Clairvoyant hijinks can get kooky and chaotic when a kibitzer of the kingpin’s kinsfolk kindly makes predictions for their kingdom kickstarting kerfuffles quickly linking a detective catching kidnappers to a psychic.
Horrorscope is based on the novel of the same name written by Brian Evans, Mark Andrew Blitz, and Helen Marie Bouquet. The 84-page stsnd alone graphic novel adaptation was written and illustrated by Ferran Xalabarder.
It’s about psychic medium Helen Wilson, the owner of a mysterious table with unfathomable power she bought at a yard sale in California. Now living in Naugatuck, Connecticut she ends up going to New York City to attend a Yankees game. While there she catches the attention of the Italian mafia. A short time later she helps Detective Merton Howard with a missing person’s case which makes him a believer too. He decides to help Helen when he learns she’s had an encounter with a well-known local gangster. The slow burn story dives deep into her background, the mystery of her table, and her involvement with the mafia.
It’s an engaging plot with well-rounded characters. I understood where they were coming from and why they made their decisions without questioning their actions or thoughts. Helen is an empathetic character because after seeing what her life has been like up to this point, it’s clear her ability is equally a curse as well as a gift. Her motivation to help others is vividly expressed. The writer does a good job of showing and not telling. New information is learned through flashbacks rather than told through conversation. The discussions they do have progress the plot further along without feeling contrived. The first half of the book takes its time setting the stage for the second half. This is when things pick up and the horror elements are put to full effect. The payoff for the wait is astounding. The gore is so deliciously, gruesomely evocative that it’s truly a treat that was well worth the wait.
The art style looks like an oil painting. The people’s faces and clothes are so detailed with a few simple hatch marks and different line thicknesses. Each person has such a distinctive look there is never any confusion about who’s who. The use of colour is also stunning. Effectively transitioning from cool tones like blues and greens to the warmer tones of reds and yellows gives it an appealing look without overwhelming the eyes. Every panel is like a little portrait reminding me of the Romanticism art style popularized after the Renaissance era.
Overall, this graphic novel has something for everyone including mystery, comedy, drama, and horror. It takes it time as far as storytelling but the result is a fantastical display of imagination that’s as emotional as it is exhilarating. Patience is rewarded with impressively shocking imagery as the answers come into focus. While at times it gets predictable, the exciting climax goes into territory I wasn’t expecting. The open-ended way it finished makes it seem like a sequel is planned because there is more of this story to be told. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for an original tale with an affinity for horror. And remember, look to the Zodiac if you need a sign to read this book.
Grade 9/10
