TOUCHING EVIL#18, available from Source Point Press on October 27th, 2021, follows Oliver as his plan for revenge reaches the point of no return. Will he follow in his mother’s footsteps or run from the curse he now possesses?
The Details
- Written By: Dan Dougherty
- Art By: Dan Dougherty
- Colors By: Emily Zelasko, Wesley Wong, Kanila Tripp
- Letters By: Dan Dougherty
- Cover Art By: Dan Dougherty
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: October 27, 2021
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Was It Good?
This issue was much better than the last one in terms of focus and overall enjoyment. We were slightly down on the last issue because there were too many disconnected plot threads squeezed in all at once. Here, the plot settles down to focus on three threads to further the plot, fill in some interesting backstory, and conclude on a high note for the next issue.
One of the big, unanswered questions centers around the origin of the curse. Over the last few issues, Dougherty has planted the seeds of events that gave birth to the curse centuries ago. We get more in this issue that goes all the way up to who, when, and where and a little bit of the how, and it’s a relatable and satisfying origin story.
In the present, more focus is on Oliver and his hasty plan to use the curse as a tool of revenge against those who were responsible for his mother’s death. The setup is realistic and Dougherty does an excellent job projecting Oliver’s apprehension and fear over the possibility of killing someone. Realism has been a mainstay of the series since the beginning, and Oliver’s reaction to the events happening around him feels realistic and honest.
As for the art, Dougherty relies heavily on facial expression to flesh out the dramatic tension taking place throughout the majority of the issue. Emotions range from fear to revulsion to anger to sadness and Dougherty executes the expression of those emotions flawlessly. To be fair, this is a dialog-heavy issue but the lack of action is more than made up for by the emotional weight of each scene.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
If you’re wondering how Oliver gets backed into a corner, first read our TOUCHING EVIL #17 review.
We begin with the funeral of Mayor Cassidy, and Senator Barr, the man who ordered Cassidy’s murder, is ironically delivering the eulogy. An attendant disrupts the service by calling Barr a murderer and demanding justice. It seems the public is not entirely on board with Barr’s claim of innocence.
In the men’s room, Oliver is desperately trying to pull himself together when he’s visited by the ghost of his mother. She tries to console him while simultaneously guiding him to go through with his plan. She brings the voice of experience, explaining that he’ll always be chased down if he doesn’t go on the offensive. Before Oliver can decide what to do, Fate decides for him as Senator Barr and his bodyguards enter the men’s room after the eulogy is delivered.
Elsewhere, Nick and Brody await the arrival of Nick’s friends. They discuss the potential of what’s happened to Oliver and start planning what to do next. Brody refuses to give up the spell that will release the curse and Nick refuses to let Brody go. They’re at an impasse of mutual distrust when Nick’s friends arrive.
In the past, we see how Reverend Marshall manipulates the townsfolk into trying Ms. Drake as a witch. He offers to convince the town to show leniency if her daughter agrees to testify against her mother. We conclude the issue with lies upon lies, a betrayal, and the revelation that there is a witch present… but not one anyone suspects.
Final Thoughts
TOUCHING EVIL#18 brings the threads together for a more focused and enjoyable issue. Oliver’s fear and doubt over becoming a killer feel palpably real, and the backstory of the curse’s origin feels completely believable. The art is very good, projecting tons of emotional weight through a dialog-heavy issue.
Score: 8.5/10
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