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COMIC OF THE WEEK
Of Bitter Souls Aaron Duran
Supernatural / horror books have always been a hard sell for me. Not because I am not a fan of the genre, quite the opposite really. The main hurdle is the medium itself, comics are rarely able to generate the genuine fear and tension that your mind can create while reading a novel or what a lens can display a viewer on the screen. In fact, I can count on one hand the number of titles that has been able to hold my interest over the years: Swamp Thing, Werewolf by Night, Tomb of Dracula, The Nocturnals, and The Nightstalkers. Well, it looks like I’m going to need to add that other hand...
I will be adding the soon to be released Of Bitter Souls to that list. Written by creator Chuck Saterlee with pencils by fan favorite Norm Breyfogle, Of Bitter Souls is an engaging and exciting book taking the reader into the supernatural underbelly of New Orleans. Of Bitter Souls takes the cliché superhero team concept and gives it a horror makeover with a healthy sprinkling of Matrix style action. Brought together by an enigmatic preacher, four gifted (but deeply flawed) souls must do battle with the darker forces of the earth (and in time, I am certain, beyond). For a first issue, Of Bitter Souls, handles the often awkward task of introducing the settings and characters very well. The reader is thrust into the action, with only small flashbacks taking place to give the reader just what they need to learn more. In this age of superheroes sitting around a table and talking for 18 pages, Saterlee’s style is a breath of fresh air. The reader is introduced to just enough action, intrigue, and unanswered questions that you can’t help but want to pick up the next issue.
As stated previously, I am huge fan of Norm Breyfogle’s art. He has certainly hit his stride with Of Bitter Souls. His art captures the mood perfectly. Shadows come to life in the dark cemeteries, streets, and back allies of Nawlins. Again choosing to avoid large amounts of detail when not needed, Norm’s art is able to generate a sense of menace in the creatures that inhabit the world of New Orleans while highlighting the innocence in many of its victims. Other reviewers have commented that his art on Of Bitter Souls is very reminiscent of his work on Batman. To me, he did more than that, he seemed to take all the lessons learned from his previous work and then let his imagination fly. Breyfogle generates angles and lines that distort but never distract. Norm is indeed in his element as he works with these original characters.
I would also be remiss if I didn’t bring up the perfect balance of light and dark as inked by Mike Kowalczyk. With so many companies choosing a computer to create inks, it is nice to be reminded what the human touch can add to a book. Chuck Maly on letters give each character a unique voice when needed. All in all, a great team has been assembled and I look forward to many more tales from the gang at Relative Comics.
I know your comic dollar can be spread a little thin these days, but this August you really do owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of Of Bitter Souls #1. I give it 4.5 out of 5 critical hits.
Bitterness never tasted so good.
Friday June 10, 2005
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