By Benjamin Morin — Hot off the heels of last month’s Crimson Flower #1, writer Matt Kindt has another new series this week with Fear Case #1. This debut serves as the newest collaboration between Kindt, Tyler Jenkins, and Hilary Jenkins. Their previous collaborations have delivered both Grass Kings and Black Badge from BOOM! Studios (both of which are currently available on comiXology Unlimited). With this latest book at Dark Horse, Fear Case quickly yields a promising premise with a distinct artistic flair.

The narrative mixes elements of “True Detective” with “The Ring” for an intriguing premise. We follow two secret service agents as they investigate leads on an infamous decades-old case, aptly referred to as the titular Fear Case. The legend surrounding the case tells of a wave of death left in the wake of whoever possesses it. With only three weeks left to track it down while strange deaths are occurring across Los Angeles, it's a race against the clock.

Both for better and worse, the plot falls into the police procedural genre with a supernatural twist. The supernatural twist serves as the hinge for the narrative’s originality. It’s a promising horror setup wherein the terrifying ideas outweigh the cheap thrills, which will hopefully be expanded more as the series continues. When it comes to the characters, they read much like any other police duo in the genre. You’ve got the standard straight man paired with an idealistic newbie, which unfortunately feels like a pretty rote choice.

Despite this, Kindt and Jenkins pull off some solid world building. This is accomplished by following the deadly trajectory of the Fear Case throughout history. It effectively paints a horrifying backdrop for the rest of the narrative. By the end of the issue, the book sets up a world filled with mystery and intrigue lurking behind every shadow.

The real standout aspect of this debut lies in Tyler and Hilary Jenkins art. Their previous works have shown their prowess with inks and water colors, and here they strike out into new territory with charcoal and paints. Through these materials they are able to match the narrative tone and imbue the issue with a palpable style.

From the opening splash, the darkness and shadows of the mysterious Fear Case loom over everything. Shadows encroach upon panel after panel, adding intensity to the story. The use of charcoal specifically aids in giving the shadows a unique texture, one the Jenkins use to great effect. The art style also contains a rather abstract flair. The character designs are detailed enough for easy recognition yet they remain impressionistic. This works well at balancing out some of the inconsistencies when it comes to faces. The level of detail seems to shift from page to page, which usually would be distracting but when paired with the already expressionistic style, it actually works.

On the whole, Fear Case #1 is an average debut. The narrative provides an intriguing set up while also building up the mythos of the world. However, it did not do much to draw me in. The characters read like the typical procedural protagonists one would expect, and the Fear Case, while disturbing, is little more than a macguffin. Hopefully the story and characters will develop more as it continues, but here it's rather by the numbers. The duo of Tyler and Hilary Jenkins really are the selling point of the issue. Their talents set this book apart from anything else on the shelves this week, despite some inconsistencies.

Overall: Though Fear Case #1 debuts with an intriguing premise, it falls at times into formulaic territory. The art may be worth the price of admission for some, but for others, that won’t make up for the conventional narrative. 6/10

REVIEW: Fear Case #1

Fear Case #1
Writer: Matt Kindt
Artist: Tyler Jenkins
Colorist: Hilary Jenkins
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.99
A no-nonsense Secret Service agent and his new-age partner investigate a mysterious box known as the ''Fear Case,'' which has appeared throughout history at sites of disaster and tragedy. Whoever comes into possession of this case must pass it on within three days or face deadly consequences. The agents must track down this Fear Case while staying one step ahead of a psychotic cult and the otherworldly forces behind the Case's existence.
Buy It Digitally: Fear Case #1

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Ben is a comic buff and film fanatic. A journalism major by day and a comic reviewer by night, he ardently consumes all forms of sequential art. On Twitter, he goes by @BiglikeBen.