THE SHEPHERD: THE VALENTINE #1 – Review

THE SHEPHERD: THE VALENTINE #1, from Scout Comics on February 23rd, 2022, looks at the remnants of the Miller family as a ghostly encounter with her father leaves Lexi Miller with supernatural sight.

The Details

• Written By: Andrea Lorenzo Molinari, Roberto Xavier Molinari
• Art By: Jamie Martínez Rodríguez
• Colors By: Trevor Rubin
• Letters By: D.C. Hopkins
• Cover Art By: Jamie Martínez Rodríguez
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: February 23, 2022

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Was It Good?

Well, damn!

The Shepherd series from Scout has so far focused on three generations of Miller men as they wander the Seam (the space between life and death) to shepherd souls past their memories, trauma, and grief to whatever comes next. In THE SHEPHERD: THE VALENTINE #1, the still-living Lexi Miller acquires ghostly sight when her deceased father returns for the last visit to say goodbye. The results borrow heavily from familiar works like The Sixth Sense and with just as much impact.

That’s a wordy way of saying when you put kids together with ghosts who have unfinished business, it’s a potent mix, and the Molinari’s carry it off beautifully.

This issue works so well because it has three factors that hit like a sledgehammer.

The first is the creepy factor. Due in large part to Rodríguez’s art, this (mostly) B&W issue uses long shadows and hints of things happening to suggest danger is waiting in every dark corner.

Second, the emotional moments. Lexi’s last night with her father is tender, sweet, and heartbreaking. Anyone with a sense of empathy or who knows what it’s like to lose a loved one can relate to the sorrow of that meeting.

Third, the cliffhanger ending. It’s sickening and puts you on the edge of your seat at the same time. What happens on the last page is telegraphed from a mile away, but rather than coming off as predictable of rote, it works as a train headed for disaster that won’t stop, and you can’t help but watch.

Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.

What’s It About?

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

We begin with a flashback scene of Violet “Vee” Williams a few days before Valentine’s Day making a valentine for her mother just as school ends for the day. When the final bell rings, Vee heads out on a snowy afternoon for her walk home. Vee never makes it home.

Later, we get a retelling of the Miller men’s adventures through the lens of Lexi Miller. She knows they’re all dead but knows nothing about the Seam or the service Miller men provide to lost souls. All Lexi knows is she misses her brother and father.

One night, Lexi’s father returns to spend a few precious hours with her for a warm and loving goodbye. When Mr. Miller’s time is up, Lexi tries to get him to stay by grabbing a strange necklace around his neck. The charm burns a symbol into Lexi’s hand. A symbol that now glows when lost souls are nearby and need a sympathetic ear.

One night, Lexi and Nico are visited by a young girl in dirty clothes who needs their help retrieving a gift for her mother. We conclude the issue with a scavenger hunt, a gift, and a terrible discovery.

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