DC Horror Presents Soul Plumber #1 Review
Concept by: Marucs Parks, Henry Zebrowski, & Ben Kissel
Written by: Marcus Parks & Henry Zebrowski
Pencils by: John McCrea & PJ Holden
Inks by: John McCrea
Colors by: Mike Spicer
Lettered by: Becca Carey
Publisher: DC Comics
Forewarning, this one is not for the squeamish.
Each member of the creative team diligently works to unsettle the reader here and boy do they succeed. While I lean more toward the suspenseful/thrilling side of the horror fandom, this grotesque book definitely has its charm.
The story follows Edgar Wiggins (what a name!) who has found himself working as a gas station attendant in Indianapolis after having been dismissed as a seminary scholar. Though he’s no longer directly interacting with religious professionals, Egar’s faith remains unwavering, making the best of his situation and working to save the souls of those he feels need him most. It’s this drive that leads him to the Soul Plumber profession, though his aspirations may bring about deadly consequences.
The characters in Soul Plumber are something else; from the opening I was worried I wasn’t going mesh well with Edgar’s personality but as the story progressed, I came enjoy his character, especially through his interactions with Elk and Scuzz. I love that each personality differs and how Zebrowski and Parks have made it so that while these people may come off as extreme initially, the tale gradually progresses to have the reader understand their frustrations and viewpoints of religion. There are some points in the story where the exposition can be a little heavy-handed or feel unnatural because these characters have known each other for some time, but it’s only a minor point of contention. The humor throughout the book lands well too, especially in moments after introducing the Spirit Plunger.
John McCrea, PJ Holden, Mike Spicer, and Becca Carey are on art duty for this issue and a good deal of its charm is due to them. The splash page introducing the Soul Plumbers van is just a riot. The way tension is built before the reveal: the vehicle littered with grime and over-the-top religious phrasing and huge, nauseating cross adorned at the top is just utterly fantastic. The character designs are fantastic, and the use of their unsettling appearance works to draw you in closer. Scuzz, Elk and Edgar are these visually heinous people riddled with pimples and scars and filth, and introduced in manners where the reader is brought uncomfortably close to. This initial shock serves as a kind of sink or swim point where once the panels shift away, we can observe their behaviors and come to understand their motives without the sense of uneasiness of their appearance.
Soul Plumber may not be for everyone, but for those that it is for, it’ll be a delightful read with some interesting perspectives and amazing artwork that’s sure to have you coming back for more.
Written by: Marcus Parks & Henry Zebrowski
Pencils by: John McCrea & PJ Holden
Inks by: John McCrea
Colors by: Mike Spicer
Lettered by: Becca Carey
Publisher: DC Comics
Forewarning, this one is not for the squeamish.
Each member of the creative team diligently works to unsettle the reader here and boy do they succeed. While I lean more toward the suspenseful/thrilling side of the horror fandom, this grotesque book definitely has its charm.
The story follows Edgar Wiggins (what a name!) who has found himself working as a gas station attendant in Indianapolis after having been dismissed as a seminary scholar. Though he’s no longer directly interacting with religious professionals, Egar’s faith remains unwavering, making the best of his situation and working to save the souls of those he feels need him most. It’s this drive that leads him to the Soul Plumber profession, though his aspirations may bring about deadly consequences.
The characters in Soul Plumber are something else; from the opening I was worried I wasn’t going mesh well with Edgar’s personality but as the story progressed, I came enjoy his character, especially through his interactions with Elk and Scuzz. I love that each personality differs and how Zebrowski and Parks have made it so that while these people may come off as extreme initially, the tale gradually progresses to have the reader understand their frustrations and viewpoints of religion. There are some points in the story where the exposition can be a little heavy-handed or feel unnatural because these characters have known each other for some time, but it’s only a minor point of contention. The humor throughout the book lands well too, especially in moments after introducing the Spirit Plunger.
John McCrea, PJ Holden, Mike Spicer, and Becca Carey are on art duty for this issue and a good deal of its charm is due to them. The splash page introducing the Soul Plumbers van is just a riot. The way tension is built before the reveal: the vehicle littered with grime and over-the-top religious phrasing and huge, nauseating cross adorned at the top is just utterly fantastic. The character designs are fantastic, and the use of their unsettling appearance works to draw you in closer. Scuzz, Elk and Edgar are these visually heinous people riddled with pimples and scars and filth, and introduced in manners where the reader is brought uncomfortably close to. This initial shock serves as a kind of sink or swim point where once the panels shift away, we can observe their behaviors and come to understand their motives without the sense of uneasiness of their appearance.
Soul Plumber may not be for everyone, but for those that it is for, it’ll be a delightful read with some interesting perspectives and amazing artwork that’s sure to have you coming back for more.
A Look Inside
