Harrow County (2015), Volume 1

March 15, 2016
Plagued by a witch of unfathomable powers, the folk of Harrow County capture and burn her, but not before she furiously screams her revenge. Eighteen years later, we find farm girl Emmy coming of age, gifted with unnatural talents. When a spirit warns her of her impending doom at the hands of the town, she hurries off into the haunted forest, running for her life while trying to uncover her own twisted history. With its heavy narration and sparing dialogue, this feels more like an old fairy tale than a modern horror comic. Although low in traditional scares, it creates a haunting mood rich with an eerie nostalgia that begs to be fleshed out further in future volumes. Emmy's journey is equally unusual as she seems to teeter between abusing her powers and controlling them. Crook's illustrations are minimally detailed, with a simple, 1950's feel to them, while the water coloring and dark shading add a rich layer of detail and shadow. A great introduction to an interesting environment that will hook horror fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)