Wes Craig’s fresh take on horror, The Gravediggers Union, combines the undead with sorcery, cosmic entities, and good old fashion comic book intrigue.
***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***
Our leading trio of Gravediggers have so much character to them without excessive backstory. We’re learning as we go, exploring this world of horror and all the rules that apply within.
The concept of the story and this union of protectors from the undead was already taking horror into a new direction. As we get to know the witch’s story, more details continue to paint the larger picture of this unique world. In a world full of nightmares and magic, there’s still always those looking to profit.
Wes Craig doesn’t drown us in exposition or pollute pages with word balloons. The visual appeal of the book is as much of a driving force as the script is. Craig being an artist, he lets us learn and explore with both the art and dialogue.
Toby Cypress’ gritty, scratchy pencils entrench readers deeply into this mess of shit our main characters find themselves in. Creature design is unique and interesting. Even the little, normal things have an extra dash of horror to them. There’s a spider in the first few pages that is a particularly beautiful brand of creepy.
This abstract caricature approach to faces and expressions makes character development effortless through reactions alone. We get a close look at how different these three Gravediggers are from how they respond to the witch alone.
Niko Guardia uses stylish light filters and brush strokes similar to those in Mister Miracle. For a book that’s largely engulfed in darkness and gore, every splash of vibrancy we get is spectacular.
The witch’s trailer and turtle feature beautiful blends of color that contrast the dirty background splendidly. Every touch of her magic is an explosion of life. Despite being such a dark comic, it’s never a downer.
Jared K Fletcher’s lettering and design is striking. He adds urgency to an already surging narrative. The lettering is very noticeable in the best possible way.
The Gravediggers Union is a complete package. Wes Craig quickly proves he’s got writing chops as this series is unique and superbly crafted.
