It starts with much ambiguity as a woman named Charlotte is walking through a strange forest whilst talking to another woman named Poe. The way they discuss death, it seems to be some sort of purgatory and it’s referred to as the In-Between. After Charlotte received a vision about a boy in peril she’s given the task to help him. The mystery of the boy in question unfolds for an engaging plot using classic horror elements like the inclusion of the fear of the unknown and other assorted phobias in inventive ways without feeling cliché. It also has fantasy elements to add a supernatural larger-than-life aspect. The Charlotte character is a strong, intuitive, independent woman I’ve become emotionally invested in and I’m curious how she grows from this starting point. It’s the conventional hero’s journey origin story with ingenious ways to keep the plot fresh rather than feeling derivative. I always appreciate a good cliffhanger ending too.
The artwork is amazingly detailed. Because it’s in black and white, the line work gets a chance to really show the intricacies of everything. The way the strands of hair are elaborately drawn along with the fabric clothes shows how the artist pays attention to tiny details. Many countless hours of meticulous work must have been done to have realism to this extent. On top of that, the shading elevates the artwork giving each panel a photographic feel. The photo realism especially helps accentuate close-ups of faces. For example, a few panels show a person’s face but the reflection of who they’re talking to is shown in their eyes. Simply impeccable. It’s a great example of how to apply simple techniques for exemplary results.
Overall, this is a short and sweet introduction to a new world of mystery I’d be interested in learning more about. The artwork vividly represents the characters and environment to show off both the writer’s and the artist’s astonishing imaginations. Not only is it an intriguing mystery, I got lost in the gorgeous portraits that are delightfully drawn in each panel. While there wasn’t much world-building, it was just enough to make me want more. I highly recommend this for horror and fantasy fans alike. And remember, taking candy from strangers always leads to sticky situations.
