Creep #4

After the death of Jeff Brinke, private investigator Oxel Karnhus discovers Mike’s personal journals with detailed events of a hunting trip gone horribly wrong in the conclusion of this 5 part mini series.

The Team

Written by John Arcudi (B.P.R.D. Vol. 7 : Garden Of Souls) & illustrated by Jonathan Case (Dear Creature). Cover by Jonathan Case. Published by Dark Horse Comics.

The Pros & Cons

This series was very sad and derpressing, but at the heart of it lies a captivating mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end. It’s about guilt and regrets, some characters live with it, others simply can’t. Stephanie Brinke hating herself for being a better mother to her son, Oxel for repplying to Stephanie’s request and Jeff Brinke, his grandson & his friend for watching a nice hunting trip turn into a nightmare and the consequences of their actions. The events of that morning in the woods is enough to make any human being go ballisistic, but just when you’re completely horrified from what you’ve just read…wham! The story seems to say “You think that’s bad? Check this out!”

Writer John Arcudi’s story started slowly, building up the tension and the mystery and truly delivers with this final issue. Lives are ruined, lives are lost and the protagonist seems to due the right thing in the end. You could argue that Oxel earns his Creep title by doing what he does, but after reading 5 issues of this individual, he stays in chatacter until the very end. I’ve grown accustomed to Jonathan Case’s illustrations, as the images of the hunting incident are burned into my memory forever. Few drawings will have that affect on me, but occasionaly it happens.

The Outcome

Having to wait 30 days between each issue was a real bummer and really interrupted the flow of this story, I think that as a TPB, this story will better aprreciated. There aren’t that many gumshoe comics out there, so when you get a chance, don’t let this one slip through the comic book rack cracks. I give this issue a 9 and an 8 for the entire run. Click here for the review of #0.