“The Plot” #2 delves into the past, and with it comes ghosts.After the terrifying events of the first issue, the residents of Cape Augusta are haunted by the past. Minor Spoilers Ahead!
Written by Tim Daniel & Michael MoreciCover by Joshua Hixson
Illustrated by Joshua Hixson
Colored by Jordan Boyd
Lettered by Jim CampbellAs Chase is getting settled into the old manor with Zach and McKenzie, Reese is becoming connected to something from the other side that wants to communicate through her. Are these spirits a force for good or darkness?
“The Plot” continues down the bleak track it’s been headed down, opening with Reese at the police station recovering for the last issue’s events. We get some nice inner monologue from her as she ponders the idea of ghosts, both literal spirits, and as a metaphorical embodiment of past events. She feels as if she is being poisoned by the past and just as Sheriff Sullivan goes to check on her, she begins vomiting black sludge.
We then get a nice spooky vision of Zach falling through dark water. He doesn’t look to be drowning or even struggling. Almost in a sleepy trance, he sinks lower. Just as he seems to become aware of his surroundings, a dead hand grabs his ankle. As fear sets in a bouquet of water-logged arms surround him, pulling him into the blackness. An arm reaches down to release him from the clutches of the dead and looks to save him.
It is because of this vision of Zach that times starts to get a little fuzzy for Reese. While the events of the story are taking place chronologically, the vision and the bout of black vomit were signs for things to come. So when these events do come to pass, the reader feels the confusion and discomfort as Reese is going through it. This storytelling device is used to great effect and will hold up if used sparingly throughout the rest of the series.
The rest of the plot focuses on the remaining Blaines getting settled in their new mansion home, knowing that while it may not be the best place for them, it is the option that makes the most sense. While Chase is finding his footing moving from fun uncle to parent, he is also trying to compartmentalize his relationship with the kids, the old house, and his past with Reese. It’s nice to see the characters getting a little more fleshed out without the writers giving us everything. The same goes for the history of the town and exactly what’s going on with the supernatural. The second issue is perfectly balanced. It handles the human and paranormal elements beautifully, never rushing us to the next part, but guiding us, and allowing us to move through the story just as the characters are.
Daniel and Moreci are using ghosts perfectly for this story. As echos of the past and as wordless guides and harbingers. Their placement throughout the issue is perfect. The fact that we truly have no idea whether or not these ghosts are good or evil. As they move through this story they seem to be looking over the characters, but are they doing so for the reasons we would hope, or are they tied to something more sinister?
The script isn’t incredibly light, but it moves quite fast. The plot is filled with classic ghost story tropes and they all work. The settings and characters feel akin to things like Netflix’s version of The Haunting of Hill House and Guillermo Del Toro’s Crimson Peak. Both the writing and the art style are responsible for that.
Joshua Hixson’s drawings are loose and sketchy, but with enough fine detail that there is never a doubt as to who or what we are looking at. He connects everything back to the past and to the old manor at the center of the story. Every setting and person looks to be covered in swamp grass or in a stage of decay. Even if that literally isn’t the case, the illustrations paired with Jordan Boyd’s colors are there to push our brain in that direction. The same goes for the ghosts. These are not pristine spirits who have moved through the great barrier looking how they did in life to interfere with the lives of the characters.
Continued belowThey are rotting corpses, invisible to the living. Whether they have ill intentions or not, these are absolutely terrifying spectres that no one would want to encounter. Every panel is delightfully dreary and spooky as hell. Boyd’s color work is a big part of the gloomy rot as well. Aside from appropriately coloring the various characters and less haunted spaces, he mainly sticks to a few shades of browns, greens and blues to convey this creepy aura around everything. It works so well and keeps things unsettled from beginning to end.
Vault Comics has a really well told ghost story on their hands that moves well into truly scary and uncomfortable horror. While their typical foray into fun, campy B horror is really great, it is refreshing to see a darker approach. This series was a perfect launch pad for their Nightfall imprint and it’s wonderful to see that the premiere issue wasn’t just a fluke.
Final Verdict: 8.5, “The Plot” is a classic tale of haunted people that will keep you thinking about it long after you’ve finished it.
