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Creative Team- Chuck Austin(writer), Patrick Olliffe(art and cover), Lee Loughridge(colors and cover), Jodi Wynne(letters and publication design), Greg Lockard(editor)
Publisher- Wimzi Inc
Check out my review for Comixology Original, MidState #1 by clicking HERE!
Ryan, you poor soul…
Diving into The Tormented #1, I knew I would experience the all the spookiness but i didn’t expect to be so invested so quickly. I couldn’t read this fast enough after the comic immediately grabbed my attention.
Our main character’s name is Ryan Auster, and boy does Ryan have a story to tell. Ryan is a recluse with an entire lifetime of gloom and sorrow to thank for it. Ryan is the son of ghost hunters. Ghost hunters that were much better at their job than they were at being parents. We see the abuse and resentment Ryan experienced in his early life. The deficit of love and nurturing from his parents is enough to make you want to adopt Ryan yourself. Ryan is belittled for not having the “skills” his parents and sister has.
A Ghostly Family Trait
Speaking of those skills, his parents and sister can see ghosts. Well, they could see ghosts before they were murdered, leaving Ryan as an orphan instantaneously. Ryan can also see ghosts, which he kept a secret from his family. If only they knew that Ryan could see his younger brother, Quinn.
Quinn died after an incident of falling down some stairs as a child, and has followed Ryan around ever since causing mischief. One of the instances of mischief is when Quinn beckons Ryan to follow him into his father’s secretive lair Ryan calls ‘the room’. The room is filled with supernatural oddities that his father collected from his time around the world. Ryan’s father catches him and the physical punishment ensues while Ryan’s mother watches.
With that kind of backstory, it’s impossible not to be empathetic to Ryan. His life story doesn’t get much more positive from there. We see him recanting all this to his therapist, and she instructs him to spend time with someone he normally wouldn’t, meaning someone happy. Then we see Ryan get laid off from his cooking television broadcast called Baker’s Dozen. We see his coworker stop by with friends to inform him that they have a new show for him to be the star of. The problem is that it’s a show about his life, ghost parents and all. Ryan is obviously extremely against this idea, which leads him to kicking them out of his house.
These Ghosts Just Don’t Understand Boundaries
One of those people he kicked out goes by the name of Opal. Opal is a kind and happy person that Ryan invites to hang out with him. But come to find out, she saw Quinn and invited him to come too. Quinn, the dead brother.
Looks like Opal can also see ghosts like Ryan. Ryan is completely stumped. His therapist sayce this could be a good thing for Ryan. Perhaps it can help him figure out what Quinn wants. Speaking of wants, it seems Angela the therapists wants something of her own, but doesn’t know what it is yet. Looks like Ryan has quite a few things to take care of for the ghosts in his life.
Overall, I’d grade it an 8 out of 10
I would have liked a bit more about his family history, but that’s because I’m a sucker for an origin story. Other than that, everything in this first issue was fabulous.
The art was perfect for the tone of the story. Patrick Olliffe just doesn’t miss when it comes to matching a story with the art. The story itself is so captivating, I’ve found myself reading it more than a few times out of sheer admiration. The dialogue kept you hooked onto every sentence. There was normal, every day dialogue, but then there was the ominous tone that left you with a tingle up your spine. I tip my hat to you, Chuck Austin. Just another example of an extremely well done comic by Chuck Austen and Patrick Olliffe. I highly recommend giving this Comixology Original a try if you’re into all the spooky vibes and wanting a supernatural thrill ride.
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