Never allow trust to get in the way of survival … if you want to live.
Creative Staff:
Story: Victoria Rau
Art: Marcelo Basile
Letterer: Charles Pritchett
What They Say:
A mother seeking solace with her two teenage children after a recent tragedy signs up for a group hiking and camping tour. But navigating the difficult terrain is the least of the hikers’ worries as the group soon finds they’re being stalked by unseen predators.
Content: (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
As another horrifying night passes in Peek-A-Boo Gulch, the hikers are still unable to cooperate with each other, and tension is slowly eating away at what sanity is left within the group. Ron Sr. voices his opinion he is not willing to take a chance waiting and would rather hike out with his son, however, Barry is still worried about Emmy and will not leave without her. With stubbornness getting in the way of sound reasoning, this unsympathetic man makes things worse by telling the newlywed his bride is probably dead, and it is only Pam who can stop a fight from erupting between the two headstrong males. But of course, this unruly person cannot let this argument go, responding with a condescending tone in asking if the widow is willing to protect the rest of the group. It is only in seeing the Colter family’s readiness training which quiets him, but not for long as he tries to take charge again, allowing for youngest daughter Maggie to quickly put him back in line.
Now vowing vengeance for this public shaming, Ron Sr. still insists taking his son and leaving the others behind, not caring stepson Jason is willing to stay with Pam and her family. Only after a bold verbal warning by this latter child to tell his mother of this cowardliness does the mean-spirited father deem to stay, showing his insecurity by blaming his other boy. But as things settle down, the inhuman howl of abominations draws closer, their clawing of rocks and gnashing of teeth only making the panic within the survivors all the more pronounced. However while the Colter family hands out weapons, the one loud upstart cannot but make his voice heard, protesting shooting a gun is the only thing he can do well. Can they truly trust this miscreant in this time of need and is he willing to aside their differences … or is there something else on his mind?
In Summary:
With the title now half over, I still hope writer Victoria Rau can manage to salvage this series, but with each passing page, the narrative becomes ever more predictable, tripping overused horror clichés we have seen too many times to make anything interesting. And though we may finally have some background on the Colter family and how they happen to be prepared for any eventuality, plus Debbie’s aggression, it is still too brief a glimpse into the past and does not fully explain their current determination, thus making them less shallow, but not by much. However even as we become centered back onto our antagonists, Rau cannot but fall back onto another stumbling block, resorting to eliminating another horror stereotype – the group’s loud mouth bully. With a quarter of the original hikers now gone, she has managed to sculpt each survivor into their own niche, but only now do we have any satisfaction in seeing someone killed, as ghastly as the moment was, it is still pleasing to see his cowardice matched by an equally gruesome death. To have this event become a highlight for the series is strange enough, but to allow it be one of the memorable moments within the narrative is odder still in the grand scheme of things.
It may have taken three issues to finally become adjusted to Marcelo Basile’s unique art style and coloring techniques for the abominations, but unfortunately, these moments are the only times where his artistic combination seems fitting for such crudeness. Within the dark caverns which are their homes, this subdued used of brighter colors only adds to the gruesomeness of these monsters’ existence, and when compared to normal humans, it makes them all the more frightening. The most striking scene would be of Debbie consoling another victim, her pallid features and drawn face are magnified by Basile’s monotone palette, chalky skin, and lifeless eyes make you feel sorry for the poor girl, and when she is finally put out of her misery, there is a justifiable sigh of relief amid the horror. However, this is the only time where this slipshod application of color works for the story, for within any other page, you experience something akin to sickly actors trying too hard to express emotions. If you did not know these people were strictly driven by adrenaline, their jaundiced skin tones would indicate people so panic-stricken you would not be surprised if any, or all, to suddenly drop due to a heart attack. And worse yet, there are even times when Pam almost appears to be bored from explaining things to disposable characters or frustrated from stupid decisions. If this is how this illustrator treats his actors, then how can readers become emotionally invested to care how if, or why, they survive?
Peek-A-Boo is very slowly becoming something acceptable as a horror tale, but with each step toward becoming palatable, there is something else which spoils the meal. To find joy in watching someone die is not a great leap to becoming a praiseworthy story, and with artwork still barely manageable in expressing the intensity of the narrative, it is the colors which smoother it into obscurity. Now as we near the penultimate issue and hopes for some kind of plausible rescue, everything which this literary and graphic team has worked to is on the verge of becoming redeemed or collapsing in on itself. One can only wonder what will happen next month for this ragtag team of hopeless characters.
Grade: C+
Age Rating: T (Teen)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: May 16, 2018
MSRP: $3.99
