From acclaimed writer Faith Erin Hicks (Avatar: The Last Airbender, Pumpkinheads) and industry veteran Lee Loughridge comes the next chapter in Image/Skybound’s Universal Monsters imprint with The Mummy #1. Hicks and Loughridge take the classic movie monster premise and bring a modern cultural examination to the 1920’s, making the lead characters just as important as the titular creature itself. With a compelling script and excellent visual work, The Mummy is off to a great start.
“Helen Grosvenor is a woman born to two worlds and belonging in neither, forever haunted by a cursed encounter as a child. When unknown voices bring her back to an Egyptian dig site from her past, Helen will unknowingly play an unexpected role in the rise of a monster known only as…THE MUMMY!”
Writing & Plot
Faith Erin Hicks crafts a script that goes well beyond just being a cool monster story with The Mummy #1. This opening chapter focuses even more on themes of imperialism, classism, and cultural heritage than it does on just the titular Mummy – all elements that existed (in very subtle amounts) even in the original Karloff films. Having the story open with such a focus on Helen’s half-British half-Egyptian heritage and her family’s wealth places readers into the shoes of the characters remarkably well. After all, the best horror works so well because of the humanity of its main characters. Watching Helen navigate being raised as a young girl torn between her native culture and that of colonizers – and then trying to relate to the very people who resent her family and status so much – is genuinely compelling storytelling. The supernatural elements that are introduced in the comic feel like secondary plot bits, but this isn’t a bad thing. We want to root for Helen, and it makes the lure of what’s coming next that much more irresistible. The Mummy itself feels like a force of nature rather than a monster, and this makes sense when paired with what Helen discovers about herself (no spoilers here). I can appreciate that there are pieces that feel pulled from the Brendan Fraser & Rachel Weisz Mummy films that are so loved by our generation. Faith Erin Hicks is off to strong start with this opening chapter.
Art Direction
Eisner-winning industry veteran Lee Loughridge is on hand to craft the sand and temple-laden panels for The Mummy #1, and as expected he does some stellar work. Loughridge’s unique visual style lends itself especially well to character designs and expressions – which is doubly important for a comic that centers so much on the people in the story. Every conversation feels important, and no space feels wasted as Loughridge establishes each scene. His design of the titular Mummy brings more humanity than some may be expecting, whille also clearly drawing from Karloff’s classic features. Loughridge sells the idea that the ancient creature is a force of nature brought about by the British archeologists’ interference with the ruins. The best (or at least my favorite) panel in the issue is of the Mummy standing on a sand dune, his silhouette cast by moonlight as Helen watches in awe. Loughridge brings a phenomenal mix of supernatural mysticism and humanity to the pages of The Mummy #1.
Verdict
The Mummy #1 is a fantastic opening to this newest chapter in Image/Skybound’s Universal Monsters imprint. Faith Erin Hicks’s script brings humanity and insightful commentary to a property that has always toyed with these concepts, but here they are an active part of the story. Lee Loughridge’s visual work is sharply directed and animated, expertly crafting both a mystical aesthetic and compelling visual characterization to the pages of this comic. Be sure to grab this debut issue when it hits shelves on March 26th!
