Image Comics’ THE SILVER COIN #2, available now, is the second issue in this horror anthology created by Michael Walsh, Ed Brisson, Jeff Lemire, Kelly Thompson, and Chip Zdarsky. This time it’s Thompson (Captain Marvel, Hawkeye) and Walsh (Black Hammer, Star Wars) who have been set free to terrify readers.
I can’t really speak for anyone else out there, but I have been really digging what the comic industry has been putting out for horror lately. This anthology promises to be more spine-tingling goodness, with works from Michael Walsh, Ed Brisson, Jeff Lemire, Kelly Thompson, and Chip Zdarsky.
If you didn’t get a chance to tune into the first installment of this series, never fear. It’s an anthology, so readers can really dive in at any point they so desire. However, I would strongly recommend doubling back and checking out The Silver Coin #1 when you have the chance.
The year is 1993, and young Fiona Watterman is getting ready to head off to summer camp. She knows that it will be nothing like the horror movies that she adores, but still, a girl can hope, right? The Silver Coin #2 is a poignant reminder to be careful what you wish for.
Writing
The Silver Coin #2 is a twisted mash-up of Mean Girls and Friday The 13th, in the most delicious and horrifying ways possible. Kelly Thompson has written something that is simultaneously so familiar and so haunting.
It’s quite perfect. It’s so easy to see how the story will flow from one page to the next. More than that, it’s easy to get into the mind of this awkward teenage girl and begin feeling resentment for her fellow campers.
The focus of this horror tale has shifted. In the first story, the presence of the coin felt all-powerful and unavoidable. Here, it’s almost more ephemeral. Like the characters have to chase it before the actual horror sets in.
Thompson’s writing puts two horrors up against each other here, creating a stark contrast. There’s the horror that humans can put on one another through callous actions, and then there’s the horror that comes with ageless beings and artifacts.
Artwork
The Silver Coin #2 feels so much like a classic horror movie; it may just cause a double-take or two. Michael Walsh’s artwork perfectly captures that aesthetic, especially in the first few panels of the issue (with good reason).
A few intentionally jarring transitions are found here, which help drive home the point of the narrative. Conversely, Walsh did almost too good of a job portraying the smaller moments of horror – the human moments.
They feel far too real, and it makes the story come to life. Fiona’s emotions are clear to read on her face. It’s impossible to hide from and really does an excellent job of setting up for the final surprise in this issue.
Speaking of, the horror elements in this issue felt thematically appropriate. As mentioned earlier, it does feel like a classic horror movie. Minus a few of the more obvious tropes, that is. The last few pages are by far the most graphic – but the details hidden within those moments are what we need to be paying attention to.
Conclusion
The Silver Coin #2 brings with it a new horrifying tale for this anthology. It is simultaneously a perfect partner for the first issue and a solid standalone read. It’s thrilling, turning the key element (the silver coin) into a surprising element of the series.
