The best horror has complicated characters whose emotional turmoil weaves into the eerie atmosphere because, at the end of the day, what’s most horrifying is often what’s most relatable. The first issue of Mine is a Long, Lonesome Grave right away makes big promises; high drama, interpersonal conflict, and a touch of dark magic.
After 2o years in prison, Harley Creed walks free and wants nothing more than to leave his past and the city of Briar Falls, West Virginia, behind him. While the town seems like a quiet, rural area, it has a sordid past punctuated by the mysterious Weavers, the family of Harley’s dead wife. Before he departs, Harley attempts to make amends with his abandoned daughter, but a curse pulls him back in before he can hit the road. In seven days, Harley will die unless he can find the source of this curse.
Mine is a Long, Lonesome Grave has one of the best and most creative introductions I’ve read in a while. It throws the reader into the highest stakes right away and intentionally denies any establishing shots or background details. Coupled with dialogue about the eyes being windows into the soul, the reader will feel just as disoriented as the characters in this moment. It’s clear that reality will shift like sand in this story.
Jordan’s story does a great job of introducing the characters and posing questions that beg to be answered. It’s great how the town is quickly shown to have deep roots that stretch into everything and I’m enthused to see how it grows.
Dialogue is a strength in this issue. It’s concise and spread evenly across the panels. The art is allowed to take control and immerse the reader. While Harley is the point-of-view character, the sparse dialogue and narration demonstrate that the town and the scenery are just as important.
And boy, the scenery is great to look at. Shehan’s line art and Santoro’s colors are the highlights of this book. The former’s shading has so much character with its messy scrawls and small touches along each character’s face. The introduction primes the reader to pay attention to the eyes, and there is so much sadness and angst in every expression. Likewise, the colors are very subtle and measured, mainly sticking to light yellows and muted purples that make the later sections of red pop. Santoro gives every scene a sense of melancholy and mild sickness.
Myers’ lettering gives so much shape to the pages. His balloons and caption boxes are placed perfectly. It’s a smooth read with enough variation in direction to keep things interesting and the balloons ensure the reader’s eyes pass through important details. This ease of reading contributes greatly to the previously mentioned melancholy. Nothing feels high energy except when necessary.
My biggest gripe with Mine is a Long, Lonesome Grave is that it leaves too many questions unanswered, some of which are essential to its worldbuilding. The magic isn’t explored quite enough to tell the readers what are the rules or the attitudes toward it, and that makes the stakes of the curse less impactful. While a seven-day clock to Harper’s death is suspenseful, there isn’t enough explanation to solidify why it’s suspenseful.
In addition, the book suffers from a lack of variety in page layout. All but three pages have six panels of similar sizes and shapes. It flattens the spectacular bits and the intense moments are a big letdown because they have similar weight to the mundane ones.
That being said, I am hungry for more. The secrets of Briar Falls call to me and I’m certain Mine is a Long, Lonesome Grave will be deliciously gothic and character-driven.
WHAT DO I READ NEXT?
If you like the writing:
The Harrower by Justin Jordan & Brahm Revel
Dead Body Road by Justin Jordan & Matteo Scalera
100 Bullets by Briano Azzarello & Eduardo Risso
If you like the art:
The Autumanl by Daniel Kraus & Chris Shehan
Specs by David M. Booher & Chris Shehan
Gideon Falls by Jeff Lemire & Andrea Sorrentino
ABOUT THE CREATORS
Justin Jordan (@JustinJordanComics) – Writer
Jordan has written comics for over 10 years, penning multiple titles form DC and Valiant, as well as his creator-owned works like the Luther Strode series.
He has been nominated for a Harvey Award (Most Promising New Talent, 2012) and was a part of IDW’s Eisner-nominated anthology In the Dark.
Jordan has two cats named Tom and George.
Chris Shehan (@ChrisShehanArt.Bsky.Social) - Artist
A stunning talent, Shehan has been published by nearly every major comics publisher.
Shehan is co-creator of House of Slaughter, the spin-off of the Eisner-nominated Something is Killing the Children, with James Tynion IV, Tate Brombal and Werther Dell’Edera.
They are also a renowned cover artist and designer having crafted covers for Penguin Random House and tour posters for Coheed and Cambria’s 2023 tour.
Alessandro Santoro (@SantyComics) - Colorist
Santoro has colored works for Boom! Studios, Mad Cave Studios and Oni Press.
He is also an illustrator and was one of the designers of the LORE trading card series.
Santoro hails from Italy.
Micah Myers (@MicahMyers.Bsky.Social) - Letterer
Myers is a workhorse of a letterer and has slapped balloons on comics from nearly every major publisher.
He has thrice been nominated for the Ringo Awards as Best Letterer and lettered multiple stories in the Eisner-winning Puerto Rico Strong anthology.
Myers also writes his own series, The Disasters.
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