Weaving winding webs warrants a wickedly wonderful worthwhile quest without overworked wayward clichéd wheelhouse quagmires to welcome in a whacky weird world of whimsy.
This second issue follows up on what is presumably Charlotte’s first mission. It picks up immediately where Chapter 1 left off. It’s a dark descent into the unknown. It does a good job of simultaneously answering questions raised previously in the first chapter and raises new ones. By sticking to a simple plot The writer can focus on character development. The horror and fantasy elements also take centre stage here. It seems like there’s more going on than what appears. While it has a satisfying conclusion the doors are wide open for more possibilities for storytelling in this fantastic world. As Charlotte discovers the extent of her power she continues on her quest to solve the mystery of the boy and herself. Again not much information is devolved but it was enough to keep me invested and I would still like to know more. The writer has successfully created a new character to care about. This display of minimal world-building proves how sometimes in storytelling less is more. Nowadays too many stories get overcomplicated with unnecessary subplots. Thankfully there’s none of that here. While this does introduce new characters the main focus is still on Charlotte. We are seeing everything through her eyes. She works as a surrogate for the reader in that regard. It’s a combination of a character-driven coming-of-age tale and a supernatural mystery told with exquisite pacing.
The amazing artwork enhances the story because it helps the reader visualize this world in a certain way as originally conceptualized by the artist and writer. Without saying too much it introduces monsters that look like truly formidable fearsome creatures. They are sure to be nightmare fuel for anybody with certain phobias. The line work is consistently impressive. It shows how just a few simple marks can go a long way. Another highlight is the shading which captures the photo realism look of it very well.
Overall the keyword here is simplicity. While this issue is twice as long as the first, the pages are filled with concrete ideas followed through with focused character-driven storytelling. When the horror and fantasy elements teased in the first issue come into the play they don’t disappoint. Again there’s enough exposition divulged to keep me satisfied yet still want to know more. I’m looking forward to the next issue. I highly recommend this to fans of comic books and horror/fantasy fans in general. And remember, you can’t spell arachnophobia without AAAH!
Grade: 9/10
