#30
Severed (Scott Snyder, Scott Tuft, and Atilla Futaki, 1 vol.)
When a 12-year-old boy named Jack (good name, by the way) goes on a search for his father in 1916 America, he runs into trouble on the road. Sometimes, that trouble is what'd you might expect when you're hopping freight trains and performing music on the street for spare change. Other times, that trouble isn't exactly normal. When Jack and Sam, a friend he makes on a train, cross the path of a shark-toothed grifter, their problems get more dire.
I have some additional background on how this book fell into my hands. It's not important to the book, so you can skip ahead. I'm really writing it down for me more than for you. I have a number of friends around the globe from my time in school in Tokyo, and one I've cherished deeply is a gal in Australia with whom I keep old fashioned correspondence. We send each other hand-written letters with horror comics and books attached. I enjoy having the excuse to break out my tomoe river paper, j. herbin ink, fountain pen, wax, and seal. I believe Severed was the first book she sent me, but I have a tendency to leave media untouched that holds some sort of sentimental value or expectation for me. With this, I've now read everything she's sent me, and I can finally sleep guilt-free.
This is from the Scott Snyder of yesteryear, before he made DC universe characters that laugh all over the place. It's more subdued, and a bit more concerned with grounded problems than multiversal ones. I've read some of Snyder's older comics, and he's always had a penchant for revealing the darker side of things, but what surprised me here was his willingness to explore emotions beyond anxiety, fear, and excitement. Maybe it was thanks to his co-writer, Scott Tuft, but there were moments of heart in this book. While they weren't common or too deep, I was still happy to see them. This wasn't a page I expected to see in a Snyder book, and it was a nice surprise, thanks in no small part to Futaki's deft hands.
There was one moment that wasn't deep in the visceral horror pages of the shark-toothed killer's chase which I found especially effective at tightening my chest. In fact, it was one of just a few moments that really had me nervous. It was a page or two after this one, and involved a game with a bear trap. That was well done at adding tension and making me question just how well I knew the characters involved.
While I didn't appreciate some of the events that affected the main characters, the narrative worked well for the sort of fear Snyder and Tuft were peddling. Searching across America and sometimes being chased added two good reasons for changes of scenery that propelled the characters forward and forced their arcs into dangerous climaxes. Nothing about the narrative necessarily wowed me, but it was solid horror work that I enjoyed my time with.
I wasn't familiar with Futaki's work before, but he impressed me. I think my favorite panel was the kiss seen above, but he captured darker moments well, too. From subtle, wry smiles to razor-toothed grins, he captures a spectrum of emotion on our villain that keeps the anxiety boiling beneath the surface, even in pages that feel rather safe. The book wouldn't be nearly as fun to read without his experienced hands showing tender, unguarded exchanges or the blood-curdling fear of several tragic deaths. I wouldn't have cared nearly as much about Jack and Sam without the sympathetic touch to their glances at one another and will to fight for each other burning in their eyes. Day or night, the scenes were a joy to look at, and what was captured in great or little light was captivating.
A single volume of competently written, gorgeously illustrated horror. I'm a sap for romance, so I wish I had seen that grow a bit deeper, though I know it wasn't the draw of the book. I noticed myself feeling tense in several moments, which isn't that common for me anymore. I think the strength of the book was largely in the middle, but I guess I'm a sticker about endings. If you typically find Snyder's recent work to be lacking in a certain... depth, you may still enjoy this book.
Horror comics read this month (31 of 31 volumes completed. New goal: 30 of 31 series):
#1
Kijin Gahou (Shintarou Kago, 1 vol.)
#2
Kiriko (Shingo Honda, 1 vol.)
#3
Mieruko-chan (Tomoki Izumi, 4 vol./ongoing)
#4
Emerging (Masaya Hokazono, 2 vol.)
#5
Honogurai Mizu no Soko kara/Dark Water (Suzuki Koji and Meimu, 1 vol.)
#6
Blackwood (Evan Dorkin, Andy Fish, Veronica Fish, and Greg McKenna, 2 vol./ongoing)
#7
Senrei (Kazuo Umezu, 4 vol.)
#8
The Dollhouse Family (Mike Carey, Peter Gross, Vince Locke, and Chris Peter, 1 vol.)
#9
Basketful of Heads (Joe Hill, Leomacs, and Dave Stewart 1 vol.)
#10
Dracula, Motherf**ker! (Alex de Campi, Erica Henderson, 1 vol.)
#11
Razorblades: The Horror Magazine (James Tynion IV, Steve Foxe, various, 2 vol./ongoing)
#12
Aliens: Salvation (Dave Gibbons, Mike Mignola, and Matt Hollingsworth, 1 vol.)
#13
Infidel (Pornsak Pichetshote, Aaron Campbell, and José Villarrubia, 1 vol.)
#14
Something is Killing the Children (James Tynion IV, Werther Dell'edera, Miquel Muerto, 2 vol./ongoing)
#15
Manor Black (Cullen Bunn, Brian Hurtt, and Tyler Crook, 1 vol.)
#16
Bones of the Coast (a bunch of Canadians, 1 vol.)
#17
Panorama (Michel Fiffe, 1 vol.)
#18
Through the Woods (Emily Carroll, 1 vol.)
#19
The Low, Low Woods (Carmen Maria Machado, Dani, and Tamra Bonvillain, 1 vol.)
#20
Blue in Green (Ram V, Anand Rk, and John J Pearson, 1 vol.)
#21
The Courtyard (Alan Moore, Antony Johnston, and Jacen Burrows, 2 issues)
#22
Neonomicon (Alan Moore, Jacen Burrows, and Juanmar, 1 vol.)
#23
The Invitation (InCase, webcomic)
#24
Wytches: Bad Egg Halloween Special (Scott Snyder, Jock, Matt Hollingsworth, 1 issue)
#25
Trick 'r Treat: Days Of The Dead (Michael Dougherty, Fiona Staples, various, 1 vol.)
#26
Sullivan's Sluggers (Mark Andrew Smith, James Stokoe, and James Harren, 1 vol.)
#27
Nameless (Grant Morrison, Chris Burnham, and Nathan Fairbairn, 1 vol.)
#28
Delphine (Richard Sala, 1 vol.)
#29
Nocturnals: Black Planet (Dan Brereton, 1 vol.)
#30
Severed (Scott Snyder, Scott Tuft, and Atilla Futaki, 1 vol.)
