MONSTROUS: HEARTBREAK AND BLOOD LOSS #1 – An Honest Review

In MONSTROUS: HEARTBREAK AND BLOOD LOSS #1, available from Source Point Press on May 26th, 2021, a lonely widow moves into an old lighthouse to live out her days in peace and quiet. The pirate ghost guarding a treasure under the lighthouse has other ideas.

The Details

• Written By: Greg Wright
• Art By: Rachel Young
• Letters By: Justin Birch
• Cover Art By: Rachel Young
• Cover Price: $1.99
• Release Date: May 26, 2021

Was It Good?

It was charming and sweet. The premise describes a ghost story but this is as much a love story as a tale filled with spooks and scares. The setup and overall tone read very much like an homage to The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. If you’ve never heard of that film or the TV show of the same name that was released about 20 years later, I highly recommend you check it out.

The story hits all the right beats for a romance with otherworldly elements, and the ending tugs on your emotional heartstrings with a sad goodbye.

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The art is a good fit for this material. The ghost is not too gory or over-the-top, and the personal moments between the widow and the ghost are suitably romantic as their relationship progresses.

You can see for yourself in our MONSTROUS: HEARTBREAK AND BLOOD LOSS #1 preview.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

We begin with a flashback to the life and bloody end of Iceblood the Eternal, a pirate who amassed a great fortune now hidden under a lighthouse.

Estelle Winters is a young, childless widow who purchased the lighthouse to live out her days in solitude while she writes her memoirs.

The setup for both characters is clean, simple, and brief. The focus of romance material of this type is the relationship between each character, not the uniqueness of each character. Therefore, the setup is a little vanilla but necessary and it works.

One night, Estelle here’s a ghostly moaning noise that keeps her from getting to sleep. When she searches the grounds outside the lighthouse, she finds the source coming from a cave near the water’s edge. When she enters the cave, Estelle is confronted by Iceblood’s ghost guarding the treasure he gathered in life.

Iceblood threatens her with madness and pain for trying to steal his treasure, but Estelle is more interested in berating Iceblood to keep the noise down so she can get some sleep.

In their first interaction, you see Estelle’s strength and unflappable nature. Iceblood is confused by Estelle’s lack of fear, but he tries again and again to terrify her. Despite his most ghostly efforts, Estelle is not interested in Iceblood’s gold or his attempts to frighten her.

With each interaction throughout the issue, the story reveals little nuggets of the two getting to know each other. Despite the slight absurdity of carrying on a relationship with a ghost, the growth of their relationship feels organic and authentic. Their interactions progress from uncertainty to respect to friendship to romance in a very clear and believable way.

Of course, no romance is complete without a monkey wrench thrown into the works. Two criminals from the nearby town try their luck at finding the treasure, and they follow Estelle back to the island to spy on her until they find the cave entrance.

We conclude the issue with an ending and a new beginning that’s both hopeful and bittersweet.

How Does It End?

Estelle discovers the truth behind Iceblood’s unfinished business. The cave becomes more secure. A library is in need of repairs.

Final Thoughts

MONSTROUS: HEARTBREAK AND BLOOD LOSS #1 is a pleasant romance wrapped in a ghost story that will make any romance lover happy. The art is soothing and sweet, and the writing is as appealing as a peaceful walk in the park.

Score: 8.5/10