Blood Between the Panels: Witchfinder #1
Sir Edward Grey: Witchfinder # 1
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Mike Mignola
Art by Ben Stenbeck
Review by: Bryce Holland
Horror really is an amazing genre. It’s that rare classification of storytelling that seems to be able to blend effortlessly with damn near any other kind of story. For years people have blended horror elements with the conventions of other genres to create some of the most memorable pieces of fiction ever conceived, from the horror/comedy of Shaun of the Dead, to the crime/horror of Steve Niles’ Criminal Macabre series of comic books. If there is one creator, though, who has turned mashing up horror with other with other genres into a bona-fide artform, that creator is Mike Mignola, and his latest mini-series, Sir Edward Grey: Witchfinder, is but another testament to this.
Witchfinder is the first solo series for the titular Edward Grey, a background player in a number of Hellboy minis, and seemingly attempts to fill in some backstory on this perennial supporting character. The first issue of the series sees Sir Edward investigating a rash strange murders in London. It seems several bodies have popped up around town, torn up quite savagely, but lacking in blood. Edward, having experience in cases involving the supernatural, is called in and is quickly thrust into strange mystery involving a lost civilization, a deadly curse, a marauding demon, and a peculiar character who may or may nor be worshipping said demon.
As far as first issues go, this one hits all the right notes. Like in his Hellboy stories, Mike Mignola has created a Victorian-era mystery that seeps creepiness. Nothing is given away too early, but many questions are set up that leave you itching for answers. Mignola uses his penchant for gothic horror with a Lovecraft-ian bent to craft a yarn that is equal parts detective story, Indiana Jones style action/adventure, and Hammer-esque horror.
The most surprising aspect of this book is easily the art. For the past several years, Mignola has farmed out the pencil duties on his books to a number of horror comics most legendary figures, including Richard Corben and Duncan Fegredo. Ben Stenbeck comfortably continues in their stead. Stenbeck’s art is very evocative of Mignola’s own stylized line-work, but more detailed and expressive. As with most books that reside in the Hellboy universe, the settings in this mini-series are especially dark, accented by deep shadows that only serve to heighten the mystery in the story. Stenbeck is definitely a talent to keep your eye on.
Sir Edward Grey: Witchfinder was a real treat to find on the shelves. It evokes that classic Universal and Hammer horror vibe, and offers a great new story in lieu of a lack of Hellboy material being made right now. If you’re a fan of detective stories, anything even remotely Lovecraft related, or just good horror stories, give this book a read.
