In TOUCHING EVIL #15, available from Source Point Press on July 28th, 2021, Ada becomes the last survivor of the shootout and fire started by Oliver’s men. As the curse slowly mends her body, the souls of those she’s killed meet their inevitable fate.
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The Details
- Written By: Dan Dougherty
- Art By: Dan Dougherty
- Colors By: Emily Zelasko, Wesley Wong
- Letters By: Dan Dougherty
- Cover Art By: Dan Dougherty
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: July 28, 2021
Was It Good?
Well, this is a new title for us at ComicalOpinions.com, so we weren’t quite sure what to expect.
Thankfully, this story is an original idea that earned our attention for future issues.
Dougherty’s story about a curse that kills anyone the bearer touches… but only if they’re evil… opens up a world of possibilities for storytelling. What I like about this story is how a mother’s love for her son and her desire to not be a killer force her to do the very thing she hates to be rid of her burden for good. The concept plays on the idea of a mother’s sacrifice taken to horrific extremes. Most anyone can empathize with how far a mother will go to stop the hurt, even when she’s the root cause, so this comic gets points for picking an emotional hot button that’s also universally relatable.
Beyond the familiar, this story takes a turn into the supernatural in a fairly unique way. The souls of the evil dead are trapped in some sort of limbo tied to the curse bearer. The souls talk with each other, trying to make sense of their current position, but when the end comes for them, the truth of their evil comes spilling out in gory detail.
There’s something Biblical about the limbo scenes, although there’s nothing in the Bible that describes what’s depicted in this book. However, it’s Biblical in the way you feel the characters passing on into some sort of reckoning. They’re deemed evil by some otherworldly measure, and now it’s time to be held accountable for the choices. Reading the “passing on” scene feels almost cathartic, although your mileage and interpretation of the scene may vary.
The other positive about the writing of this story is its accessibility. Having not read the prior 14 issues, it was fairly easy to pick up the story without too much confusion. Having a “previously on” page certainly helped, but the story is fairly intuitive once you start in, and that’s a mark of clear writing.
As for the art, there’s nothing particularly over the top or stand out about it. Even the scenes in limbo are fairly plain. However, what the art lacks in visual pop with the linework and settings, it makes up for in interesting camera angles and panel composition. The panels are constantly moving and shifting perspectives to make every “flat” scene as visually unique as possible. For the most part, it works to keep the book visually engaging.
In all, it’s a unique premise with solid writing and visuals that keep you interested.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Ada is one of two survivors of the shoot-out and fire at Shay’s place. She’s burned beyond recognition, but the doctors are astonished to see that not only is she hanging on to life, but her wounds appear to be healing.
A nurse at Ada’s hospital receives a call instructing her to make sure there are no witnesses to the shootout. The nurse, Danielle, injects poison into the first survivor’s IV drip, killing him within minutes. When Danielle enters Ada’s room to give her the same poison, she makes the mistake of touching Ada and dies instantly.
Meanwhile, in Limbo, the victims of Ada’s curse fight, argue and kill each other in their panic over what’s happening to them. They’re already dead, so the killing does nothing but create a brief annoyance. Some of the evil souls begin to realize what’s happened and urge the others to repent. Others don’t care.
Danielle wakes up in Limbo and is met by Oliver, Ada’s son. Danielle tries to kill Oliver, thinking she’s been caught committing murder, but Oliver manages to convince her about what’s happened.
We conclude the issue with the flashbacks to 17th Century New England circa the time of the Salem Witch Trials, as we see the beginnings of how the curse took shape. The flashback flips back and forth with the evil souls all meeting their eventual fate.
Final Thought
TOUCHING EVIL #15 is a curiously engaging entry in the series where readers get insight into the curse’s origins, the deadly consequences of Ada’s extreme attempts to be rid of it, and the fate of the evil souls who fall to the curse’s touch.
Score: 8.5/10
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