In Review: The Lonesome Hunters #1

Synopsis: In The Lonesome Hunters. An old and out-of-practice monster hunter in hiding crosses paths with a young girl that forces him to confront these chaotic creatures. As the beasts invade their tenement, they set off on a supernatural road trip to stop these ancient evils in a story that explores the ways that youth informs adulthood and how early traumas can haunt us in old age.

The Story

This tale begins with Howard as a young boy being given a sword by his father and the church. It’s a stolen sword, which has great power and allows young Howard to fight monsters during a time when people are beginning to explore the supernatural again. However when hunting one of these supernatural beasts. Howard’s fellow church goers and his father all die as the result of an explosion. The only survivors are Howard and a speaking deer.

Many years pass and thanks to the sword. Howard is able to live to advanced old age and has been living a very private life. But when a teenage girl called Lupe comes to him for help. Howard must once again take up the sword.

The Artwork

Tyler Crook who also writes this comic series provides some absolutely stunning, but very eery art. The introduction of Howard and the sword provides some interesting imagery. But its the drawings of the ordinary such as Howard walking down the street that really shows off how visually driven this story is. I loved the sequence in which the older Howard is walking home and we see his reflection in the eyes of a magpie. It’s both a beautiful image as well as a prelude to what is to come.

Overall

The Lonesome Hunters gets off to a really strong start with an interesting backstory, which I suspect we may see more of in flashbacks. The art style is absolutely beautiful, but also quite eery in that there is almost a sepia-type quality to it. I particularly loved the sequence with the magpies and how that paid off.

Overall. I’m in and look forward to the next issue.