THE HEXILES #1, by Mad Cave Studios on 10/30/24, follows a group of half-siblings when they learn they have supernatural abilities from their father’s misdeeds.
Credits:
- Writer: Cullen Bunn
- Artist: Joe Bocardo
- Colorist: Manoli Martinez
- Letterer: El Torres
- Cover Artist: Joe Bocardo (cover A)
- Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
- Release Date: October 30, 2024
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 32
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of THE HEXILES #1:
First Impressions:
Writer Cullen Bunn begins a new tale of horror under the Mad Cave umbrella with a supernatural adventure about family, demons, and more with The Hexiles #1. Bunn hits the ground running to fill in the big picture as quickly as possible for a relatively engaging first issue.
Plot Analysis:
The Hexiles #1 begins with seven adults arriving at a funeral for their father in Boston. What should be a moment of shared grief turns out to be anything but when we quickly discover the adults are all siblings from the same father but different mothers. The siblings had no awareness of each other. In short, the funeral is off to an awkward start.
To Bunn’s credit, the opening scene establishes the players, backgrounds, personalities, and motivations in record time. We’ve been critical of Bunn’s pacing in the past, so the beginning of The Hexiles is a pleasant upgrade.
After the siblings make brief introductions, the funeral director approaches the group to explain their father, Jamison Kreel, left them each with a special legacy, a legacy of which they already suspect. Kreel souls each one of their souls in exchange for power and influence. Now that he’s dead, his debt falls to them. When the siblings try to leave, the funeral director and his attendants unmask as demons ready to claim their souls.
The issue ends with the siblings revealing they are far from powerless, an agreement to part ways, and fate preparing to send a message.
Overall, The Hexiles #1 is a quick, original, and sometimes gory start to Cullen Bunn’s takes on supernatural siblings brought together by their father. The setup is well-constructed, and there’s enough meat in this first issue to wonder what comes next.
Artwork and Presentation:
Joe Bocardo’s mix of hyper-detailed backgrounds and scratchy gore was the right choice for this series. Bocardo’s backgrounds give the scenery a grounded and authentic feel, and when the action kicks in, the lack of “cleanliness” in the horror elements makes the demonic beings seem more terrifying. That said, Bocardo’s “scratchy” inks made it difficult to tell what was happening in a few scenes.
Art Samples:
Final Thoughts:
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THE HEXILES #1 is a brisk, efficiently constructed, and gory supernatural start to a story about estranged siblings hunted by supernatural forces. Cullen Bunn’s debut issue is well-paced and well-constructed, and Joe Bocardo’s art style is an effective mix of detailed settings and grimy horror.
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