THE WINCHESTER MYSTERY HOUSE #1 – Review

In THE WINCHESTER MYSTERY HOUSE #1, available from Source Point Press on October 27th, 2021, the curse of the Winchester family drives Mrs. Sarah Winchester to seek forgiveness by doing the only thing she can… build.

The Details

• Written By: Joshua Werner
• Art By: Dustin Irvin
• Colors By: Dustin Irvin
• Letters By: Justin Birch
• Cover Art By: Dustin Irvin (cover A)
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: October 27, 2021

Wait! Don’t Forget To Sign Up For The Comical Opinions Newsletter.

Was It Good?

THE WINCHESTER MYSTERY HOUSE #1 is just what the doctor ordered for Halloween. It’s a historical account of the famed Winchester house but told from the perspective that all the ghostly forces that drove Sarah Winchester to build are real.

If you’re not familiar with the story, here’s a handy dandy link: The Winchester Mystery House. If you want the short version, the Winchester family, makers of the Winchester rifle company, was beset by tragedy after tragedy. Sarah Winchester eventually concluded the family was cursed due to the many deaths resulting from the rifles her family designed and manufactured. She believed the spirits contacted her and told her to make amends by building a house with enough rooms to house all the spirits killed by a Winchester rifle. The story and house are real, and you can even visit the house for a tour.

This comic has the benefit of building on real-life source material that’s already creepy in its own right. There was even a decent movie of the same name released in 2018 starring Helen Mirren, and it’s a fun ghost story.

So, how does the comic version hold up to the movie or the real thing? Thankfully, it holds up just fine. Werner makes the story work by crafting Winchester as a dazed, disconnected character working from motivations that are secret to everyone but her. The supporting characters think she’s either cursed or crazy, and the side conversations reflect believable reactions from normal people in an abnormal situation. This isn’t a bombastic jump scare type of horror comic. It’s a subtle, quiet horror where you can’t help but notice something is off, and as the story progresses, the uneasy tension builds to make you uncomfortable in the worst/best way.

Of course, there are some ghostly apparitions to give your eyes something to chew on, and they’re as spooky and otherworldly as they need to be to fit this type of ghost story. Irvin nails the concept of disembodied spirits glowering in judgment to anyone who’s caught alone in the wrong place at the wrong time.

In all, this is a subtle yet effective beginning to a legendary ghost story, and I’m anxious to see where it goes.

What’s It About?

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

If you’ve read the wiki article, you already have the historical facts down, so we’ll jump right into the narrative.

We begin with Sarah Winchester being shown a house for sale in San Jose, California. She’s dressed as a widow in mourning, and the real estate agent is eager to show her around. However, no showing is necessary as she accepts the offer to buy immediately. As she looks at the house, a misty vision of what the house will eventually become takes shape in her mind.

Quickly, Winchester meets with builders and gardeners to begin expanding and planting. The requests are unusual but her wealth ensures every request is satisfied precisely. Soon, whispers start among the workers about the Winchester curse and the motivations behind the building designs.

One evening, a worker by the name of Hank falls into a drunken stupor at the foot of a nearby tree. Suddenly, he’s surrounded by apparitions, and the very ground he’s sitting on splits open with a crimson light. We conclude the issue with a shocking show for Sarah Winchester, the foreman blinded by a different light show, and Mrs. Winchester entering one of the new rooms to greet a guest.

Final Thoughts

THE WINCHESTER MYSTERY HOUSE #1 is a quietly uncomfortable mix of hauntings and insanity to create an effective ghost story. The setup is just close enough to real-life events to feel authentic while taking enough creative license to add an entertaining flare. The character designs are spot-on, and the ghosts are truly creepy.

Score: 8.5/10

As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.