Wellington is an entertaining series from IDW. It came out on December 9th of 2020. Podcaster Aaron Mahnke writes this series, alongside Delilah S. Thompson, for a different take on Britain’s supernatural side. Artist Piotr Kowalski provides some eerie artwork for atmospheric effects which Brad Simpson makes more suspenseful. The lettering duties between Christa Miesner and Valeria Lopez add a level of unpredictability to the story.
Wellington: Anything But Ordinary
Mahnke, of the Lore podcast, gives Wellington a familiar monster hunter premise that turns on its head. With the Barghest monster serving as the antagonist, there are many elements displaying how such a life affects those around them. The titular character is certainly a man of duty, willing to share his experiences for the greater good. It’s the ones closest to him that get the brunt of his negative traits, like his right-hand man.
Let it be said that this is not a traditional monster story that’s governed by logic. Monsters, like the Barghest, don’t really seem to follow any rules of that sort. Some of its abilities can even look quite humorous, like when it turns into a white rabbit.
Monsters like the Barghest easily throw off the Wellington, who pursues the monster out of duty. Given how Wellington likes to be in control of things, how he interacts with unusual things like a German speaking crow can be rather amusing. The only issue comes from how such comedic undertones clash with the supernatural horror.
Timely Illustrations
Kowalski illustrates Wellington with a style reminiscent of 19th century drawings. This makes the series feel timely. The scale of some of the architecture can be overwhelming. Right from the opening pages, we see huge pictures of Wellington’s home.
With how the Duke shows his utter shock at the events as they play out from his narrations, it’s as if he shows everyone what he’s been through. The scenes in the cave, which are an extension of the Barghest, by contrast are ever changing and impossible to make sense of.
Simpson enhances the above feelings through his coloring. Most scenes featuring the Duke often accompany some light orange colors, as if to show a passionate man. The antagonistic side of Wellington meanwhile often accompanies ghoulish greens.
To further illustrate this connection, some of the captions and word balloons from Miesner and Lopez match with the characters. Alongside these, are sound effects that ,depending on the intensity, get bigger or smaller to reflect the mood.
Give Wellington A Try
Wellington is an enjoyable romp with a plot that will keep readers on board. The juxtaposition from the illustrations and aesthetics can certainly drive the plot forward. When viewing all of this through a plot that keeps people guessing on what will happen next, it’s definitely worth reading.
