A new take on the life of a man whose story seems to be endlessly fascinating, the first book of “The Secret Adventures of Houdini” from Alterna Comics is good, brash fun with a magical twist.
Written by Todd Hunt
Illustrated by Sean Von GormanIn the blink of an eye Harry Houdini, a name synonymous with magic and mystery, will have his world forever changed. Armed with a stinging wit and near super-human strength, we follow Houdini’s descent into the secret world of the supernatural.
The first story in this exciting new series begins in New York City where Houdini invades the lair of a supernatural sect determined to raise the spirit of an undead evil saint; Thascius Cipriano. What Harry finds may force him, for the first time in his life, to question his resolute disbelief in the existence of the genuine supernatural.
Harry Houdini certainly had an interesting life, and here we get an oddly absorbing take on his latter years that focuses on — and heavily fictionalizes — Houdini’s relationship with the spiritualist practices of his time. Famous for attending seances in disguise, only to to debunk them later on, the real Houdini was on a mission to prove that “magic” is really a feat of skill and deception. The Houdini of this book, however, finds this conviction vitally challenged as he comes face to face with what may well be a supernatural being. Along the way, there’s quite a bit of action to be had, from the supernatural kind to some good old fashioned brawling (Houdini throws quite the punch). At the same time, Hunt’s dialogue strikes a neat balance between realistic and overdone, keeping Houdini’s story grounded in reality at the beginning but flying off the handle into high-flung speeches when the moment is right.
An epilogue, meanwhile, brings another fascinating historical figure into the mix — one who, incidentally, is famous for his unshakeable belief in the supernatural. A development like this is sure to have some interesting consequences, and the way Hunt and Von Gorman have set up and framed this story, it’s hard not to wish you had the second book in your hands. As Houdini himself puts it, the secret to any great escape is knowing how to build the suspense, and that has certainly been pulled off here; the pacing throughout this story is just right.
Sean Von Gorman — who has distinguished himself lately by doing straitjacket escapes in order to promote this book, not to mention locking himself in a cage outside Forbidden Planet until every copy was sold — is decidedly more subdued in terms of his approach to the art. Working with a plethora of soft greys, Von Gorman sets down a kind of semi-phantom world, where everything seems on the verge of disappearing into thin air. The delicately rendered settings and dizzying camera angles only heighten the effect, underscoring a feeling of mystery and drama.
The human beings, however, are a bit variable, with poses and facial expressions that sometimes hit the mark and sometimes fall very, very wide of it. Still, Houdini’s overall character design is convincing, particularly in the way it brings home just how self-aggrandizing, grouchy and conflicted this incarnation of the famous magician is. In his expressions and his mannerisms you do not get a feeling that this is a very nice gentleman, but all the same, he — and his situation as Hunt lays it out over the course of the story — are compelling.
The SFX featured in this story, by the way, are also a lot of fun, keeping things splashy and over-the-top and lending the whole a nice campy feel that matches well with the supernatural content.
Actually, the main strength of “The Secret Adventures of Houdini” as a whole may well be that it’s not afraid to be splashy, interspersing as it does some fairly realistic and grounded moments with high camp, and even some slapstick. Hunt and Von Gorman seem to have determined that when you’re addressing a figure as infamous as Houdini, it’s go big or go home. This is a big story, all right, and if it’s not exactly a perfect comic, it’s still got charm and energy to spare.
Final Verdict: 8.0 — Buy
