Issue: The Calling: Cthulhu Chronicles #1
Writers: Michael Alan Nelson, Johanna Sotkes
Artist: Christopher Possenti
Colors: Stephen Downer
Letters: Johnny Lowe
Editor: Bryce Carlson
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Release Date: July 2010
Pages: 28
Price: $3.99
“An all-new ongoing Lovecraft-inspired supernatural horror series
with a decidedly modern spin from superstar writing team Michael Alan
Nelson and Johanna Stokes! A cruise ship comes to port, hundreds are
aboard dead – but why? Clayton Diggs is a pharmaceuticals salesman who
discovers his sister has committed herself to an insane asylum; she’s
checked herself in, fearing she’ll hurt herself or someone else. All
across the world, ordinary people in an ordinary world find themselves
drawn by fate to see darkness and despair unlike anything they ever
could imagine. Meanwhile, a cult makes its move, believing that there is
a great one sleeping that will hear… The Calling! Cover by Criminal’s
Sean Phillips and Federica Platti!“
Artwork: 4.0 out of 5
This is a great looking issue. While it’s not rich in detail, the
character designs have a great look and feel to them. They are nice and
consistent from panel to panel, and there are even some great details in
the backgrounds. The colors work well to showcase the mood and even
help get the fear flowing with the gruesome images. Overall a great
looking issue.
Story: 4.5 out of 5
This is by far the selling point on this issue. I can’t go too deep into
it, but how freaking scary is that ending! So the start of the story
had me a little confused, but as it went on I start to get a good feel
for it. Nice character building throughout, you get a good sense of most
of the cast. But all of that is just on hold when you reach that final
page.
Dying Breath: 4.5 out of 5
Now in all honesty who really gets scared reading a comic? Sure I might
have as a kid, but nowadays I am in it more for the genre and
storytelling. So for a book to send goosebumps shooting up the back of
my neck, I am all for a standing ovation on this one. Great artwork and
one hell of a hook at the end of this one is pushing this to the top of
my must read list for 2010. I can not wait to see what happens next.
Amazing work with this first issue.
