You probably think you know what you’re getting when you open up a comic book titled Ghostbox. The new series debuts today on Comixology Originals, written by Mike Carey with art by Pablo Raimondi, and while you’re mostly right — there is a box, and there are ghosts — per Carey’s usually twisty writing, things are not all that they seem.
In the first issue, we meet Chloe and Jan Peace, two sisters who couldn’t be more different. Chloe can’t hold down a job, and can barely scrape together enough money to party, let along pay rent. Jan is the responsible one. But when they discover a long-lost uncle has died, they travel to his remote mansion to figure out if they can sell it — and both get rich.
Once they arrive, though, the mansion is more of a dilapidated shack. And anything they were hoping to hock is covered in cobwebs, in a state of ruin. That includes a mysterious, glowing music box that does not seem to play any music.
Again, you can probably see where this is going based on that setup. But things turn wild and weird in the manner of the best of Carey’s work by the end of the issue. Yes, there’s horror and copious amounts of blood. But this seems closer in tone to what Carey did on The Unwritten or much of his Vertigo book than scares for scaring’s sake. There’s a bigger mythology at play here I wasn’t expecting when I flipped the first page, and the book is better for it.
Raimondi is the perfect partner for this book, as well. His linework has a detailed specificity and brightness to it that pairs nicely with the colors by José Villarubia. Mild spoilers but some fantastic landscapes and terrifying creatures pop in comparison to drab labs, and the uncle’s broken-down shack. The art team is put through their paces, and it pays off nicely.
While spooky season may be winding down, let’s be honest: it doesn’t stop with October 31. So pick up Ghostbox, and get ready to open up your next favorite horror comic — for the rest of the year, and beyond.
Ghostbox #1 is available on Comixology, today.
It’s spooky season, and you know what that means: time to curl up with a comic book or graphic novel that will scare your socks off. With that in mind, we’re posting a new horror book to check out every day of October, for our 31 Days Of Halloween Comics. Awoooo! Looking for the rest of our picks? Check them out on the Halloween tag.
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