Horror is not horror … unless it involves the unknown.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Billy Hanson
Artwork: Renzo Rodriguez
Colors: Fran Gamboa with J.C. Ruiz
Letters: Fabio Amelia
What They Say:
When a small town in Wyoming has their regular television programming interrupted by a strange video, things begin to go from weird to horrific. Is it a hacker having fun, a government conspiracy, or something entirely more sinister behind this transmission?
Content: (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
In a small town in Wyoming everything seemed normal, and like many teenagers their age Jake and Davis were blasting the TV watching music videos, with no concern the former’s father Marshall would hear anything over the noise of his typewriter. However when a strange broadcast takes over their show, the volume makes his parent take notice and he enters the room to find the source of this cacophony. Although instead of what he was expecting, all the man sees are strange and hypnotic images intermixed with static and nonsensical words dancing over the screen, leaving all three in a dazed state which none can break free. It is only when the interference stops do they regain their senses, but it may be too late to save Jake from what appears to be a seizure, causing the two to panic and rush him to the local hospital. Once there the child is taken and Marshall demands an explanation, to which the head physician explains they are few from dozens to experience the same symptoms including nausea, headaches and now uncontrollable spasms. Interested in why they were exempt from any apparent side effects, the doctor want to run a battery of tests, all the while assuring them Jacob will be fine.
Twelve years later intrepid reporter Astrid is trying to convince her newspaper editor to approve a piece for something which never went national: in a small Wyoming town a hijacked television broadcast made dozens sick, however there was never any medical reason released. And now recently a similar video was transmitted via live link to several phones, and in the same fashion, several people also became sick. However unlike the previous incident, there were no fatalities, unlike the death of Jacob Palmer who was part of the initial occurrence. With this recent event, this investigative journalist is worried the spread of this illness will expand if someone ever uses the internet to infect more than cells; it is due to this risk she insists her boss approve this assignment, if not to prove this urban legend is false, then to warn people of the danger. Hesitant as to the validity of this fable, Robert is still wary as to if this is worth the time for Astrid pursue, but without his consent she heads out, stating if he needs her she’ll be in Wyoming. But as the writer reaches the elevator, her editor calls and clearly states Astrid only has five days … if she doesn’t find anything newsworthy, that’s the end of this aimless chase. However will this be enough time?
In Summary:
For an issue of Grimm Tales of Terror which is to be released on Halloween, from the beginning this tale feels like you are reading the script for an investigative report on a televised news magazine like 20/20 or 60 Minutes, and it only gets worse from there. Although writer Billy Hanson may have crafted a narrative based on an urban legend of the same name, his re-imagining seems to be based on conspiracy theories and thus comes across as dry and tedious, with all the subtly of a gossip talk show. Although it does display some originality in shaping pseudo facts, there is nothing within the story which makes you care for the characters – everyone is jaded as to the events and even Jacob’s father comes across as a raving lunatic obsessed with finding the truth. Throughout the story the protagonist is cold and callous in hunting down clues, treating the doctor and hospital staff as only sources of information and not people, until she tracks down Marshall and learns the truth. By this time Astrid has started to care for the individuals but it barely engenders her to the reader, but of course she could be projecting a false sense of guilt, all in an attempt to get her story. Overall, there is no foundational terror to this issue until the every end, and by then it is too late to panic the reader or satisfy their need for a good scare. All we are left with is a feeling of dread, something which is out of place for a title which usually supplies fans with memorable frights … especially on this most fitting of ghoulish holidays.
With such a dull and uninspired story, the only redeeming quality for this issue is the clean and crisp artistic style of Renzo Rodriguez, allowing the reader to watch the tale with undeniable clarity, all while the colors of Fran Gamboa and J.C. Ruiz solidify the realism of this mediocre world. And yet even with such a straight forward narrative, it is the unexpected attention which Rodriguez gives to the most telling element of the human body, the face, which saves this book. Ever since I first saw his unique illustrations, I have always admired how he can impart such vivid expressions for the actors and clarity to the eyes which steer the reader to whatever emotion he wishes to convey within a specific scene, and this issue is no exception. On the contrary with such an elementary narrative, it is up to the artist to communicate the mentality of each person during any given moment, and these pages are wonderfully detailed via memorable subtleties – like a furrowed brow, wide set eyes or grimace of the lip. Even with all of these seemingly normal components, it is the expressions of Astrid which become the focus of the issue, making her determination and feelings well known with such brilliantly rendered panels. You cannot but want to turn the page to watch her journey, this relentless reporter pursuing her story and searching for clues like a unwavering bloodhound, even if her search ends so feebly. While I would have liked to see more of Rodriguez’s other signature marvel of illustrative gore and ghoulishness which we so happily enjoy, sadly it would not fit into such a lackluster tale, and unfortunately his talent becomes wasted within this issue.
With a tale which seems out of place within the Grimm Tales of Terror title, I begin to wonder why it was presented as a story for one of Zenescope’s best books. Although the conclusion did have a bit of psychological fright, the build up was unappetizing, leaving a bitter flavor within the reader’s mouth due to a lack of palatable nuances which would have made it meaningful to consume. It is only thanks to the skillful presentation by the artists which made it semi-tolerable, and if not for that begrudging compliment, I would have immediately sent this dish back to the kitchen for some much needed holiday seasoning.
Grade: B
Age Rating: T (for Teens)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: October 31, 2018
MSRP: $3.99
