By Keigen Rea — It’s difficult right now for a horror comic to stand out. Everyone has a favorite, and there are plenty of flavors to choose from, from body-horror, to single issue focused, to action oriented…most bases are covered in comics today. In some ways, The Autumnal is unable to really differentiate itself from the pack, while in others it stands above them all. 

The story of The Autumnal #1 is fairly familiar. A single mother gets a call about an inheritance. They go to a tiny town for an estranged relative. Everything feels a bit off. The townsfolk are both more and less cordial than you’d think, somehow. It’s Autumn (obviously).

For me, the disconnect is largely with the story. It feels well-tread in most places, leaning on popular and (arguably) overly-used tropes. It’s not necessarily bad, but it’s not really spectacular. Well, actually, I do really like the dialogue for the most part, so there is that. 

Where the writing disappoints, though, the art team delivers, especially color artist Jason Wordie. Wordie is a colorist who has steadily shown a remarkable ability to elevate every comic he makes, and The Autumnal #1 feels like it has, “Eisner Award-winning Jason Wordie,” written all over it. The palette across the issue could tell the story without the art, going from the sick greens of the principal’s office to the pale sunshine on dancing children. The gorgeous colors elevate and confirm the emotions of the story and characters, and without them the comic wouldn’t land for me. 

Other noteworthy highlights are the way the lettering shows characters whispering and the panel borders themselves. With the whispers, the lettering is faded and mixed-case (as opposed to normal dialogue, in all-caps), which is a fun way to show the difference between an individual’s different voices. The panel borders throughout the issue are a really cool touch too, in that there aren’t really any, but the edges of the panels look like they’ve been dabbed with a sponge, so they look weathered or less fully formed. Obviously I don’t know the exact intention, but it feels to me that the book almost feels unfinished and mysterious because of it. 

Overall: In all, The Autumnal #1 is an issue that’s highly elevated by the craft on display, but the story isn’t something that really engaged me. It feels like it could be the opening chapter of a great trade, but it also feels like it could disappoint if it continues to lean on familiar horror ideas. 7/10

REVIEW - The Autumnal #1

The Autumnal #1
Writer: Daniel Kraus 
Artist: Chris Shehan 
Colorist: Jason Wordie
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Publisher: Vault Comics
Price: $3.99
Following the death of her estranged mother, Kat Somerville and her daughter, Sybil, flee a difficult life in Chicago for the quaint--and possibly pernicious--town of Comfort Notch, New Hampshire. From NY Times best-selling author, Daniel Kraus (The Shape of Water, Trollhunters, The Living Dead), and rising star Chris Shehan, comes a haunting vision of America's prettiest autumn.
Release Date: September 23, 2020
Buy It Digitally: The Autumnal #1

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Keigen Rea enjoys coming up with new bios but also sometimes forgets, but when he forgets, know that he still loves you and wants what’s best for you. Find him @prince_organa on Twitter because addiction.