By Jacob Cordas — Old Haunts #3 has the best start of any comic I read this week. The opening three pages are a perfect short story of abuse, revenge and the bonds that let us survive childhood. The rest of the comic, however, just doesn’t live up to the expectations set by this masterful opening sequence. 

Writers Ollie Masters (The Groove, The Kitchen) and Rob Williams (2000 AD, Unfollowed) have crafted a story that feels incredibly reminiscent of so many crime stories I’ve read before. The first few issues painted a depiction of adult friendship that seemed to be surviving purely off the backs of their shared trauma without ever dipping too deep into that well, the very place it needs to go to provide a more nuanced story.   

There is a world to explore here and their skill at building it all is incredibly impressive. The character relationships feel real. The world feels lived in. The little touches they scatter the world with all feel right. 

But something is missing throughout. 

The opening sequence of this issue wins you over by finally capitalizing on all the implied depth giving you a glimpse of that shared trauma. It has that spark that’s hard to define, that immutable quality you can only point to when you see it and miss when you can’t. 

The art by Laurence Campbell (Deadpool: Pulp, B.P.R.D.) is great. Special attention should be given to the two two-page spreads where he really stretches the techniques he’s littered throughout the title. The extra space lets him get a little more abstract with his panel layouts making for a truly unique page that grabs you. 

Lee Loughridge’s (Ruby Falls, Crude) colors accentuate the artwork, bringing it to a new level. The way he is able to layer colors on a page is phenomenal. He knows how to build poor lighting into every nook and cranny on a page. It takes the grit already there and gives it the texture of a chain smoker’s fridge. I love the work he is able to do here. 

But I just keep coming back to those first few pages and then circling the rest of the comic. This team is incredibly talented. I loved work that every member has done. It seems to be simply that Old Haunts is what happens when a group of very talented people are trying to find their ensemble voice. It’s well worth reading. And it is fascinating seeing this group of people figure it out. 

I hope this ensemble keeps working together and making work like this. Even if this specific work didn’t exactly do it for me. 

Overall: Old Haunts #3 has an arresting opening sequence and a solid continuation of its overarching story. 7.0/10

Review - Old Haunts #3

Old Haunts #3
Writers: Ollie Masters and Rob Williams  
Artist: Laurence Campbell
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Publisher: ARTISTS WRITERS & ARTISANS INC
Three made men- standing at the brink of retirement- find their unbreakable bond put to the ultimate test when they are suddenly -- and literally -- assaulted by the ghosts of their past. Confronted by decades of buried secrets -- resentments- affairs- double-crosses- and murders -- the three friends have no choice but to unearth the deepest- darkest sin from their past and pray they don't find an empty grave. 
Release Date: August 12, 2020
Buy It Digitally: Old Haunts #3

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My name is Jacob Cordas (@jacweasel) and I am not qualified to write this.