Written By: Matthew Sturges, Bethany Keele, William Keele and Peter Keele
Pencils By: Lucca Rossi and Farel Dalrymple
Inks By: Jose Marzan Jr.
Colors By: Lee Loughridge
Letters By: Todd Klein
Publisher: Vertigo
The House is under “new management” in part two of this four part tale, but the formula of this book still feels just the same.
As someone who gives Vertigo the benefit of the doubt on many occasions, it is now time for me to face facts – I have stuck with this series probably longer than I should have. But before I hit on that point further, let me talk about the actual single issue at hand. I did actually like this one particular issue. As a twenty-two page comic book I cannot find fault on Mr. Sturges or the crew. There is a nice flow for this issue, and the balancing act between the head story and the frame is actually pulled off nicely for once. I understand what the creative team has been going for with the frame stories (the frames act as a way to comment on the said theme or main situation of the main story through use of metaphor), but I think in very few instances they have pulled it off. The frame does work in this issue though because the frame is actually more of a flashback (possibly a metaphoric flashback – need more information) and connects to the main story; the flashback gives a look at a major event in Fig’s childhood and explores what happened to her long, lost brother. For the fact that Sturges is not trying to stretch and get a bit fancy with the frame, and leans more toward the flashback angle, I think he is able to make it work with the overall story.
I would also say that there were a few nice character moments in this issue. There is a nice opening scene with the troll Tursig in which Sturges focuses on his issues of being a homosexual troll in a world not so tolerant – a well done scene all around. I also quite liked the scene between Algernon and the two ghosts for the fact that it creates some conspiracy and humanizes what has been a pretty two-dimensional character.
So, all around, a pretty good issue…but that’s just one issue. As mentioned, I have been reading this one from the start. For the most part I have stuck it out because, “Oh, it’s Vertigo…it’ll pick up”. Honestly though, I have not been satisfied by much of this series because with every other issue I felt I was getting more of the same thing, and by that I mean too many questions, too many scene changes and story concepts met with average execution.
Look, for a series to have the reader questioning, it is not a bad thing. I usually like when a series builds questions because those questions are what draw me back each month to continue reading. But, in the case of House of Mystery, I feel that the questions present are ones you do not want to have. Namely, what is the purpose of this book? Is it to explore these characters? If so, not doing a great job…more there in a second. No, seriously though, what is the point? Whenever an ongoing story begins – especially a Vertigo story – I like to have the point or the direction somewhat labeled within the first story arc. That idea, that destination factor allows the reader to see where they are going and build a connection to that final idea through the action of reading the comic every month. The sense of direction a series has gives a reader a point to read because it gives them something to set their mind on and build towards. That has not happened here. I feel like after twenty-two issues I have a very limited idea of the series purpose, and without that sense of direction my care for the project seems to lack.
If the point is character study, then the characters may want to be defined a bit more. Another major heartbreak this series has had for me is that I do not get what makes these characters tick, and when they finally take some action (and that takes a while) I miss the reasoning or motivation behind it. This issue alone has one of those moments (Fig kissing Jordan), and it appears to me completely random because no sense of motivation is hinted at. Maybe if the book had an opportunity to slow down, instead of jumping from the main story, to the frame, back to the main and then covering the entire cast, the author and the reader would have a chance to define the characters and the series itself and build a connection.
Yes, number twenty-two was good, but at this point in the game, after plenty of poor attempts, I have lost my overall interest. After twenty-two issues I feel like I barely know the characters, the situation and the point. After twenty-two issues I feel like this series has lacked some serious steam. After twenty-two issues, I am calling it quits. Next time I will put into action that “six issue” rule on a Vertigo book.
So, as an overall series, eh…
2.5/5
But, on issue twenty-two alone, my rating will be…
4/5
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