Old Haunts #4 Review
Writers: Ollie Masters & Rob Williams
Artist: Laurence Campbell
Colours: Lee Loughridge
Letters: Sal Cipriano
The penultimate issue of Old Haunts really emphasises how much everything is unravelling around our three protagonists. Like previous issues this one chooses to focus on one character in particular, this time Donny, as well as progressing the main narrative. It feels like his mental health in particular is unravelling, and it’s becoming less and less clear whether there is a supernatural element to this story or whether it’s just the past haunting our characters and slowly driving them insane. Either way this issue dials the horror elements all the way and gives Laurence Campbell a chance to really show off his artistic talents.
Ollie Masters & Rob Williams have crafted an exciting tale and they manage to really build up the suspense for the final issue. What is particularly good about their writing is it doesn’t feel like there is a predictable conclusion waiting for us in the next issue. All the pieces are in place for an epic showdown between all the main players, but how that’ll play out is completely up in the air. At no point through the series have Masters & Williams felt the need to take the reader by the hand and explain everything which is going on, rather they’ve drip-fed titbits of information and left it up to the reader to put the pieces together. By this stage in the game though everything has been laid out plain to see and all that’s left is to see how it’ll play out.
One of the highlights of the series has been the art, and this issue manages to dial it up a notch. Campbell continues to use widescreen panels to reinforce the cinematic feel to the comic, which means when he decides not to utilise the wider panels for a scene filled with the supernatural it’s just a little touch which really emphasises the supernatural. This issue has it all though, the action, the supernatural, the pressure our protagonists are under, everything is increased to the max and it’s Campbells art which really brings it all to life. This comic has a style and feel all of its own, in large part down to the art.
But it’s not just Campbell who is responsible for the art, Lee Loughridge’s colours also play a large part. Previous reviews have mentioned what an inspired choice pairing Campbell with Loughridge, and that continues to be the case here. Loughridge’s bright colours combined with Campbell’s heavy inking looks absolutely incredible, it brings the city at night to life, and makes this one of the most distinctive looking and gorgeous comics on the market. But it’s not just the way he contrasts perfectly with Campbells heavy inks, it’s also in the more subtle colour choices, a scene where Donny is remembering things from his past cleverly uses more muted colours to tell us it’s a flashback, a subtle moment but excellent storytelling.
A gangster movie in the vein of Scorsese, throw in some large dashes of the supernatural and three old men slowly unravelling, an inspired choice of artist and colourist, and the final result is one of the more stylish comics currently on the market. Each cinematic panel looks absolutely gorgeous, the writing is excellent, don’t miss this comic. And if you haven’t been following along makes sure to get down to your Local Comic Shop and pick them all up, you don’t want to miss this.
Artist: Laurence Campbell
Colours: Lee Loughridge
Letters: Sal Cipriano
The penultimate issue of Old Haunts really emphasises how much everything is unravelling around our three protagonists. Like previous issues this one chooses to focus on one character in particular, this time Donny, as well as progressing the main narrative. It feels like his mental health in particular is unravelling, and it’s becoming less and less clear whether there is a supernatural element to this story or whether it’s just the past haunting our characters and slowly driving them insane. Either way this issue dials the horror elements all the way and gives Laurence Campbell a chance to really show off his artistic talents.
Ollie Masters & Rob Williams have crafted an exciting tale and they manage to really build up the suspense for the final issue. What is particularly good about their writing is it doesn’t feel like there is a predictable conclusion waiting for us in the next issue. All the pieces are in place for an epic showdown between all the main players, but how that’ll play out is completely up in the air. At no point through the series have Masters & Williams felt the need to take the reader by the hand and explain everything which is going on, rather they’ve drip-fed titbits of information and left it up to the reader to put the pieces together. By this stage in the game though everything has been laid out plain to see and all that’s left is to see how it’ll play out.
One of the highlights of the series has been the art, and this issue manages to dial it up a notch. Campbell continues to use widescreen panels to reinforce the cinematic feel to the comic, which means when he decides not to utilise the wider panels for a scene filled with the supernatural it’s just a little touch which really emphasises the supernatural. This issue has it all though, the action, the supernatural, the pressure our protagonists are under, everything is increased to the max and it’s Campbells art which really brings it all to life. This comic has a style and feel all of its own, in large part down to the art.
But it’s not just Campbell who is responsible for the art, Lee Loughridge’s colours also play a large part. Previous reviews have mentioned what an inspired choice pairing Campbell with Loughridge, and that continues to be the case here. Loughridge’s bright colours combined with Campbell’s heavy inking looks absolutely incredible, it brings the city at night to life, and makes this one of the most distinctive looking and gorgeous comics on the market. But it’s not just the way he contrasts perfectly with Campbells heavy inks, it’s also in the more subtle colour choices, a scene where Donny is remembering things from his past cleverly uses more muted colours to tell us it’s a flashback, a subtle moment but excellent storytelling.
A gangster movie in the vein of Scorsese, throw in some large dashes of the supernatural and three old men slowly unravelling, an inspired choice of artist and colourist, and the final result is one of the more stylish comics currently on the market. Each cinematic panel looks absolutely gorgeous, the writing is excellent, don’t miss this comic. And if you haven’t been following along makes sure to get down to your Local Comic Shop and pick them all up, you don’t want to miss this.
A Look Inside
