From comics legend Mike Mignola and creator Bruce Zick (The Mighty Thor, Primordial) comes a new adventure in the paranormal Curious Objects universe with Captain Henry and the Graveyard of Time #1. Featuring lettering from Clem Robins, this opening issue is exactly the sort of jaunt you’d expect and want from Mignola and his collaborators. With a witty, fun script and unique, perfectly fitting visuals, this first chapter is a must for fans of Mignola and of takes of good ol’ Gold and Silver Age adventure stories.
“On a dark night in 1880s England, the ever-adventurous Whittier family, along with Edward Grey, are attempting to send a man into the realm between reality and the Beyond to free the trapped spirit of a Whittier uncle. But his expedition into space—and time—will take him to places beyond even the Witchfinder’s knowledge. Captain Henry and the Graveyard of Time follows an intrepid time-travelling explorer on a journey to a new dimension. He soon discovers that the monsters he encounters aren’t his only problem, as time itself might represent the ultimate danger.”
Writing & Plot
Mignola’s storytelling across his multiple projects has built a reputation for a bit of silliness wrapped up in some occult adventuring – and that’s exactly what you get with Captain Henry and the Graveyard of Time #1. Along with series co-creator Bruce Zick, Mignola introduces readers to the wealthy and eccentric Whittier family as they try and solve a strange paranormal occurrence by putting old soldier Captain Henry in a suit to send him to another realm to save a lost soul. Chaos, calamity, and cheeky one-liners ensue. Anyone familiar with other stories in the Curious Objects series or obviously many Hellboy comics pretty much knows what they’re getting into here, but that doesn’t keep Captain Henry from being a fun read. Mignola and Zick’s dialogue is a joy to read, from the Whittier’s posh and innocently ignorant reassurances to Henry’s deadpan delivery of one-liners, the script slides on by with a focus on humor and monster-fighting action. Captain Henry reads like a modernized take on a pulpy supernatural adventure comic from decades long past, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Art Direction
Any comic in the Mignola library needs to have standout art to match the unmistakable tone of his comics, and Bruce Zick delivers in spades in the pages of Captain Henry and the Graveyard of Time. His distinct linework and heavy shading make for a book that fits the bill as far as Mignola comics go, but still looks wholly unique. Zick’s take on the Curious Objects universe’s 19th century steampunk aesthetic is a treat, with suit and monster designs that fit right into the Mignola library. His sequential direction is seamless, with large panels making the comic’s pace and action move along at a steady clip. Zick’s color art crafts the perfect tone for the reading experience, with his deep blacks and blues being offset by unnatural greens and flashes of magical lightning. As always, Clem Robins is on hand to letter another comic in the Mignola library, and at this point it’s impossible to imagine anyone else doing the job. His distinct dialogue letters and signature style of SFX work will be instantly recognizable to longtime readers, and fits is perfectly with Captain Henry. Overall, Zick makes a great showing with his visual direction in this new story in the world of Curious Objects.
Verdict
Captin Henry and the Graveyard of Time #1 is a witty and fun opening chapter in this new series from Mignola’s Curious Objects universe. Mike Mignola and Bruce Zick’s storytelling here reads like an almost satirical take on old pulp adventure stories, with every bit of the charm that readers have come to expect from books in Mignola’s catalogue. Zick’s visual work fits the mold of what we’ve come to expect from Mignola’s collaborators, but also stands out as a genuinely unique style on its own. Be sure to grab this debut issue when it hits shelves on October 22nd!
