Dreams may seem troubling … but sometimes reality is worse.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Victoria Rau
Artwork: Babisu Kourtis
Colors: Fran Gamboa with J.C. Ruiz
Letters: Carlos M. Mangual
What They Say:
In the aftermath of two brutal murders, the small New England town attempts to come to grips with the idea that a killer may live among them. Meanwhile Erica’s disturbing night terrors being to worsen and her best friend, Tamra, continues to insist that Erica’s house is haunted. Erica confides in Tamra and Chris that she suspects her creepy neighbor could behind Stacy’s murder. This prompts Erica and Tamra to break in, only to make a terrifying discovery.
Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
After Stacy and Derek went missing the police eventually found their bodies and the town began the mourning process, or at least those who were closest to the victims like Erica, Tamra and Chris, but the petty ones only found hurtful things to blame her death upon instead of helping the grieving. And when the three could no longer listen to the disgusting insults they made their way outside to joke about someone who could have been nasty to those who did not know her, but to the ones she did consider close was caring and a trusted friend. However after the funeral in the Gardner household the only thing her parents considered was the moral standing their daughter’s new boyfriend, especially after the deacon saw his arm around her during the ceremony. As she listened in on their conversation more mysterious occurrences happened within her room, causing Erica to call the person in question to come over so they could talk. It is only then does the troubled girl reveal the reason her guardians are so overprotective of their child – before she was born they lost twins they were blessed with due to unforeseen circumstances and now are overly mindful of their daughter. Although he tries to comfort his frustrated girlfriend she cannot but be upset by their controlling nature and thanks him before they both return home for the night.
The next afternoon Tamra sneaks out of class to have a rendezvous with another girl, but one of the instructors spots the illicit meeting and escorts them to the administrators’ office whereby they have a debate of religious doctrines, however their conclusion is clear – either stop this type of fraternizing or the basketball scholarship will vanish. But this matter was not finished in the eyes of Erica’s father who was also in attendance, afterwards threatening the girl to stay away from his daughter until she brushes up on her scripture concerning chastity and self control. It does not take long until she calls her best friend and they discuss the cost of being caught, including being stuck in this small town married and raising children. However it is not until Erica spots a strange cryptic symbol carved into her closet floor and wonders if she is going crazy again does Tamra declare she has idea to try the first thing tomorrow morning. With Chris accompanying them the trio drive to a psychic’s business, with both skeptical of the validity and it being heresy of the church’s teachings but their friend persuades them to go inside. A mysterious woman greets them and Tamra asks if she can show them how to use the ouija board she had brought, to which she instructs them to place their hands upon it and they gradually spell out the word Trebor. As they leave with even more questions and doubts Erica is now convinced Stacy was killed by someone with the name they just divined, however after driving to her house and ask if they should stay the night to calm her nerves, the troubled girl notices something across the street – their neighbor’s mailbox and his name printed upon it … the creeper’s first name is the clue spelled backwards, Robert. Now more certain than ever he is the one behind the murder Erica tries to persuade her friends to break into his house and search for clues, but is this right thing to do or is it asking for more problems?
In Summary:
As we acclimatize to this formulaic terror tale gleaned from several classic horror movies, one cannot but become immersed within writer Victoria Rau’s adaptation of the heroine being plagued by a domino effect, all begun by moving into a supposedly haunted house. And while they may have first laughed at the proposition of such nonsense, Erica now thinks there may be something tangible with the death of Stacy, all triggered by the creepy neighbor staring at them the prior night. While this motive is not surprising, it still has a chilling trigger on the psychological processing of cause and effect – allowing each step to cause another tile to fall and magnifying the effect of the prior, in turn producing progressive horror until someone else becomes the next victim. Although we may have witnessed this set up before and eventual tumble of the story, it is the build up surrounding our group which makes the anticipation within the narrative worth reading along with sympathizing through Erica, wanting to yell at the page when something is coming which the audience sees but the protagonists do not. Thankfully there are no musical triggers which alert us to when something will happen, however if you have seen this type of film before there are sadly no surprises as we can predict what may the next and yet Rau tries her best to add more twists than predicted and cause an ending which we did not expect.
But as we become enthralled within an enticing if predictable story, what truly grabs your attention and does not let go are Babisu Kourtis’ fantastically detailed illustrations made all the more captivating by an appropriate usage of shadows and muted colors from Fran Gamboa and J.C. Ruiz, creating an atmosphere of somber mistrust and an apprehensive presence just out of sight throughout the issue. From the opening scene the malleable tension spreads an ebon veil of dread upon the story communicated so eloquently with nuanced line art imparting an etched seriousness within any panel, allowing each image to smoothly transition every moment of emotional duress without the need for words, permitting actors and scenes to voicelessly project the necessary amount of caution to continue the strain of building events. And yet it is subtle lighting and lingering shadows within the artwork which produce what is needed for a horror tale: a foreboding mood which threatens to take over and push the characters over the edge; plus allowing that same darkness to drive the selection for a gloomier palette provokes every page, even those illuminated take on the insecurity of Erica’s plight … never knowing when the next haunting clue, distinct shift in facial expression or chilling splash of new victims will push all over the edge in not knowing what will come.
Although The Watcher seems to be built upon clichéd ideas gleaned from classic horror movies to provoke predictable responses, the manipulation of the emotional integrity of Erica’s psyche is what motivates the reader to continue the pursuit of what underlies the truth behind her fears. However by adding monumental illustrations which amplify the tension and amazing colors that feed upon every moment of uncertainty, we have a series which becomes the sum of its parts – a worthwhile story. And yet with but one issue left you cannot but question how the series will end, however if readers follow the formula and project what clues have been laid out, there can only be one conclusion … something or someone will be waiting for us at the inevitable end.
Grade: A-
Age Rating: T (for Teens)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: September 11th, 2019
MSRP: $5.99
