Image Comics reviews for the week of 7-19-17

Winnebago Graveyard #2

Unless it’s a written by a next level writer (Morrison, Johns, Snyder, King, etc.) comic books still first and foremost are judged by how they look. Love the artwork and even if the story is mediocre, you’re likely to still enjoy it to a large degree. Winnebago Graveyard is one of those titles I’d probably be highly invested in if I could appreciate the art even remotely.

When it comes to horror, Steve Niles has real estate atop the genre. He hasn’t lost his edge here as a family of three try to get lodging after their Winnebago is stolen. From a creepy sheriff to a cranky hotel attendant, the people seem…off. It doesn’t take long for the family to see how off this place is as a group of hooded figures with torches come after them. The ensuing cat and mouse chase is fully unnerving thanks to its real life premise. This is actually something that could happen, right up until the point the cult summons a demon. But as entertaining as Niles’ work is, it’s undone by the art.

In fairness, good or bad art is largely subjective. Alison Sampson’s art didn’t do a lot for me to the point it took me out of the story. Sampson has more of a rough, sketch style, which lends itself to crude looking faces and distorted and jarring camera angles. One panel has the mother looking out of a window, but the perspective makes it look like she’s walking up the wall or the window is on the floor.

Sampson also illustrates sound effects like knocking on doors or ringing bells. That’s a cool effect that would look great with a cleaner, less cluttered layout. Too often Sampson seems to rush through sequences making it incredibly challenging to follow the story. That gives some pages a scattered flow like a series of random collected drawings. Stephane Paitreau’s choices with the colors are very interesting and do a great job delivering on the uneasiness of the script.

For those more tolerant of Sampson’s art style, this is a sleep with the nightlight on kind of tale, but it’s not going to be for everyone.

Rating: 3 out of 10