Written By: Glenn Arseneau
Art By: Allan Byrns
Published by: 215 Ink
“Well that was chilling”. That's exactly what crossed my mind after reading this one shot from 215 Ink. The Price starts off as what one may think is a standard 'Girl gets lost in the middle of nowhere' story, but there is so much more. I'll avoid spoilers in this review, but should be made apparent is there is a rather large twist at the end of the comic. It's really refreshing to get a comic and honestly have no idea how it's going to end, or better yet, think you know only to have a complete curve ball thrown.
To tell you the story is to give away the twist, but what we have in this 32 page one-shot is a compelling tale that is shown from a few different perspectives and really gets you thinking. The story is told with such an interesting voice given by narrative captions. Some at first may be turned off by this constant narration, but once you start really reading into the story, the narration makes the comic have a Twilight Zone feel. Having a comic that uses narratives like this really feels reminiscent of old comics and horror shows that used the idea of a host. A really nice touch.
What is interesting to note here is the fact that this one-shot does have a curtain level of mystery that extends far past the ending of the comic. Once you're and reflect, you can't help but wonder “What else can be done here?”. To some this might not be a welcome thought, but to others like me, wondering what more can be done in that world is something intriguing.
The art fits the story very well and gives an eerie feel. If you are a fan of Ben Templesmith you'll feel right at home with the art. As many of you know, Tempelsmith has a very distinct art style, and the art here in The Price hits on a lot of those same elements. In short, it's a natural choice for a comic of this kind.
So if you are looking for a horror comic that isn't quite as it seems, check this one out. Very intriguing story with lots of moments of suspense.
