Sometimes I’m struck by how much I like a graphic novel, especially when it takes me by surprise. It took me a few tries to get invested in Ghostlore. For whatever reason, I opened Ghostlore, Vol. 1 three different times without making it past the first few pages. This last time, though, I picked it up, and something new clicked. I tore through Ghostlore’s family drama and Lovecraftian horror and loved every second. Ghostlore is about the ghosts we hide, the sadness lurking in small towns, and the pain only family can inflict.
| Title: Ghostlore, Vol. 1 | Author: Cullen Bunn Artist: Leomacs |
| Colorist: Jason Wordie Letterer: Ed Dukeshire | Collects: Ghostlore #1 – #4 |
| Release Date: November 14, 2023 | Publisher: BOOM! Studios |
| Page Count: 128 | Genre: Horror Graphic Novels |
Synopsis
What ghost stories do ghosts tell, and what can they tell us about ourselves?
An estranged daughter and her father wander a haunted land; they only have the restless spirits, each with its own story to tell, as company along the way.
After a deadly accident of which they are the only survivors, Lucas and Harmony Agate can see the dead–an overwhelming amount of the deceased, all with their own warnings, cries for help, and malevolence alike. But Lucas and Harmony aren’t the only ones with this ability; there are other nearly-deads, some of which have malicious motivations…
Cullen Bunn of Basilisk and The Empty Man acclaim is joined by artist Leomacs (Basketful of Heads), bringing readers the most eye-opening spectral story since The Sixth Sense!
Review:
The Agate family is about as dysfunctional as it comes. With a preacher father who can’t solve his kids’ problems through his religion, a teenage daughter who can’t wait to leave home, a son who won’t talk to anyone anymore, and a mother just trying to hold them together, things are messy at best. When a fatal car crash leaves two of the family members dead, the remaining two are left to pick up the pieces. Not only that, but their close encounter with death has them now surrounded by ghosts begging to have their stories heard so they can pass from this world. Things definitely won’t be easy.
Ghostlore, Vol. 1 is one heck of a ride. There are huge themes tackled in its pages – family, death, mental health, and religion. I was very into the father/daughter relationship and enjoyed this graphic novel far more than I expected I would. Harmony and Lucas aren’t likable, but they aren’t supposed to be. Harmony is tough, difficult, and brazen. Lucas is so tied to his religion that he can’t see what he has in front of him. If you want pleasant characters with simple stories, look elsewhere. Ghostlore is complicated, messy, and full of horror and complex relationships. More than anything, Ghostlore is an ode to communication, revealing the benefits of telling your story and the perils of refusing to do so.
Art:
Leomacs’s art in Ghostlore is phenomenal. While this is my first comic by Leomac, he’s not new in the horror comic space. He also illustrated Basketful of Heads, written by Joe Hill. It took me a few pages to settle into his art, but I enjoyed the flow of it once I did. Jason Wordie’s colors are also great, shifting with the tone from moody pastels to dark blues and purples.
Final Thoughts:
Ghostlore, Vol. 1 is horror of the intense and cerebral variety. The serialized nature of the ghost stories works extremely well, especially in these first few issues. I’m excited to see how that format plays out throughout the series as a whole.
Content Warnings
- Death of loved ones
- Death of a child
- Self-harm
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Thanks to the BOOM! for providing me with an advanced review copy! All the above thoughts are my own.
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