drunken train rider. One rape scare later, our heroes find themselves in foggy Chicago, officially on the hunt. Jack and the audience soon find out that the rough and tumble train-hopping pick-pocketing Sam is actually a very well hidden tom-girl, and while I’m not sure what the exact significance of that status is yet, the book sure did take the time to make a thing of it.
After following his father’s instructions perfectly, Jack realizes it was all for not as his old man had apparently moved on from the immensely racist (but historically accurate) musical theater performance that he had been playing for. It’s around this time that Sam comes up with the idea to market Jack’s skills to earn the pair the money needed to follow Jack’s father back to Mississippi in style, at which point “Mr. Porter”, last issue’s antagonist, arrives and observes the two making their plan, promptly acquiring an identity more appropriate of luring our heroes in by murdering a man and assuming his identity. After observing our mystery killer mutilating himself with a sigil relating to his new identity, the issue comes to a close.
And oh yeah, remember poor Frederick from last issue? Yeah, he was cannibalized and strung up in the worst way. So there’s that.
This issue, much like last issue, excels at building tension and suspense through really well designed panel placement and scene structure. It’s the subtle touches that really help this book excel, and it does so in the cracks of the medium that no one tends to notice. For instance, the issue never hovers on any one scene, scenario or character long enough for you to get comfortable with anything; by constantly rocketing you between one scenario to another, it creates an artificial sense of unease. Additionally, each and every panel and splash seem to be particularly illustrated to draw the eye slowly through the story in a way that slows yet quickens the momentum of the story at the drop of a dime, keeping us on our toes all the way through. All of these techniques are incredibly effective in creating the sense of dread that the story deserves.
Speaking of said sense of dread, artist Attila Futaki’s pencils really compliment the words of Snyder and Tuft and create an atmosphere for the book that is almost entirely unique. The ways in which the characters and objects meld into the constant blanket of shadow that covers the books really does trick the mind into not quite knowing what it’s seeing. Again, the “intentionally designed to create dread” effect is on display not just in the writing and structure but in the art as well, and it’s pretty damn effective.
Overall, horror comics are by and large one of the hardest genres to write within comics effectively, and it really looks as if the trio of Snyder, Tuft and Futaki have really hit on some kind of groove that succeeds in several different ways to make you look over your shoulder and haunt your dreams. Given the genre, you can’t ask much more than that.
Final Verdict: 8.5 – Buy
