ORISION #1, available from Second Sight Publishing on October 20th, 2021, follows a researcher called in to rescue an expedition in Tibet after the group loses contact with the outside world.
The Details
- Written By: Bradley Golden
- Art By: Gleidson Ribeiro
- Colors By: Angel RD
- Letters By: Jayson Kretzer
- Cover Art By: Gleidson Ribeiro
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: October 20, 2021
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Was It Good?
We love horror. We love freaky monster horror. We love freaky monster horror where the monster comes from some hidden place that should never have been touched by nosy humans. Therefore, we love this comic.
I’m sure there’s some philosophical principle behind that opening statement, but it’s absolutely true in this case. There’s something fascinating about humans plumbing the Earth’s depths, whether for good or ill, and finding something not meant to be disturbed. It’s a stark reminder of why sometimes you should be afraid of the unknown thing slithering in the dark. The concept speaks to the primal fears we all have, even if those fears have been muted by the safety and security of modern life. Reminders are good. Reminders are necessary. Stories like this one are a reminder of why we should be afraid.
We’ll cover more detail in the next section, assuming you aren’t afraid of some spoilers, but the gist is very clean and straightforward. The research team goes to a remote location to dig for something. They find more than they expected. Another researcher with a personal connection to the team is brought in to find out what happened. it’s not a super-original concept but that’s because it’s so darn effective.
What’s most enjoyable about this first issue is Golden’s pacing and time management. There’s no fluff. Readers are dropped right into the action, you see the monster(s) almost immediately, and the stakes are established with a minimum of fuss or exposition.
Likewise, the art is very good, especially for an indie comic. To be fair, it’s not perfect. Some of the linework is ragged on objects and scenery that should have straight lines. Some of the character anatomies are stretched and distorted in specific panels. And a few panels lack pencil/ink detail. However, Angel RD’s coloring fudges the pencils/inks enough to make them work better than they would if this was a B&W book, so the colorist gets the kudos on the art in this issue.
Ignoring the technical execution of the art for a minute, I especially like the creature design (it’s on the cover so no spoilers on this point). There’s a Cthulu-esque quality about the creature that looks great, reminding classic horror readers of Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness, which is a bit strange since Cthulu is from a completely separate story and an ocean-based monster. Regardless, we could all use a little more Cthulu in our lives, so this monster works.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a scene in an expedition base camp in the remote, frigid mountains of Tibet. One of the team is running back to the camp, chased by something that roars and howls. He reaches a tent with the radio while two other scientists are resting inside, one fighting a fever. The man tries to radio for help, but the signal can’t get through the storm. Suddenly a tentacled monster rips through the tent, killing two of the team members. The third, Gill, runs away from the tent and into a nearby cave where the team has been excavating.
Inside the cave, Gill finds the rest of the team ripped apart. A slithering, roaring monster approaches her location and she dives beneath the body (parts) to hide.
Later, Pierce Hunt is approached by the expedition patrons from Netgin to find out what happened. We conclude the issue with a revelation about Hunt’s connection to the lost team, an ill-advised chopper ride, and the discovery that Tibet has more than one kind of danger in the frosty wilds.
Final Thoughts
ORISION #1 is a gory, pulse-pounding, well-paced, and efficient story about a research team digging in the wrong place. It’s a classical monster story setup, and everything about it works – from the monster designs to the frantic energy of the chase scenes. The art is generally good, but special credit goes to the colorist for elevating the pencils/inks.
Score: 8/10
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