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Project: Cryptid #1 – Ahoy Comics
Creative Team: “Ballroom of Death” Mark Russell, Jordi Pérez & Madeline Seely.“Wormy and Me” Paul Cornell, PJ Holden & Mike Spicer (Lettering By: Rob Steen)
Welcome to another New Comic Book Day review from the N.I. Bullpen!
If you are into cryptids, then I have a book for you this week on new comic book day! This new series from Ahoy Comics is an anthology series, where each story dives into a different legendary creature.
Issue 1 contains two cryptid stories, the first being “Ballroom of Death” which covers the legend of the Yeti from Himalayan folklore. The second story is called “Wormy and Me” which goes into detail about the Mongolian Death Worm from the Gobi Desert. For the sake of time and spoiler prevention, we’ll only be covering “Ballroom of Death” in this review.
Without any further delay, let’s jump in and take a look at this new series from Ahoy Comics, Project: Cryptid #1.
**POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD**
Awesome Detail
Before we get into the story itself, I have to mention one awesome detail of this series from the very first page. Eash story begins with a page of a “file” on whatever cryptid that particular story is about. It covers the name and aliases of the creature, location, a brief historical explanation, and even gives the oldest and newest reported sightings!
Ballroom of Death
The story opens with a climber named Mr. Graff and his two guides as they are climbing Mt. Everest. Graff is making an entry into a voice journal as his guides debate their route to the summit.
The guides want to take Graff on the easiest route, known as “Candy Bar Alley” which is the route they normally take wealthy CEOs such as himself. Graff’s friend Reginald had climbed the mountain before, and told him the route he had taken, the “Ballroom of Death.” That is the route Graff wishes to take.
After arguing and trying to convince Graff to take the safer route, his guides finally agree to take the more dangerous path saying “If we go that route, chances are that one of us will die.” To which Graff responds “Well, good thing I brought two of you.”
The Climb
The three men begin the climb along the ‘Ballroom of Death.’ They use baskets to lift each other up cliffs and brave against -20 degree weather and winds in their attempt to reach the summit. The guides are convinced that Graff’s recklessness is going to get them killed.
Eventually, the three come upon a small cave. The guides advice Graff to take shelter inside the cave, so that they can set up the basket for the next lift up another cliff. Graff heeds their advice and ventures inside the cave.
As Graff begins to make another entry in his journal, he hears something inside the cave with him. A full grown Yeti appears suddenly. We hear screams from inside the cave. The guides seem unsurprised, almost like they knew this was going to happen. It seems like this has happened before, and these guides in particular seem to see this often.
The last panel we are shown is the Yeti devouring what is left of Mr. Graff.
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Story Review
Russel manages to build the tension wonderfully in this short story.
We are given the who, where and why quickly and organically. It doesn’t feel rushed and the reader isn’t left wondering why Graff is on Everest in the frist place. A rich man trying to outdo another rich man. It’s easy to understand and there is not much detail given or needed other than that.
The end of the story left me with a question or two. Why did these guides lead Graff along the more dangerous path even though they knew it would end badly? Sure, he insisted, but as the guides surely they could have just refused and either left him to his own devices or convinced him of the easier path. It’s almost like they knew right where the Yeti’s cave was, and it seems as though they may have purposefully pointed Graff to go into the cave knowing he would never come out.
Artwork Overview
Pérez & Seely bring a superior quality of work into this story. I could almost feel the chill in the air myself as I read through. It seems like it would be a challenge to make a snowy environment jump off the page of a comic book without it feeling forced or washed out, but that’s not the case here.
The change of color tone once inside the Yeti’s cave is drastic. Having said that, it’s also appropriate for the scene. It is the dread at the end of the story brought to life through color. The final panel of the Yeti eating Graff, surrounded by the bodies of other climbers who had met the same fate, is horrifying and gratifying all at once.
10 out of 10 for artwork here.
Overall Score: 9 OUT OF 10 – “Must Pull”
This was a fun read. Not only as a general fan of cryptids, but as a fan of stories.
The fact that each story starts with a history and description of each creature is awesome. Not only for those new to the world of cryptids, but also for long time fanatics.
Don’t read too much into the fact that we left out a review for “Wormy and Me” because that is fantastic as well! I just really want to urge people to go out and pick up the book to see for themselves.
Project: Cryptids #1 from Ahoy Comics is setting up to be a fascinating series. I can’t wait to see what creatures are featured in issue 2 and beyond. This is an excellent choice for new comic book day this week if you are a cryptid fan or if you just need something new and different to read this week.
As always everyone Be Safe, Be Kind, and Take It Easy!
