Echoes 1

Initial expectations: this comic is going to be pretty awful. The pitch – son discovers his father was a serial killer – didn’t promise a great deal, and the serial killer angle is so overused now that the mere mention of it induces stupor. How surprising then to discover that this is intelligently written and drawn, and is certainly one of the best comics found amongst those I’ve randomly sampled of late.

The plot (and I don’t think I’m giving anything away here, as most of the elements mentioned are in the solicitation for the first issue) centres around Brian, a schizophrenic who is visiting his father on his deathbed. There are suggestions Brian has been abused by his father and this has caused, or contributed to, his schizophrenia. As his father dies, he mutters a cryptic message directing Brian on a quest ultimately leading him to the discovery that his father was a serial killer.

None of this is straightforward as it seems. Brian’s schizophrenia causes hallucinations and paranoia, so it’s difficult to tell which events are real and which are the product of his own mind. What seems clear-cut seems less so after a second reading.

The air of unease generated is ably supported by Rahsan Ekedal’s art. Drawn in pen and ink wash, it has a slightly old-fashioned quality that recalls in particular the Spanish artists that used to produce work for the Warren horror magazines. There’s a considered feel to the pacing that never feels the need to rely on bombast. Angles are sometimes subtly skewed to add to the feeling of disquiet. There are some draughtsmanship deficiencies here and there – his characters tend to suffer from Sal Buscema mouth syndrome (a blank ovoid where the mouth should be), a strange omission when he’s taken such evident care elsewhere. Overall though, it’s astute and understated work.

Then there’s Joshua Hale Fialkov‘s script. It’s maybe overstating the case on the strength of one issue, but Fialkov seems to be a real talent. He’s taken stock horror situations – the deserted house, the family secret, serial killers – and has attacked them with verve, making them seem fresh once more. In his afterword he mentions several films that acted as inspiration for the concept of the storyline’s unreliable narrator, and indeed there’s a strong filmic quality throughout. There’s believable dialogue, and a couple of scenes with real punch, especially one telling reveal shot towards the end. You could argue that scenes like the deathbed confession that starts everything off are a bit pat, but the compensatory strengths in the writing are so strong that you don’t really worry about these lapses when they occur.

It’s a very pleasant surprise to discover a good comic that doesn’t rely on established talent and that is considerably better than most of the big-name comics around today. The first of a five issue series, I’m hoping the subsequent issues maintain or build on the strengths shown here. Well worth seeking out.