SPECTREGRAPH #2: The Maze of Lies

Creative Team:

Writer: James Tynion IV

Artist: Christian Ward

Letters: Aditya Bidikar

Cover: Christian Ward

Spectregraph #2:

Our story picks up where issue #1 left off as Vesper and Jane are trapped inside the mysterious mansion with grotesque ghosts of all forms. The mystery begins to slowly unfold in issue #2 as we see through the lens of Vesper and what drove her to willingly trap herself inside these haunted walls. Meanwhile, Tynion and Ward draw us deeper and deeper into the depths of the pages crafting twists and turns making us realize not everyone may be who they seem.

The Art:

A museum. That is where so much of this artwork belongs, as Christian is in his bag in the way he manipulates various shapes around the panels, bringing the frames full circle. The way he makes the pages work is something that should be taught in future classes because, nobody else in the game is working on the level he is operating. A stand out in this issue is the way he plays with the colors and shadows; we see a dark and gloomy present day, and then when we get glimpses into the past, our eyes are met with fiery purples and oranges. Another showcase of how good the artwork is the details themselves. Some of our characters wear glasses and most often we do not see their eyes behind the lenses but, rather the reflections off of them or colored in such a way that nothing can be seen.

When it comes to the haunted and ghoulish figures that traverse from page to page, there are many forms of beings to behold. Leaning into the body horror, Ward almost seeks to find out how gross and otherworldly he can go to craft these creatures. Ghosts that are nothing but muscle or have their insides hanging out are just a few surprises he leaves for us. Halloween may not be for months but, this issue is a visual treat for every reader.

The Writing:

Tynion is no slouch regarding the beautiful storytelling within these pages. The range of emotions he manages to pull out of us as readers when it comes to Vesper sways like a boat in a storm. One moment, we hate her for what she has done, but as he gives us breadcrumbs into her past, we cannot help but feel sorrow for her. It’s a testament to his writing, and when it comes to Jane, she may be a character we hate due to her history of screwing up, and yet she steps up in a major way in this issue. Stories are meant to invoke emotion and he does so by delivering us that horror and sense of dread while also drawing the reader into a closer bond with each character.

When it comes to lettering, Aditya helps James hammer home the emotions the characters are feeling. The whispers of sorrow and regret Vesper feels in the library are a prime example that tie this story together beautifully.

Overall:

Spectregraph #2 is a roller coaster of dreadful horror that leaves us gasping for air by the end of the issue. We are left with a bond between Jane and Vesper, and my only complaint is that it ended so soon. This story is an instant top of the pile read.

10/10 Cigars.

This has been a review by Matt from Hopsgeeknews. For more reviews or links to their podcast check out http://linktr.ee/hopsgeeknews