“Spectro”

“Spectro” from AfterShock is unlike most other comics we review here, but it’s a welcome change of pace and a buffet platter of sci-fi, speculative space horror. “Spectro” is anthology collection of four stories, all penned, painted and generally processed by Juan Doe. This is a passion project, and the outpouring of a singular mind who absolutely loves the genre.

Between these pages we find classic Twilight Zone and Black Mirror style stories with clever set-ups followed by horrifying quick pivots, more tongue in cheek, playful (yet still violent) stories, and finally one that’s a bit more wistful, and aesthetically minded. Anthologies are true playgrounds, and they’re always a romp through experimental ideas and the kind of micro-fiction that some could argue are the most original, traditional, and pure form of western comics. Let’s crack “Spectro” open for a closer look at the four stories it contains, which in chronological order are “The Scale”, “Pluto”, “Mons”, and “Overview.”

Cover by Juan Doe

Written By Juan Doe
Illustrated by Juan Doe
Colored by Juan Doe
Lettered by Juan Doe
Reviewed by Kobi Bordoley

A Quartet of Quintessential Horror Tales from the Multi-Talented Juan Doe – Presented in a
Single Prestige-Format One Shock! SPECTRO explores the unnerving spectrum of fear through four terrifying stories rooted in a cosmic game of twisted karma and phantasmagoric terror:

1. What is at stake when sentient technology manipulates a man with projections of his de-sired self?
2. What are the consequences of excommunicating a member of the “nine” planets?
3. What is discovered when an explorer travels to Mars to ascend the tallest mountain in the solar system?
4. What happens when a scientist aboard the International Space Station is confronted with the most horrifying aspects of humankind?

In what realm of fear do these stories exist? SPECTRO.

Written and illustrated by Juan Doe (BAD RECEPTION, DARK ARK, ANIMOSITY: THE RISE) SPECTRO is a horror anthology from deep within the recesses of the mind of one of comics’ most prolific talents!

One of the constraints of Anthology stories, which certainly can be used to an author’s advantage, is that each story is incredibly short, only about ten pages long (the stories in “Spectro” range from between around 8 pages to around 15 pages.) This means the goals of your story have to be very specific, and authors must be economic in their use of space and plot. “Spectro” is a bit uneven in this respect, and some stories make use of the length constraint more effectively than others.

“Pluto” and “Mons” do well in their minimal number of pages, quickly expressing an idea and neatly bringing those ideas to their conclusions. “The Scale,” while narratively a little clunky, similarly finishes in a satisfying manner, and the bulky exposition section can be overlooked because the ending is so strong. “Overview” perhaps suffers the most in this respect, and we get a little bit (okay, a lot a bit) of ponderous villain monologuing, but the concept is so freaky that this too is forgivable. Overall, there are no plotting sins severe enough in “Spectro” to upend its readability, and like most good anthologies the whimsy and intrigue of the format outweigh its weaknesses.

Okay, but how about the stories themselves? As stated above, each story has its own merit, and there are no true duds here. We imagine how much you enjoy these stories will correlate with how much of a straight up space horror fan you are. These stories are nothing if not direct; there’s nothing overly complex here, just indulgence in the power that comes from dystopian, eerie fiction about our ever nearing future. Still, “The Scale” and “Mons” are the most standout stories. “The Scale” imagines a future in which we’re all dependent on our home technologies to mediate our desires. This is nothing new. However, “The Scale” imagines what a super smart, personally tuned scale and accompanying weight loss plan could look like.

The story unfolds in the kind of self-effacing way you’re probably imagining, and while it’s violent, it’s not gratuitous at all. The most interesting part of “The Scale” is its technology that projects a hologram of what your exact body would look like if you followed its dieting and exercise regimen. This is terrifying, and also feels possible. “Mons” is the other standout story, and is much more of a contemplative, aesthetically driven piece than “The Scale” or the other stories in “Spectro.” This story follows the narration of the world’s wealthiest man as his exosuit-clad body makes the great ascent of Olympus Mons, the highest mountain in the solar system on Mars. The final panels are some of the most eerie and captivating in “Spectro.”

Speaking of captivating panels, lets talk about the art here. Anthologies almost always feel more about the central thrust, and collected ethos of the stories than the art. After all, anthologies are usually getting after a common, narrative theme. That being said, “Spectro” doesn’t skimp on the visuals. This is the Juan Doe show, and he makes sure to imbue each story in “Spectro” with a slick coat of paint worthy of subject matter. Each story is a little different — “The Scale” feels a little cyber-punky, “Pluto” has this historical fiction-esque patina throughout that makes it feel more like a found document, while “Mons” has an almost surreal color quality akin to Moebius. “Overview” is just a well lit, clearly drawn story.

Juan Doe’s characters are extremely legible, and while there’s no reinventing the wheel in “Spectro,” everything looks good and all the pictures successfully serve the stories they’re in. If there’s one standout story in terms of color and composition, it’s “Mons.” That story has an eeriness to it that’s not captured in any of the other three stories in the collection. There’s a distance to the narrative, and we’re shown a lot of cool angles as the main character ascends the eponymous Martian mountain. Additionally, we’re given a lot of cool, otherworldly colors. Not only do we get deep and satisfying Mars reds, but also these sleek, saturated blues for the Martian night. It’s altogether just haunted.

Final Verdict: 8.3. The stories in “Spectro” will satiate even the most voracious fans of science fiction, horror, and the unsettling intersection of the two.