Harley Creed is a bad man. He used to be worse. A violent ex-con with a string of brutal crimes in his past, he only wanted one thing when he finally walked free from prison: to leave Briar Falls, WV, behind and disappear forever. But Harley’s hometown has a strange way of swallowing people whole-call it a consequence of the low-level folk magic that has permeated its darker corners for generations. And now that Harley has returned, pent-up vengeance for his past crimes is about to come roaring back. Somebody has put a hex on him-and Harley has seven days before he dies in twisted, screaming agony. Mine Is A Long Lonesome Grave #1 is an interesting debut that mixes a tale of revenge with the supernatural for a result that keeps you on your toes.
Written by Justin Jordan, Mine Is A Long Lonesome Grave #1 is an intriguing debut. It’s a mix of genres but at its heart, it’s a tale of revenge. Jordan introduces an interesting character in Harley Creed, a man who is mean, violent, and one we shouldn’t be cheering for. He’s just bad. But, Jordan impressively gives us just enough to feel a little sorry for him. A violent criminal, he’s freed from jail and wants to do a minimum in correcting his past while also getting the hell out of dodge. He’s done his time and haunted by his past… literally. And like so many stories of the type he keeps getting pulled back in. And back in he is with over the top violence emphasizing this is a guy we really shouldn’t be rooting on but at the same time, you can have empathy because it’s clear he wants to live a quiet life now.
Chris Shehan‘s art is solid with a great balance of the supernatural, horror, and gritty revenge tale. With color by Alessandro Santoro whose palette delivers a bleak feel and lettering by Micah Myers, the comic nails the vibe it’s going for. The visuals deliver the feel of a man broken down and tired and the choices really emphasize the horror aspects at times leaving readers to imagine the violence being inflicted. But, what’s interesting is even with the supernatural aspects, the visuals still feel grounded. There’s a vibe that reminds me of The Blair Witch in that it mixes the every day with something a little spooky, all mixed with a color palette that reminds you of the fall and the withering that comes with that period of time.
Mine Is A Long Lonesome Grave #1 is a solid read. If you like noir/revenge type stories, then it can be enjoyed just for that. If you like supernatural, there’s that aspect as well. The combo together create a debut that has you wanting to see what’s next and the horrors to come.
Story: Justin Jordan Art: Chris Shehan
Color: Alessandro Santoro Letterer: Micah Myers
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy
Oni Press provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle
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