Echoes #2 – Review

 

By: Joshua Hale Fialkov (writer), Rahsan Ekedal (art)

The Story: A man tries to come to grips with the fact that his father was a big-time serial killer while also dealing with his own mental health issues.

What’s Good: What a creepy story this is!  If you enjoy horror that is more unsettling and psychological, this is something you should definitely check out.

In the first issue, we were introduced to a young man whose elderly father was passing due to Alzheimer’s.  In his final, incoherent moments, he tells his son to, “Check the box” in the basement of their old house.  The son does so and finds ~100 little dolls.  That would be screwed up even if they were normal dolls, but these dolls are made from the skin, bones, hair & clothing of little girls that his father (apparently) killed.  We also learned that the son is not that mentally stable himself.

This issue explores whether the son is destined to become his father as Fialkov makes him hear his father’s voice in his head and that voice is urging him to start killing little girls.  The whole thing is very creepy, but what really sets it apart is how you just cannot tell how much of this “father’s voice” is the son’s guilt and how much is due to his own mental illness.  Or is it really all the same?  This whole situation builds to a pretty shocking conclusion to this issue that I won’t spoil.  The pacing is really good on this series, as both issues have ended in a really good place that rewards the single-issue buyer.

Ekedal’s art is again perfect for this issue.  This comic works a million times better without color (although it does have significant grays) because it removes all warmth from the page and let’s just the creepy remain.  His renderings of the little dollies are disturbing as hell.  You hate to look at them, but have a hard time prying your eyes away.  Really good art…

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Scarlet #4 – Even in spite of the awful shootings in AZ, this book is really speaking to the Libertarian in me.  I’m most happy to see that Bendis hasn’t lost his “fastball” for telling an edgy story after years of writing mass-produced superhero stuff for Marvel.  And, oddly….I love Alex Maleev’s art.  I almost wish his art wasn’t so enticing because I don’t think anyone else pulls off this photo-reference style very well.  Runner-up: Memoir #1

Most Anticipated: Detective Comics #873 – I can’t wait to see how Dick Grayson gets away from the room full of gas-mask wearing freaks.  Why are gas masks so freaky?  I am loving Scott Snyder, Jock and Francesco Francavilla’s opening arc on Detective.  This is a grounded Batman and the Dick Grayson story that I really wanted as soon as he took over for Bruce about 2 years ago.  Must read!

Other picks: American Vampire #11, New York Five #1, Scalped #45, Echoes #2, Fantastic Four #587

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Scarlet #4 – Finally, everything really clicked for me.  It’s now clear what kind of book Scarlet is going to be, and it’s clearly one I’m going to love.  Just a great comic all around, with the only thing bad about it being that I’m going to have to wait two months for the next installment.

Most Anticipated: Fantastic Four #587 – There are a lot of books this week, especially from Marvel, but for me, one stands out.  It’s no surprise really, given that this is the “death issue.”  One member of the FF dies this Wednesday and Jonathan Hickman has built it up to the point where it could truly be any one.  Curiosity and my love of the Fantastic Four would have this as my pick anyway, but it doesn’t hurt that Hickman’s FF may very well be my favourite book from Marvel right now.

Other Picks: Detective Comics #873, Action Comics #897, Avengers #9, Secret Avengers #9, New Avengers #8, Wonder Woman #606, American Vampire #11, Fables #101, Scalped #45, Captain America #614, Thunderbolts #152