Haunt No. 1
Published by Image Comics. Written by Robert Kirkman. Layouts by Greg Capullo. Pencils by Ryan Ottley. Inks by Todd McFarlane.
The Deal: Todd McFarlane and Robert Kirkman finally release their long-awaited series about a murdered spy who returns to the land of the living as a ghost — a ghost who jumps in the body of his brother, granting him superhuman abilities.
The Verdict: There’s a lot to like in the first issue of Haunt. The art — by Capullo, Ottley and McFarlane — is detailed, kinetic, gritty and stylized; it’s a great blend of flash and depth. The story is incredibly action-oriented and fast-paced — which is kind of odd for an “origin” tale (not that I’m complaining about that). One problem I have with this debut edition is how the introduction of the book’s supernatural elements is handled. When we first meet the ghost, for example, the whole scene is downplayed in a way that takes much of the drama away from what should be a big deal. Anyway, so far so good. I say pick it up.
Reviewed materials provided by Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find: www.heroesonline.com.
This article appears in Oct 6-13, 2009.
